Master of Science [M.S] [Software Engineering and Information Technology] From Oakland University

Oakland University Master of Science in Software Engineering and Information Technology is a two-year, 32-credit, full-time, on-campus degree in Rochester, Michigan. Applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree with GPA (grade point average) 3.0 on 4.0, approximately 75% to 80% on Indian scales. For Winter 2027, tuition calculates to US$34,504 (INR 32.93 Lakhs) for 32 credits, plus a US$45 (INR 4,294) application charge.

The programme trains students for advanced software engineering and information-technology roles through object-oriented design, cloud computing, databases and project planning. Its distinctive structure combines two concentrations with professional and research tracks, so the best-prepared applicant can choose applied depth or an 8-credit thesis. That flexibility suits computer science, information technology and software engineering graduates who can connect electives to a target role or doctoral plan.

• The professional track uses 32 coursework credits, while the research track includes 8 thesis credits.
• Electives can reach artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, mobile applications, bioinformatics and visual computing.
• Full-time students normally register for 8 to 12 credits each semester, while part-time scheduling is designed around late-afternoon and early-evening classes.

Also Check: Oakland University graduate admission

Oakland University Software Engineering Fees 2027

For Winter 2027, Oakland’s 2026-27 non-resident graduate tuition is US$1,078.25 (INR 1.03 Lakhs) per credit. The 32-credit programme calculates to US$34,504 (INR 32.93 Lakhs), plus a non-refundable US$45 (INR 4,294) application fee, while no separate programme deposit is stated.

Target-cycle fee context: The rate below applies to non-resident graduate students for academic year 2026-27. The programme total is calculated from 32 credits multiplied by the published per-credit rate, rather than quoted as a flat package.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.4309 as of 14 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Oakland’s tuition page states that graduate rates are charged per credit hour and may change when the Board sets new rates. This means the published total is a planning calculation, not a locked two-year bill, so retain a buffer for later academic-year changes.

• Multiply the current rate by each registered credit load because tuition is billed per credit hour rather than by semester package.
• Keep the application fee outside tuition because Oakland describes it as non-refundable and charges it for each new application.
• Ask the department whether an approved transfer or substitution changes your 32-credit plan before reducing the budget.

Source: Oakland University 2026-27 tuition rates and Graduate Catalog programme requirements.

Cost of Living in Rochester, Michigan for Software Engineering Students

Oakland’s 2026-27 cost-of-attendance sheet assigns out-of-state graduate students an annual living estimate of US$13,326 (INR 12.72 Lakhs) for food and housing. The university describes this line as a combined estimate, so it is not a rent-only figure and should not be treated as a guaranteed lease price.

The same official sheet lists US$630 (INR 60,121) for books, US$3,320 (INR 3.17 Lakhs) for personal expenses and US$1,816 (INR 1.73 Lakhs) for transportation. Those allowances are separate from tuition and can vary with course choices, housing decisions and travel patterns.

The checked 2026-27 sheet does not publish a separate medical-insurance amount for this programme. Request the current insurance and statement-of-finances requirements before finalising your proof-of-funds plan.

A calculated two-year planning budget is US$72,733 (INR 69.41 Lakhs) before insurance, travel or loan interest. It combines US$34,504 (INR 32.93 Lakhs) tuition, two annual living allowances of US$13,326 (INR 12.72 Lakhs) and two annual non-tuition allowances. Each year includes US$630 (INR 60,121) books, US$3,320 (INR 3.17 Lakhs) personal expenses and US$1,816 (INR 1.73 Lakhs) transport, plus the application fee. That calculation is not a university-published programme total and excludes insurance, travel and loan interest.

Check Out: United States cost of living for students

Key insight: The tuition baseline is clear, but the INR 69.41 Lakhs two-year figure is calculated from official allowances and excludes insurance. Recheck the statement of finances before paying.

Oakland University Software Engineering Admission 2027

Admission is selective and normally requires a Bachelor of Science in computer science, information technology, software engineering, computer engineering or equivalent. Applicants should present a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. For Indian planning, that is approximately 75% to 80% or a 10-point score of 7.5 to 8.0; 2.7 to below 3.0 may receive limited standing.

The department reviews undergraduate records, goal statement, recommendations, prerequisites and other requirements, so a relevant technical transcript matters more than a generic graduate application. The course’s two concentrations and two tracks make the fit question academic: choose software engineering or information technology before mapping the 32-credit plan.

