MS Computer Science at UCLA: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

MS Computer Science at UCLA: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

Los Angeles, CaliforniaLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1919established year
46676enrollment
Public
Los Angelescampus
8.0/10

Master of Science [MS] (Computer Science)

2 years
Full Time
On Campus

Course Offered by

Ranked #20 out of 1200 by THE Global Ranking 2022

$14,430 /Yr

43 Students Applied
4 Students Admitted
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Shreyashi Pathak

Study Abroad Expert | Updated on - Aug 21, 2026

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science is a two-year, full-time, on-campus graduate programme in Los Angeles, California for international applicants. It targets Fall 2027 applicants with a four-year degree and 3.0 grade points on 4.0, approximately 75% to 80% or 7.5 to 8.0 on 10. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 graduate tuition and mandatory fees were US$30,710 (INR 29.40 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.

The curriculum develops advanced computing ability through graduate coursework and a student-driven capstone or research thesis. This structure suits applicants choosing between doctoral preparation and software-focused professional work, provided they can show substantial mathematics, programming and systems preparation. The programme offers fields such as artificial intelligence, systems, data science, graphics and vision and networked software systems.

  • The thesis or capstone choice lets students align a final project with research or industry goals.
  • The department reports that students commonly complete the requirements in five to six quarters.
  • Three CS 201 seminars supplement formal courses and provide a structured graduate orientation.

Current Admission Status

Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Not Yet Open. International student deadline: 15 December 2026 at 23:59 Pacific Time, equivalent to 16 December 2026 at 13:29 Indian Standard Time.

The department accepts applications once each year, so Indian applicants should prepare recommendations, statements and financial documents before the window opens.

Exchange Rate Used: All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.7416 as of 20 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Also Check: UCLA Computer Science Admission


UCLA MS Computer Science Fees and Living Costs 2027

UCLA has not yet published Fall 2027 tuition, so students need a prior-year figure for planning. The latest 2026-27 graduate budget gives a useful cost baseline, while the application fee is already available for the current cycle.

The table below breaks down the 2026-27 university fees and nonresident tuition, along with the current international application fee. Use the US$30,710 total only as a planning estimate, not as the confirmed 2027 tuition.

Fee item Amount (USD) Amount (INR)
2026-27 prior-cycle university fees US$15,608 INR 14.94 Lakhs
2026-27 prior-cycle nonresident supplemental tuition US$15,102 INR 14.46 Lakhs
Calculated 2026-27 graduate tuition and mandatory fees US$30,710 INR 29.40 Lakhs
Current UCLA graduate application fee for international applicants US$155 INR 14,840
  • Because the target tuition is unpublished, do not treat the 2026-27 amount as a Fall 2027 invoice.
  • The application fee is separate from tuition and is payable when the UCLA graduate application is submitted.

Cost of Living in Los Angeles for Computer Science MS Students

UCLA’s 2026-27 graduate cost-of-attendance page separates university charges from housing, food, study materials, transport, personal costs and health insurance.

The table retains official cost categories, while monthly figures are calculated estimates, not rental quotes.

Expense Monthly (USD) Monthly (INR) Annual (USD) Annual (INR)
Housing US$1,518.42 INR 1.45 Lakhs US$18,221 INR 17.45 Lakhs
Food US$878.83 INR 84,141 US$10,546 INR 10.10 Lakhs
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment US$167.00 INR 15,989 US$2,004 INR 1.92 Lakhs
Transportation US$318.25 INR 30,470 US$3,819 INR 3.66 Lakhs
Personal expenses US$268.25 INR 25,683 US$3,219 INR 3.08 Lakhs
Health insurance US$626.25 INR 59,958 US$7,515 INR 7.19 Lakhs
Combined non-tuition budget US$3,777.00 INR 3.62 Lakhs US$45,324 INR 43.39 Lakhs

Source: UCLA Graduate Student Cost of Attendance, 2026-27 prior-cycle planning reference.

Calculated Two-Year Planning Budget

A two-year planning budget is about US$152,068 (INR 1.46 Crore) based on prior-cycle costs. This includes tuition, mandatory fees, and estimated non-tuition expenses. It is only a planning estimate, as 2027 costs may change and actual spending can vary by student.

Read More: United States living costs for international students

Target-cycle fee action

Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished, so verify the new nonresident schedule on the official UCLA fee page before accepting an offer or calculating funding.

ROI reality: The prior-cycle two-year planning illustration is US$152,068 (INR 1.46 Crore), while Fall 2027 tuition remains unpublished; secure a funding ceiling before applying.

UCLA MS Computer Science Admission 2027

The academic minimum is a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, but the department says most competitive applicants have at least 3.5.The average admitted cumulative GPA is 3.60, so Indian applicants should treat the published minimum as eligibility rather than a selection target.

The table separates formal requirements from preparation signals that affect an application’s academic credibility.

