Master’s in Computer Science in the University of South California — Admissions, Courses, Rankings

masters in computer science University Of southern california admissions coursesrankings

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Picture of Shivani Mani

Shivani Mani

Lead, Student Success - FundRight

11,729 international students study at the University of Southern California. 1,735 of them are Indian students; making up 15% of the total international students. 

A large number of these Indian students study for Masters in Computer Science

Why the urge to study Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California

Here are three key reasons:

  1. The University of Southern California offers one of the best faculties for Master’s in Computer Science you can hope for. The faculty members are approachable, friendly, and balance teaching the students with their personal research work exceedingly well. Furthermore, the university offers high levels of research activities. 
  2. Students from 112 countries study at the University of Southern California; making the university a cultural melting pot.
  3. The University of Southern California offers two libraries with over a million books on multiple topics. Thus, you can find answers to every question you have. 

However, you might still have questions about studying Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California:

  • What are the eligibility criteria? 
  • What’s the course fee?
  • What are the scholarships available?

This article will offer all the answers. In the next seven minutes, learn all about studying Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California.

Wondering what if you still have questions after you’ve finished reading this article? 

That’s when you need unbiased and personalised recommendations. 

That’s when you need SelectRight.

More on SelectRight later. Let’s get back to the details of the Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California now.  

Note: the information is true at the time of writing. That’s June 2022.

Course duration2 years
Eligibility criteria
  • An undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering or Math
  • Coursework in at least 3 core Computer Science courses and at least one course for Computer Science-related Mathematics courses
  • IELTS score of at least 6.5 out of 9 or TOEFL (iBT) scores of at least 90 out of 120 or PTE scores of at least 61 out of 90
Course fees$35,184 a year 
University rankings
  • QS World University Rankings 2022 – 112
  • Times Higher Education (THE) – 63
  • US News & World Report – National University Ranking – 27
Scholarships
  • Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships
  • QS Scholarship For Academic Excellence
  • Dean’s Scholaships
  • Fullbright-Nehru Master’s Scholarships
  • CCSE Graduate scholarship

Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California — a complete guide

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must have:

  • An undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Math from a regionally-accredited university.
  • Coursework in at least 3 core Computer Science courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Computer Architecture, and 3D Graphics and Rendering. Furthermore, for Computer Science-related Mathematics courses, the applicant must show coursework in at least one course from the four — Data Structures, Algorithms, Numerical Computation, and Discrete Structures.
  • TOEFL (iBT) scores of at least 90 out of 120 with at least 20 on each section or IELTS scores of at least 6.5 out of 9 with at least 6 on each band or PTE scores of at least 61 out of 90 with at least 53 on each band.     

Required documents

Applicants must submit:

  • A resume or CV
  • A Personal Statement
  • Letters of Recommendation from faculty of the academic institutions you have attended
  • E-transcripts from every college and university you have attended. Note that you must submit all transcripts from a single college or university as one document  

Acceptance rate

The University of Southern California has a 13% acceptance rate. The number alone should tell you how tough it is to get admission into the university.

The admitted students usually have an SAT score between 1350 to 1530. However, the university doesn’t ask for a specific SAT score. 

Furthermore, the admitted students usually have a GRE score between 155 to 167 for Quant and 151 to 162 for Verbal.  

Deadline

Admission for Spring closes in mid-September whereas admission for Fall closes in mid-December.

University rankings

Check out the university rankings of the University of Southern California:

QS World University Rankings 2022112
Times Higher Education (THE) University Ranking63
US News & World Report – National University Ranking27

Course fees and other expenses

Expect to pay up to $35,184 a year in tuition fees. Furthermore, expect to pay up to $23,446 a year for food, accommodation, and other expenses.

