MS in VLSI in USA: Universities, Admissions, Costs & Requirements

MS in VLSI in USA: Universities, Admissions, Costs & Requirements

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Highlights: 

  • Program Focus: MS in VLSI in USA is a 1-2 year program on integrated circuits' design, fabrication and miniaturization.
  • Eligibility: Students with a bachelor's degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering or a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA can apply. 
  • Cost: The total cost of studying MS in VLSI in USA can range from USD 24,000 - 60,000 (tuition fees and living expenses.)
  • Job Prospects: Graduates of the course earn an average salary of 115,586 USD annually. 
  • Post-Study Work Permit: After graduation, you can stay up to 3 years in US to look for jobs.

MS in VLSI is a 1 to 2-year course covered under electrical engineering as a specialization or as a separate course in US universities. VLSI stands for Very-Large-Scale Integration. It is the process of combining millions of small chips to form integrated circuits. You need to apply for an F1 Visa to study MS in VLSI in USA. The average cost of studying ranges from INR 20 lakhs to 50 lakhs. After your MS in VLSI in the US, you can earn an average of INR 95 Lakhs. MS in VLSI in USA provides them an opportunity to work with renowned companies such as Apple, Huawei, etc. where they can develop circuits and earn profitable salaries.


Top Universities for MS in VLSI in USA

Many US universities have entrepreneurial ecosystems with incubators and accelerators helping you turn your VLSI design ideas into reality. Some of the best universities for MS in VLSI in USA are – 

Universities Course Deadlines Tuition Fees (USD)
University of Southern California MS in Electrical Engineering September 1 47,469
New York University MS in Electrical Engineering December 15 37,451
Purdue University MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

August 21

27,030
Michigan State University MS in Electrical Engineering September 15 29,850
North Carolina State University MS in Computer Engineering July 1 36,942
Illinois Institute of Technology MAS in VLSI and Microelectronics June 14 34,240
Michigan Technological University MS in Electrical Engineering November 1 27,702
Wright State University MS in Electrical Engineering September 15 17,175
Florida International University MS in Computer Engineering June 1 20,040
Southern Illinois University MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering October 15 23,079

What is MS in VLSI in USA?

MS in VLSI in the USA is a master's course opted for by students who have completed their bachelor's in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Electronics and Communication Engineering. The course teaches students how to fabricate, scale, design, and compress the size of circuits. Top universities in USA teach this course and provides students with great career opportunities in top MNCs. The course focuses on various aspects such as nanotechnology, multi-media processing, and optical communications. Not only this, but it also refines the research skills of students as it includes a lot of research work.


Admissions to MS in VLSI in USA

There are various requirements to complete the application for MS in VLSI in USA. The eligibility criteria and additional documents required are mentioned below:

Eligibility for MS in VLSI in USA

All the universities have separate eligibility criteria for admission to masters in VLSI. The academic requirements and English proficiency requirements are displayed in the table below.

University Academic Requirements English Language Proficiency
University of Southern California
  • Undergraduate degree in engineering, math or hard science
  • Satisfactory GPA
  • GRE scores
TOEFL iBT - 90 IELTS - 6.5
New York University
  • 4-years Bachelors
  • 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA
  • GRE Required
TOEFL iBT - 90 IELTS - 7
Purdue University
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • 3.25 out of 4.0 GPA
  • GRE optional
TOEFL iBT - 80 IELTS - 6.5
Michigan State University
  • 4-year bachelors in Electrical Engineering or a closely related subject
  • GRE Scores - 159
TOEFL iBT - 80 IELTS - 6.5
North Carolina State University
  • A bachelors degree
  • 3.25 out of 4.0 GPA
  • GRE Required
TOEFL iBT - 80 IELTS - 6.5
Illinois Institute of Technology
  • 4- years bachelor degree in any field
  • GRE not required
TOEFL iBT - 90 IELTS - 6.5
Michigan Technological University
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA
TOEFL iBT - 79 IELTS - 6.5
Wright State University
  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
  • 2.9 out of 4.0 GPA
  • GRE Scores - 290 minimum
TOEFL iBT - 79 IELTS - 6 PTE - 57
Florida International University
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 3.0 GPA out of 4
TOEFL iBT - 80 IELTS - 6.5
Southern Illinois University
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 3.0 GPA out of 4
TOEFL iBT - 80 IELTS - 6.5

Additional Requirements for MS in VLSI in USA

Besides the academic and English language proficiency requirements some additional documents are required by the universities for the application:

  1. Official Transcripts from previous institutions
  2. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  3. Proof of financial funds
  4. 2-3 Strong Letters of Recommendation - These should be written by people who know you well and write a good recommendation.
  5. Work Experience (for some universities)
  6. CV/Resume

Cost of Studying MS in VLSI in USA

The cost of attending a university in the USA includes various expenses such as tuition fees, application fees, cost of living, etc. Therefore one must plan accordingly and save money to study in the USA.