Academic eligibility and degree structure

Oakland’s current Graduate Catalog names the degree as a 32-credit, two-year, in-person Master of Science. All graduate work requires a minimum 3.0 overall GPA for good standing, while a 2.7 to 3.0 entry profile may be considered with limited standing.

Indian applicants with a 3.0 GPA can request a GRE waiver, but the department still decides whether to approve it. Applicants between 2.7 and 3.0 need a 70th-percentile GRE Quantitative Reasoning score when their institution lacks U.S. regional accreditation, so a waiver assumption is risky.

English language proficiency

Oakland lists IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 6.5 and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 79 on its published 0 to 120 scale. Its graduate policy also lists PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) 53 and Duolingo 105 for full admission. Limited-standing routes are TOEFL 69 to 78, IELTS 6.0 or PTE 48 to 52.

Score scale: TOEFL values use Oakland’s published internet-based 0 to 120 scale, while the other tests use their own published scales.

English test scores must be two years old or less at intended enrollment, and Oakland may require a higher level for a specific programme. For Indian applicants, IELTS or PTE can provide alternate routes, while TOEFL candidates should verify the current graduate policy before sending a post-January 2026 score report.

• Book the English test early enough to retest within the two-year validity window if a band or section falls below the route you need.
• Use a detailed transcript evaluation because Oakland requires course-by-course reports for foreign credentials and a general report is not sufficient.
• Send the GRE unless your waiver request clearly documents the 3.0 GPA route or another listed exception.

Read More: Oakland University graduate programmes

Tip for Indian students: The 3.0 GPA waiver route can reduce testing work, but the 01 September 2026 international deadline leaves little room for transcript evaluation or GRE retesting. Start the evaluation and waiver evidence together.

Oakland University Software Engineering Application 2027

Winter 2027 is the immediate international route, with programme deadlines of 01 October 2026 early and 15 November 2026 regular. The international deadline is 01 September 2026, so it controls for Indian applicants.

Oakland also publishes Summer 2027 and Fall 2027 routes, but the programme and international dates differ by intake. Use the earlier applicable date because both the application and supporting documents must arrive by the deadline.

Deadline context: The table includes every published intake and stage checked in the current Graduate Catalog. Oakland publishes dates without a clock time or time zone, so the application portal’s local cutoff controls.

Oakland publishes no programme-specific decision dates for this degree, but the Graduate School says complete files often receive a decision within two weeks. That estimate is not a programme promise, so keep time for document corrections and visa preparation.

Application file and review

A complete file starts with the online application, a non-refundable US$45 (INR 4,294) charge, official transcripts, a course-by-course evaluation and a resume. The department additionally requires two recommendations, a goal statement and either GRE evidence or an approved waiver request.

International applicants must also provide certified financial documents and English proof, while applicants transferring from another U.S. institution submit the relevant transfer form. Because an incomplete file is not sent for department review, upload every required item before the controlling date.

• Submit the online application and application charge before uploading the supporting documents.
• Request official transcripts from every postsecondary institution and order the detailed evaluation for foreign credentials.
• Arrange two professional recommendations, a goal statement, a resume and any GRE waiver materials.
• Prepare the statement of finances, certified bank statement, affidavit of support and English proof for visa documentation.

After Graduate Admissions receives all required materials, it sends complete files to the academic programme for review. Most applicants can expect an admission decision within two weeks, but a programme review schedule can change that timing.

Check Out: United States graduate study options

Application tip: For Winter 2027, the 01 September 2026 international deadline arrives before Oakland’s early programme round. Treat transcript evaluation, English proof and any GRE waiver request as one submission plan.

Oakland University Software Engineering Scholarships 2027

The most relevant Oakland funding route for an Indian applicant is the Graduate Assistantship, but the university publishes no guaranteed amount or target-cycle award deadline.

Assistantships are available to full-time degree-seeking students with regular admission, good standing and an overall GPA of 3.0. Applicants apply through Handshake after admission, and Oakland pays assistants monthly.

Oakland’s general scholarship manager says the 2026-27 application is closed and the 2027-28 cycle opens on 01 December 2026. That timing does not establish a Winter 2027 award for an international student.