Here’s a table for you with breakdowns of the costs to help you get a better idea:

Tuition fees$35,184
Food and accommodation$14,610
Transportation$2,459
Books and stationary$900
Personal Expenses$2,316
Insurance$1,131
Exam Proctoring $40 – $100 for each course
Norman Topping Student Aid Fee$8 per semester
ENGR Computing Access Fee (Only for On-campus students)$75 per semester
Mandatory Fees$895

Scholarships

Studying Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California can poke a hole in your pocket. Expect to pay up to $35,184 a year in tuition fees. Furthermore, expect to pay up to $23,446 a year in food, accommodation, and other living expenses.

Check out these 3 scholarships that can help you sew the hole back.

Dean’s Scholarships

The scholarship is open to both international and U.S. students pursuing a full-time Master’s degree from the University of Southern California. 

The awardee receives between $5,000 to $20,000. Spring applicants must apply within the end of August and Fall applicants must apply within mid-December.   

Fullbright-Nehru Master’s Scholarships

The scholarship is open to Indian students pursuing a Master’s degree at U.S. colleges and universities.  

The awardees receive:

  • Funding for tuition fees, living, and other expenses
  • Sickness and accident coverage as per the U.S. government guidelines
  • Round-trip economy class air travel allowance from the student’s home city to the host university in the U.S.
  • J-1 visa support

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships

The scholarship is open to all students wanting to pursue a Master’s degree.  

The awardee receives: 

  • Funding for tuition fees and living expenses
  • Round-trip economy class air travel allowances from the student’s home city to the host university in the U.S.
  • Monthly allowances

Do you still have doubts about whether you should choose the University of Southern California? 

Now is the time to take help from AI tools.

Now is the time to take help from SelectRight.

At SelectRight, we offer:

  • Personalised, unbiased, and transparent college recommendations based on analysing over 6 million data points across more than 10,000 STEM, CS, and MBA programs.
  • Actionable and relevant advice from current students and alumni of your chosen university.
  • Expert guidance on several aspects of the application such as application review, LOR review, and SOP review from our education advisors.

Want to know more? Drop us a mail at grad@stage.gradright.com

FAQs

Question 1: What’s the ranking of the University of Southern California?

Ans: QS World University Rankings has ranked the University of Southern California at 112. Furthermore, Times Higher Education (THE) has placed the university at 63 while US News & World Report – National University Ranking has placed the university at 27.   

Question 2: What’s the course fee for the Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California?

Ans: Expect to pay $35,184 a year in tuition fees. Furthermore, expect to pay $23,446 a year in food, living, accommodation, and other costs. 

Question 3: Do I need an IELTS or TOEFL score to get into the University of Southern California?

Ans: Yes. You must have an IELTS score of 6.5/9 with at least 6 on each band. Alternatively, you can have a TOEFL IBT score of 90/120 with at least 20 on each section.

Question 4: What’s the deadline to apply for the Master’s program in Computer Science at the University of Southern California?

Ans: The deadline for Spring admission usually lies in mid-September while the fall admission deadline usually lies in mid-December. 

Question 5: What’s the acceptance rate of the University of Southern California?

Ans: 13%. The admitted students usually have a GRE score of 155 to 167 for Quant and 151 to 162 for Verbal. Furthermore, admitted students usually have an SAT score of 1350 to 1530. 

Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California — SelectRight is here to help

We have gathered all the information about studying Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California. However, you might still want more assistance. 

You have three options:

  • Read random blogs with half or misinformation
  • Listen to your relatives who passed out decades ago
  • Opt for SelectRight

At SelectRight, we offer:

  • Personalised, transparent, and unbiased college recommendations after analysing over 6 million data points across more than 10,000 STEM, MBA, and CS programs.
  • Relevant and practical tips from current students and alumni of your chosen college.
  • Expert guidance on multiple aspects of your application such as application review, LOR review, and SOP review.

If you want to know more, drop us a mail at grad@stage.gradright.com to talk to our education and finance advisors.

Picture of Shivani Mani

Shivani Mani

Shivani, aka 'Sheen' brings in 15+ years of experience in banking & finance. An IIM-A alumna, she actively interacts with students & provides actionable solutions to their study abroad funding issues.

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