Tuition Fees for MS in VLSI in USA

Most universities cost tuition fees according to the per credit hours for MS in VLSI in the USA. The tuition fees for the universities are mentioned below.

University Tuition Fee (USD) Tuition Fee (INR)
University of Southern California 64,698 53,23,849
New York University 42,040 34,59,374
Purdue University 14,959 12,30,941
Michigan State University 29,850 24,56,287
North Carolina State University 18,603 15,30,798
Illinois Institute of Technology 49,380 40,63,366
Michigan Technological University 26,505 21,81,035
Wright State University 25,965 11,10,883
Florida International University 20,000 16,45,754
Southern Illinois University 24,373 20,05,598

Cost of living in USA

The various expenses with their cost in INR while living in USA are tabulated.

Expense Type Average Cost (USD) Average Cost (INR)
Accommodation 9,800-11,100 8,13,868 - 9,21,831
Food 250 per month 20,668
Transportation 350 per month 28,935
Internet 45 per month 3,720
Books 1,200-1,500 99,207-1,24,008
Health Insurance 700 57,870

Scholarships for MS in VLSI in USA

Studying for a Masters in VLSI in a foreign country can cost a lot for international students. Therefore, there are various scholarships in USA to aid the financial needs of students. A few of these scholarships are listed below.

Scholarship Eligibility Awards (USD)
University Center for International Education (UCIE) Graduate Merit Scholarship Excellent Academic Performance 2500 (2.7 - 2.9 GPA) 5,000 (3.0 and above)
Florida International University (Presidential Scholarship) 4.0 GPA and 1370 SAT 100% tuition and books
Florida International University (Ambassador Scholarship) 4.0 GPA and 1280 SAT 75% tuition fees and books
Florida International University (Transfer Scholarship) 3.8 GPA and 60 transferable credit hours 50% tuition and books
Willis Swartz Graduate Student Scholarship Award International Students 2 awards of 1000

MS in VLSI in USA Placements

The MS in VLSI in USA graduates are offered great career opportunities at good positions. The average salaries range from 70,000 USD to 160,000 USD. The average salaries of some job roles in this field are mentioned below

Job Role Average Annual Salary (USD) Average Annual Salary (INR)
Design Engineer 115,586 95,11,306
Principal Engineer 160,251 1,31,86,686
Electrical Engineer 73,548 60,52,095
Implementation Manager 82,442 67,83,962
Product Development Engineer 95,313 78,43,087
Senior Hardware Design Engineer 112,413 92,50,207
Senior Software Engineer 126,120 1,03,78,124

MS in VLSI in USA: Return on Investment

In comparison to the tuition fees for MS in VLSI in USA, the average annual salaries are highly profitable which means the course offers a great return on investment. The ROIs of some universities are mentioned in the table below.

University Tuition Fees (USD) Average Annual Salary (USD)
University of Southern California 64,698 134,276
Purdue University 14,959 87,247
Michigan State University 29,850 110,131
North Carolina State University 18,603 99,347
Michigan Technological University 26,505 107,890
Wright State University 25,965 116,724

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques: Which university is best for MS in VLSI in USA?

Ans: Some of the top universities in the USA offer courses for MS in VLSI in the USA. The best universities are

  1. University of Southern California
  2. Purdue University
  3. New York University

Ques: Is VLSI a good career in the USA?

Ans: The scope of VLSI in the USA is very high. The graduates with this degree are hired by the top companies in the USA which makes it one of the best courses to study.

Ques: What is the average salary of a VLSI engineer in the USA?

Ans: The average salary of a VLSI engineer in the USA is 120,016 USD according to salary.com

Ques: Can I pursue MS in VLSI in the USA without GRE?

Ans: Some universities such as Illinois Institute of Technology and Purdue University offer MS in VLSI in the USA without GRE or have made it optional.

Ques: Is MS in VLSI in the USA tough?

Ans: Any subject can be tough when you don’t have sufficient knowledge, especially in engineering courses. Therefore, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field can make MS in VLSI in the USA easy.

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