Top Universities Offering Fully Funded Master’s in Computer Science
By: Asmi Mahajan
Pursuing a master's degree in Computer Science (CS) in the U.S. can be expensive, but many top universities offer full funding through scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships. These programs cover tuition, living expenses, and sometimes even travel costs, making them an excellent option for international students.
Here’s a list of some of the best universities offering fully funded master's programs in Computer Science:
1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Funding: Full tuition, stipend, health insurance (via research and teaching assistantships)
Who can apply? Open to all students, including international applicants
Details: MIT’s CS master’s students often receive full funding through Research Assistantships (RA) and Teaching Assistantships (TA), which cover tuition and provide a stipend for living expenses. Some students may also qualify for fellowships.
Website: https://www.eecs.mit.edu/academics/graduate-programs/funding/
2. Stanford University
Funding: Full tuition, stipend, and health insurance (via assistantships and fellowships)
Who can apply? Open to U.S. and international students
Details: Stanford offers full funding for MS students in CS through assistantships and fellowships like the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, which provides additional leadership training and networking opportunities.
Website: https://financialaid.stanford.edu/grad/
3. University of California, Berkeley
Funding: Full tuition, stipend, and health insurance (via TA/RA positions and fellowships)
Who can apply? Open to domestic and international students
Details: Many MS students receive financial support through research or teaching assistantships. Additionally, external and internal fellowships provide full funding for outstanding applicants.
Website: https://grad.berkley.edu/financial/options-for-financial-support/
4. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Funding: Fully funded scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships
Who can apply? Open to all students
Details: CMU’s School of Computer Science offers several funding opportunities, including research assistantships and fellowships such as the Presidential Fellowship and the GEM Fellowship. The MS in Computer Science program is highly research-focused.
Website: https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/funding/index.html
5. Harvard University
Funding: Full tuition and stipend (via fellowships and assistantships)
Who can apply? Open to U.S. and international students
Details: Harvard’s MS in CS students often receive full funding through research assistantships or prestigious fellowships like the Harvard GSAS Fellowship.
Website:https://gsas.harvard.edu/financial-support/funding-and aid
6. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Funding: Full tuition and stipend (via assistantships and fellowships)
Who can apply? Open to domestic and international students
Details: UIUC’s Grainger College of Engineering offers financial support for graduate students through teaching and research assistantships, which cover tuition and provide a stipend.
Website: https://www.grad.illinois.edu/funding
7. University of Washington (UW)
Funding: Full tuition, stipend, and health benefits (via assistantships and fellowships)
Who can apply? Open to all students
Details: UW’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering offers research and teaching assistantships that fully fund many master’s students.
Website:https://grad.uw.edu/graduate-student-funding/how-do-i-pay-for-graduate-school/
8. Columbia University
Funding: Full funding through fellowships, assistantships, and scholarships
Who can apply? Open to international and domestic students
Details: Columbia’s MS in CS program offers research assistantships and fellowships that cover tuition and provide a stipend. Students can also apply for external funding sources.
Website: https://www.engineering.columbia.edu/admissions-aid/graduate-admissions/graduate-funding-opportunities
9. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Funding: Full tuition, stipend, and health insurance (via RA/TA positions)
Who can apply? Open to all students
Details: The University of Michigan offers funding through graduate research assistantships (GRA), teaching assistantships (GTA), and fellowships.
Website: https://cse.engin.umich.edu/academics/graduate/admissions/funding/
10. Princeton University
Funding: Full tuition, stipend, and health insurance (via fellowships and assistantships)
Who can apply? Open to domestic and international students
Details: Princeton provides full financial support to most graduate students in Computer Science through fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.
Website:https://gradschool.princeton.edu/financial-support/financial-support-model/master%E2%80%99s-degree-funding#:~:text=All%20admitted%20students%20receive%20100,expenses%20throughout%20your%20degree%20program
