MS in Computer Science
A master's in Computer Science deepens your foundation in algorithms, systems and software, with electives in AI, machine learning, cloud and security. In the US it is usually STEM-designated.
🇺🇸 Santa Cruz, USA · Public
University of California, Santa Cruz Fees for Indian Students
UC Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz) is known for CS and computer engineering near Silicon Valley. Below: tuition, living costs in Santa Cruz, the total in rupees and loan options.
- Total ≈ ₹1.06 crore – ₹1.3 crore
- Tuition $28,000 – $40,000 a year
- Intakes: Fall (Aug/Sep)
- Typical loan ₹74 lakh – ₹1.17 crore
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Quick answer
How much does UC Santa Cruz cost for Indian students?
A 2-year MS at University of California, Santa Cruz costs about ₹1.06 crore – ₹1.3 crore in total for an Indian student: tuition of $28,000 – $40,000 a year, living costs of about $27,000 a year and one-time visa and travel costs of ₹2.5 lakh – ₹4 lakh. Most families borrow ₹74 lakh – ₹1.17 crore and cover the rest from savings or scholarships.
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Official sources: University of California, Santa Cruz — official website · travel.state.gov — Student visa
UC Santa Cruz at a glance
- Location
- Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- Type
- Public university
- Known for
- CS and computer engineering near Silicon Valley
- Tuition (international)
- $28,000 – $40,000 a year
- Living costs used
- $27,000 a year
- Total for 2 years
- ₹1.06 crore – ₹1.3 crore
- Intakes
- Fall (Aug/Sep), Spring (Jan), limited Summer (May)
- English tests
- IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo (as accepted by the university)
- Work during study
- Up to 20 hours/week on campus during semesters
- After graduation
- OPT 12 months + 24-month STEM OPT extension for STEM-designated degrees
- Official website
- ucsc.edu
Fee breakdown
UC Santa Cruz cost for Indian students
2-year MS, at $1 ≈ ₹94. Tuition varies by program — use the figure on your offer letter.
Popular programs
Programs Indian students choose at UC Santa Cruz
MS in Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering sits between electrical engineering and computer science: digital design, computer architecture, embedded systems and the hardware–software interface. In the US it is usually STEM-designated.
Compare
UC Santa Cruz vs similar universities in the USA
The 6 closest by total cost; 3 of them cost less in total.
Living there
Living costs in Santa Cruz
Beach town over the hills from Silicon Valley; housing is scarce. A room in shared housing usually costs $1,100 – $1,600 a month, and a realistic yearly budget is $24,200 – $30,200.
For the cost table we use $27,000 a year — planning figure for Santa Cruz: shared housing, food, transport and insurance. During your studies you can work up to 20 hours/week on campus during semesters.
The I-20 shows the university's cost of attendance; you must document funds for at least the first year at the F-1 interview.
Funding
How Indian students fund UC Santa Cruz
Typical loan: ₹74 lakh – ₹1.17 crore. EMIs on a ₹94 lakh loan start after the course and moratorium.
Timeline
Applying to UC Santa Cruz for the Fall 2027 intake
- 01
10–12 months before
Take IELTS; shortlist programs at UC Santa Cruz and similar universities.
- 02
8–10 months before
Write your SOP, request two or three LORs and prepare transcripts.
- 03
6–9 months before
Apply on UC Santa Cruz's application portal and to scholarships.
- 04
4–6 months before
Accept the offer, pay the deposit and start the education loan (₹74 lakh – ₹1.17 crore).
- 05
2–4 months before
Apply for the F-1 student visa: receive the I-20 from your university.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Ask a counsellor directly — we reply on WhatsApp during working hours (Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST).
Tuition is $28,000 – $40,000 a year for international students. With living costs the total for a 2-year MS is about ₹1.06 crore – ₹1.3 crore.
At $1 ≈ ₹94, a year's tuition is about ₹26 lakh – ₹38 lakh. Exchange rates move, so we recalculate with the live rate before you pay.
Of the 6 universities closest to it in cost, 3 cost less in total and 3 cost more. UC Santa Cruz's tuition is above the middle of our USA list.
Yes, within visa rules: up to 20 hours/week on campus during semesters. Part-time income helps with living costs but shouldn't be counted on for tuition.
Often, yes — private banks and NBFCs lend unsecured amounts for many universities if the co-applicant's income is steady. Larger amounts at the lowest rates usually need collateral. Most families borrow ₹74 lakh – ₹1.17 crore.
Fall (Aug/Sep), Spring (Jan), limited Summer (May). Start preparing 10–12 months ahead; popular programs fill early.
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Programs and admission
UC Santa Cruz: more guides
Head to head
UC Santa Cruz compared
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Fees at similar universities
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