With more than 950,000 international students studying in the USA and an unemployment rate of less than 4%, USA is undoubtedly the “land of opportunities” for international students. The US has been the top attractant for foreign students for decades, especially from STEM backgrounds. The student community in the US is very multicultural, along with an excellent support mechanism for international students. Besides, the recent H1-B rules are also going to favor the MS students in the US from April 2019.
For a big majority of Indian students, the Master of Science (MS) programs are very popular. While the overall cost of education isn’t cheap for middle-class students from India, there are certain comparatively cheaper options. There are more than 250 colleges and universities that are publicly funded.
The public universities charge comparatively less tuition fees without diluting the quality of education. Additionally, these universities provide scholarships and decent accommodation facilities for students who want to Study in the USA. In this post, we will look at the best affordable public universities for MS in the USA.
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But, before we move on to the list of the top affordable public universities for MS in USA, we will take a look at the differences between a private university and a public one. Secondly, whether it makes sense to attend a public university in the US as an international student.
Difference between Private Universities and Public Universities in the US
The major difference between public universities and private colleges lies in how they are funded. This affects students because funding is tied to tuition prices. Most public universities and colleges were founded by state governments, some as early as the 1800s, to give residents the opportunity to receive a public college education. Today, state governments pay for most of the cost of operating public universities. They also oversee these institutions through appointed boards and trustees.
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Private Universities vs Public Universities in terms of ROI
As per studies, you will earn about 10 – 20% more income if you go to a private college, ideally a top 20 or top 25. The long answer is that a private college may only be feasible for those who can overcome the initial roadblocks.
But, to be frankly speaking, if you are attending a STEM program, the college name hardly matters in the long run. According to a 2015 study, university choice matters the most for business, liberal arts, and humanities majors. Read more on this.
According to a Washington Post article, private colleges are a waste of money for middle-class families. At a time when college tuition is rising rapidly, particularly at the nation’s private colleges and universities, and with increasing student debt crisis in the US, you need to focus on selecting colleges on the basis of course content, ROI, rather than just the brand name.
According to the Pew Research Center Survey (2013), public and private college grads rank about equally in life satisfaction. So, it’s absolutely fine to attend a public university in the US as an international student, especially if you have budget constraints.
Now, we will move on to the main agenda of this article. We have listed 15 top public colleges, and this is not an exhaustive list.
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15 Best Affordable Public Universities for MS in USA
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a public university established in the year 1956 which is located in Tampa, USA. It offers MS program in Business Analytics and Computer Science specializations.
Eligibility:
- Any bachelor degree from a recognized university
- GRE: 311
- IELTS: 6.5
- GMAT and GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: INR 23.1 lakhs
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California State University – Fresno
The California State University Fresno Campus is a public university founded in the year 1911. It is located in Fresno, USA. It offers MS program in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering specializations.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or any equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6.5
- GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: INR 25.5 lakhs
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a public university established in the year 1895. It is located in Wichita, USA. This university offers MS program in Computer Science, Computer Networking, and Industrial Engineering specializations.
Eligibility:
- Any bachelor degree from a recognized university
- IELTS: 6.5
- GRE scores are accepted.
Appx. Fees: INR 21.5 lakhs
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Dakota State University
Dakota State University is a public university located in Madison, USA. It is founded in the year 1881. This university offers MS programs in Business Administration, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Health Informatics, Analytics, Data Science, and Health Management specializations.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or any equivalent degree
- TOEFL: 76
- IELTS: 6.5 or 6
- GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: INR 29.9 lakhs
Recommended Reading (Application Tips):
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Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a public university established in the year 1849. This university is located in Michigan, USA. It offers MS program in various specializations such as Computer Science and Construction Management.
Eligibility:
- Any bachelor degree or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 79
Appx. Fees: INR 31.7 lakhs
Wright State University
Wright State University is a public university founded in the year 1967. This university is located in Dayton, USA. It offers MS program in specializations like Aerospace Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science.
Eligibility:
- Any bachelor degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized university
- IELTS: 6 or 6.5
- TOEFL: 298 to 304
Appx. Fees: INR 20.1 lakhs
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University of California – Irvine
The University of California is a public university established in the year 1965. It is located in Irvine, USA. This university offers postgraduate MS program in specializations like Business Analytics, and Electrical Engineering.
Eligibility:
- Any bachelor or equivalent degree
- IELTS: 7
- TOEFL: 80
- GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: 48.5 lakhs
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Kent State University
Kent State University is a public university established in the year 1910. This university is located in Kent, USA. It offers a postgraduate MS program in various specializations like Business Analytics and Computer Science.
Eligibility:
- Any bachelor or equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6
- GMAT: 500
- GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: INR 28.7 lakhs
Recommended Reading (Success Stories):
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The University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico is a public university founded in the year 1889. This university is located in New Mexico, USA. It offers MS program in specializations like Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6.5
- GRE: 300
Appx. Fees: INR 22.5 lakhs
California State University – San Bernardino
California State University is a public university established in the year 1965. This university is located in San Bernardino, USA. It offers MS program in various specializations are Computer Science, and Information Systems and Technology.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6
- GRE: 300
Appx. Fees: INR 23.9 lakhs
Recommended Reading:
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Missouri State University
Missouri State University is a public university founded in the year 1905. It is located in Missouri, USA. This university offers MS program in Computer Science specialization.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6
- GRE: 290
Appx. Fees: INR 20.3 lakhs
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public university established in the year 1895. This university is located in Dartmouth, USA. It offers MS course in various specialization like Data Science and Computer Science.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6
- GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: INR 27.4 lakhs
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University is a public university founded in the year 1878. This university is located in Mississippi, USA. It offers MS program in specializations like Computer Science, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 79
- GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: INR 31.1 lakhs
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university established in the year 1866. This university is located in New Hampshire, USA. It offers MS program in Computer Science stream.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6.5
- GRE scores are accepted
Appx. Fees: INR 30.8 lakhs
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota is a public university founded in the year 1862. This university is located in South Dakota, USA. It offers MS program in Computer Science specialization.
Eligibility:
- Bachelor or an equivalent degree
- IELTS: 6
- GRE: 292
Appx. Fees: INR 17.6 lakhs
So, all these were some publicly funded universities which students may consider if they want to study in the USA. The universities mentioned above have their own importance. To study in such universities and to get scholarships, students have to fulfill some eligibility criteria.
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