Baibhav Phukan Review at Arizona State University [ASU], Tempe | Collegedunia

My Master's at Arizona State University Review

7.7
Verified Review (Out of 10)
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Academic
8.0
Accommodation
8.0
Faculty
6.0
Infrastructure
8.0
Social Life
10.0
Placement
6.0

Student's Snapshots

Campus
Campus
Campus
Extra-Curricular
Baibhav Phukan
Reviewed on Aug 23, 2025(Enrolled 2022)

Course Curriculum

8

  • The MS CS course at ASU is fairly challenging but manageable, with a good mix of theory and hands-on work. I liked the flexibility in choosing courses and the strong research focus, though some popular classes do get crowded.
  • Usually, I had 1–2 classes a day, mostly between 9 AM and 5 PM. Most classes had around 100–200 students, and there were plenty of Indian students around, which felt nice and familiar.
     

Admission Experience

  • ASU - Admitted, UT Dallas - Admitted, UCSD - Rejected, NYU - Rejected, Texas A&M - Rejected
  • Pandemic deferrals created a huge applicant backlog, making competition fierce. Additionally, a non-CS background put me at a disadvantage, as many programs favor applicants with direct experience. These two factors likely combined to make admissions extra tough for my intake year.
  • I picked ASU because they had a great program for my major and the campus felt right. I had a few friends who got into some great opportunities after graduation. The weather is also similar to the part of the world I belong to. The whole application was pretty easy. just an online form, transcripts, a CV and my grades. I didn't even have to send in my GRE scores since they were optional. The wait was a bit stressful, but I got my acceptance pretty fast, so that was a huge relief.
  • I applied for the Fall 2022 intake at ASU for MS in CS. I chose it to align with visa timelines and start early. I submitted my application in early March 2022 and received my admit decision in about 2 weeks. The entire process, from application to acceptance, took around 2–3 weeks. The early admission helped me prepare visa documents really increasingly smoothly.

Faculty

6

  • The faculty-to-student ratio in MS CS at ASU is a bit high, especially in core or popular courses, so it can be tough to get individual attention unless you reach out directly.
  • Professors mostly use a mix of lectures, assignments, and projects, pretty job-focused overall. Some professors do help with job or research referrals if you build a good connection.
  • I really liked Prof. Ni Trieu; she's super knowledgeable in cybersecurity and explains complex stuff in a really clear way.

Campus Life

8

  • ASU has multiple campuses, but most MS CS students are based at the Tempe campus. It has everything: huge libraries, great sports facilities, gyms, and student health centers.
  • There are tonnes of clubs and events, like Homecoming, Hackathons, and cultural fests. You’ll find all kinds of student orgs, coding, dance, photography, and sports. It’s super active and there’s always something happening on campus.

Part Time Jobs

  • Getting TA/RA positions at ASU is pretty competitive, and only some students get them. Pay is usually between $16 and $22 per hour. Other on-campus jobs pay around $14 to $20 an hour. Students can work up to 25 hours a week during the semester. It’s not super easy to land these jobs, so applying early and having good grades helps a lot. Building connections with professors can also improve your chances.
  • Most of the students earn more than minimum wage, which is about $14.5. Finding a part-time job is generally viewed as quite challenging but most of the students do happen to find one thing or another once they start hustling. There is a separate portal where we can look for part-time jobs and submit our documents to apply. A lot of students get in touch with professors and build a rapport in order to be offered a TA/RA job

Placement

6

  • I would say around 60% of my batch were able to secure employment within 6 months of graduating. I cannot speak about the average salary range of most students, as that is a sensitive topic of discussion.
  • Finding jobs is usually done independently through job portals or getting referrals from their network. Amazon hired a lot of students from my batch and some of them also got into Microsoft, Meta and similar FAANG-like companies.

Accommodation

Off Campus
8

  • I found my accommodation through WhatsApp and Facebook groups; those student housing groups are super active around ASU. My rent was around $450/month, including utilities, Wi-Fi, and laundry. Biggest challenge was finding a good place quickly since spots fill up fast before the semester starts.
  • I'd suggest joining groups early and shortlisting options in advance. I stayed about 10–15 minutes from campus by bike. Most Indian students stay around Apache Blvd or Rural Rd; it’s affordable and close to everything.

Exams

  • For my program, I had to submit my GRE and TOEFL for English proficiency. I am also required to submit my SOP, CV and transcripts. There was no requirement for LORs.
  • I did not have to appear for any interview. All of the decisions were based on my overall academic background and prior experience in the technical industry. One thing to note is that the GRE was completely optional.

Fees

  • It cost me around $69000, which included a tuition fee of about $37000 and the rest of it was living expenses. Fees are charged for each credit and we need to pay them each semester.
  • My monthly expenses used to be: rent - $500, food - $250, miscelleanous - $1000 to $2000. The actual monthly expenses would largely depend on the individual's personal choices as well.

Scholarship

  • Yes, ASU offers scholarships for MS CS students, mainly merit-based from the Fulton Schools of Engineering. Typical awards are $6k-$8k. Few students also receive highly competitive TAs/RAs, which often come with tuition waivers.
  • Eligibility is based on academic merit like GPA and English proficiency scores. These forms of aid can significantly reduce the overall cost of the degree.