Requirement UCLA Computer Science standard Indian-applicant meaning
Academic degree Four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent with above-average scholarship Provide complete transcripts and the university’s required credential documents
Minimum GPA GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale Approximately 75% to 80% or CGPA 7.5 to 8.0 on 10 for planning; UCLA makes the formal equivalency decision
Competitive academic profile Most competitive applicants have GPA 3.5 or higher; average admitted cumulative GPA is 3.60 Approximately 85% to 90% or CGPA 8.5 to 9.0 on 10 as a planning range, not a published conversion
Prior graduate degree Applicants with a prior master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field are not considered Confirm that your highest completed degree does not place you in this exclusion
Recommendations At least three letters, preferably from junior or senior professors for MS applicants Choose referees who can assess advanced computing, mathematics or research ability
Written materials Statement of purpose and personal history statement, each limited to 500 words Use the two essays for separate academic evidence rather than repeating the resume
Work experience No minimum work-experience requirement is published Professional experience can support context but cannot replace core academic preparation
GRE The target-cycle requirement is not stated on the current department page The last dated departmental policy concerns Fall 2025-26, so verify the Fall 2027 checklist before testing

The programme expects strong preparation in programming, mathematics and computer systems because graduate coursework moves beyond introductory computing. Applicants without a clear technical foundation should use transcripts, projects and recommendations to show readiness instead of relying on the GPA alone.

English Language Proficiency for UCLA MS Computer Science

UCLA accepts TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic for applicants who do not qualify through prior education.TOEFL iBT means the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language, and the current policy separates exams taken before and after 21 January 2026.

Route Published UCLA rule Action for Indian applicants
TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026 4.5 overall; send scores to UCLA institution code 4837; MyBest scores are not accepted Use the current 1 to 6 scale exactly as published and do not self-convert
TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 87 overall Use the legacy scale only for an eligible score date
IELTS Academic 7.0 overall band Send the score to the major department and UCLA Graduate Education
Prior education exemption Bachelor’s degree or higher from the United States or a country where English is the sole language of instruction under the World Higher Education Database Confirm that the institution and degree meet UCLA’s stated exemption conditions
Post-admission writing check English as a Second Language Placement Examination (ESLPE) may be required below TOEFL 5 or IELTS 7.5 Budget for the examination after admission
  • A TOEFL score of 4.5 or IELTS band 7.0 meets the stated admission minimum, while a lower score can trigger post-arrival writing assessment.
  • Scores must be valid when the application is submitted, so schedule testing within UCLA’s two-year validity window.
  • Use the prior-education exemption only after confirming the institution’s English instruction status through UCLA’s stated route.

English score action

Before submitting a score or claiming an exemption, verify the current scale, validity and waiver conditions on UCLA’s official English requirements page.

Tip for Indian students: A 3.0 GPA is only the floor; build an evidence-led file around advanced technical coursework, three strong recommendations and a precise computing direction.

UCLA MS Computer Science Application 2027

The M.S. Computer Science department admits students once a year for Fall 2027, making the December deadline the central application date. The published application window runs from mid-September to 15 December, while decision and reply dates are not published for this cycle. The deadline table shows the university timezone and the equivalent Indian Standard Time conversion for the target audience.

Stage University deadline India conversion or status
Fall 2027 application submission 15 December 2026 at 23:59 Pacific Time 16 December 2026 at 13:29 Indian Standard Time; Pacific Time controls the portal cutoff

UCLA has not published a target-cycle decision date or reply deadline, so applicants should monitor the application portal and email after submission.

How to Build a UCLA MS Computer Science Application

Lead with one technical or research question and connect it to relevant preparation, faculty interests and the thesis or capstone route. A generic software career statement will not explain why UCLA’s programme structure fits your proposed work.

  • Prepare the two 500-word statements early because each should present distinct evidence rather than repeat the resume.
  • Secure at least three academic recommendations from professors who can evaluate advanced computing, mathematics or research work.
  • Use transcripts and projects to show readiness for graduate systems, theory, artificial intelligence or data science coursework.
  • Plan proof of at least US$63,713 (INR 60.99 Lakhs) in first-year personal or agency support for the student-visa process.

For its 2022 cycle, the department reported more than 4,000 applications and 150 offers. That is about 3.8% offers among applications, but it is historical and not a Fall 2027 probability.

Deadline verification

Recheck the application window, Pacific Time cutoff and document checklist on the official Computer Science graduate requirements page when the Fall 2027 portal opens.

Application tip: Treat 15 December 2026 at 23:59 Pacific Time as the hard cutoff and finish recommendations, essays and funding evidence before the portal opens.

UCLA MS Computer Science Scholarships 2027

No target-cycle named scholarship with a published amount, eligibility rule and deadline was verified for international MS Computer Science applicants.The department states that MS applicants are not eligible for departmental financial support, so funding must be planned outside the Computer Science department.