The Graduate Assistantship is the only verified university route that directly matches a full-time graduate applicant, yet its amount and availability remain position-specific. Ask the School of Engineering and Computer Science whether an opening fits the software engineering or information technology concentration.

• Use the published US$34,504 (INR 32.93 Lakhs) tuition and calculated US$72,733 (INR 69.41 Lakhs) core budget as the funding baseline.
• Apply for assistantship positions only after regular admission and confirm the monthly award, workload and appointment dates in writing.
• Do not treat Oakland’s domestic non-resident tuition scholarship as an Indian applicant award because its eligibility is restricted to qualifying domestic graduate students.

Read More: United States scholarships for international students

Scholarship reality: Assistantship funding can reduce the financial gap, but Oakland has not published a guaranteed amount for this M.S. Secure the full baseline first, then treat any written award as an upside.

Oakland University Software Engineering Salary 2027

Oakland does not publish a current course-cohort employment report, salary median or offer rate for this M.S., so its career page shows preparation rather than placement probability.

Course-specific value comes from the 32-credit curriculum, optional 8-credit thesis and concentration choices in software engineering or information technology.

Salary evidence and scope

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides the closest official external benchmark because Oakland does not report course outcomes. BLS figures describe U.S. occupations across employers and experience levels, not Oakland graduates.

Evidence scope: The table reports an external job-market benchmark, not a course-cohort outcome or placement promise.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 wage data.

The BLS software developer wage table reports a US$133,080 (INR 1.27 Crore) median in May 2024. That figure covers the occupation broadly, so it cannot be used as this M.S.’s typical salary or repayment proof.

Return-on-investment reading

For ROI (return on investment), the decision depends on verified cost, funding and work authorization rather than the external wage alone. The financial question is whether the applicant can fund the degree while building a role-specific portfolio.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the post-completion work authorization associated with F-1 study. The standard window is 12 months, while Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) extension eligibility depends on the degree’s Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code.

Oakland’s current degree page does not confirm that CIP classification or a 24-month STEM extension. Treat the extension as unconfirmed until Oakland identifies the code on the I-20 or official international record.

• The published tuition input is US$34,504 (INR 32.93 Lakhs), so request assistantship information before accepting an offer.
• The calculated core two-year budget is US$72,733 (INR 69.41 Lakhs), so include insurance and travel separately before borrowing.
• No course salary or offer-rate evidence is published, so ask for current programme employment data before treating the external wage as an outcome estimate.
• The standard OPT window is 12 months and STEM eligibility is unconfirmed, so verify the CIP code before modelling a longer work period.

Take-home pay will vary with federal, state and local taxes, benefits and deductions. Use a current U.S. tax calculator before comparing gross salary with the INR 69.41 Lakhs core budget.

ROI reality: The degree offers a structured route into software and IT specialisations, but no course-cohort salary evidence or confirmed STEM extension supports a guaranteed payback case. Fund the verified cost first and request outcome data before committing.

United States Visa for Oakland Software Engineering Students 2027

The F-1 (academic student) visa is the normal route for this full-time, in-person degree. The U.S. Department of State describes the application steps on its official student visa page, while Oakland issues the student record needed for visa processing.

The visa application fee is US$185 (INR 17,655), and the I-901 SEVIS fee is US$350 (INR 33,401). SEVIS means Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which records the school and student information used for the F-1 process.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) normally provides 12 months of post-completion work authorization. A 24-month Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) extension depends on Oakland’s confirmed Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code, and this degree’s extension eligibility is not established here.

Longer-term employment may require H-1B (specialty occupation) sponsorship. Permanent residence has no fixed course-specific timeline because it depends on the employment category, sponsorship, visa availability and the applicant’s record.

• Budget US$185 (INR 17,655) for the visa application and US$350 (INR 33,401) for SEVIS separately from university costs.
• Use the standard 12-month OPT window in your planning and verify the CIP code before assuming a STEM extension.
• Ask a prospective employer about H-1B sponsorship and the applicable actual or prevailing wage because no fixed course-specific salary threshold exists.
• F-2 status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but an F-2 spouse is not employment-authorized.

Read More: United States student visa requirements

Visa reality: The known visa charges are separate from Oakland’s INR 69.41 Lakhs calculated core budget, while the longer work period remains unconfirmed. Verify the CIP code and funding documents before filing.