The routes below distinguish unavailable departmental funding from actions an Indian applicant can still take.

Funding route Evidence for international MS Computer Science applicants Applicant action
Computer Science departmental funding MS applicants are not eligible for departmental financial support Do not include a CS department award in the initial budget
Teaching assistant, graduate researcher or reader appointment No departmental appointment or funding is guaranteed for MS applicants Do not treat a possible campus role as committed funding
Named UCLA scholarship No target-cycle international MS CS award with a published value and deadline was verified Check any award’s nationality, degree, cycle and separate application conditions
External scholarship or sponsor External funding may be used only when its rules accept this degree and destination Secure written eligibility and payment timing before relying on the award
Funding Evidence and Scholarship Risk

For visa planning, the department handbook states that international MS applicants need at least US$63,713 (INR 60.99 Lakhs) in first-year personal or agency support. This amount is a financial-support requirement rather than a scholarship award, and it should remain available even when external funding is under review.

  • Start external scholarship searches before the December application deadline because the department does not provide an MS funding backstop.
  • Separate tuition awards from living-cost awards because a partial fee reduction may not satisfy the first-year support requirement.
  • Keep sponsor letters, loan approvals and award conditions consistent with the amount shown in the visa financial documents.

Read More: UCLA funding and admissions profile

Funding verification

Confirm the current financial-support wording and any departmental restrictions in the official Computer Science graduate handbook before submitting financial documents.

Scholarship reality: UCLA’s CS department does not provide a dependable MS funding route, so apply only after arranging documented personal, sponsor or externally awarded support.

UCLA MS Computer Science Salary 2027

No course-cohort salary, offer-rate or placement report was published in the UCLA Computer Science materials checked for this M.S. programme. Because UCLA does not provide a verified M.S. Computer Science salary outcome, a payback forecast would require assumptions rather than programme evidence.

The evidence table identifies the missing outcome measures and the decision each gap creates for an Indian applicant.

Evidence scope Published result Decision implication
Course-cohort salary No current M.S. Computer Science salary measure published Do not treat an external technology salary as a UCLA graduate outcome
Course-cohort employment No course-specific offer rate or placement rate published Test repayment against your own target role rather than a placement promise
Course-level sector or geography No current sector, employer or location breakdown published Investigate the job market for the specialisation and location you intend to pursue
Official ROI evidence Programme structure and cost are available, but outcome data are not Use a conservative funding scenario and exclude unverified salary growth

Source: UCLA Computer Science graduate admissions and programme materials checked for course-level outcomes.

Professional ROI for Indian Applicants

The calculated 2026-27 prior-cycle two-year planning total is US$152,068 (INR 1.46 Crore), while Fall 2027 tuition remains unpublished.

  • No course salary or placement figure is published, so build repayment around a conservative target-role salary rather than an assumed UCLA outcome.
  • Two full-time years expose the student to two years of tuition and living costs, so retain the prior-cycle baseline plus a contingency before borrowing.
  • The student-driven capstone supports an industry portfolio, while the thesis supports research preparation, so choose the route that matches your verified next step.
  • F-1 status provides 12 months of Optional Practical Training, while a 24-month STEM extension remains conditional and should not be assumed.
  • The absence of departmental MS funding leaves the full cost exposure with the applicant, so secure documented funding before enrolment.

Headline salary is not take-home pay because U.S. taxes and benefits change the amount received. Applicants who later receive U.S. payroll income can review the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, but nonresident tax status requires separate guidance.

ROI reality: UCLA offers a technically rigorous two-year route, but missing salary outcomes and unpublished Fall 2027 tuition make funding discipline more important than a headline payback estimate.

Check Out: Popular Scholarships to Study in USA 


United States Visa for UCLA MS Computer Science Students 2027

International students need an F-1 (academic student visa), with a US$185 (INR 17,712) application fee and a US$350 (INR 33,510) I-901 SEVIS fee. The I-901 SEVIS fee supports the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record, making the combined visa and SEVIS cost US$535 (INR 51,222). OPT means Optional Practical Training, and the standard post-completion work period is 12 months. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) extension is conditional, and UCLA has not confirmed it for this exact Computer Science degree.

  • The department requires at least US$63,713 (INR 60.99 Lakhs) in first-year personal or agency support for international MS applicants.
  • A possible 24-month STEM extension should be treated as conditional, so test your job-search plan against the standard 12-month OPT period.
  • F-2 status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but F-2 dependants are not employment-authorized.
  • An H-1B specialty-occupation work visa and permanent residence have no course-specific promise because sponsorship, wage rules and visa availability control.

Check Out: United States student visa resources

Visa reality: The reliable planning base is F-1 study followed by 12 months of OPT; confirm the degree classification before including any STEM extension in your financial plan.

UCLA MS Computer Science Ranking 2027

The latest programme-specific ranking statement found on UCLA’s current Computer Science admissions page places the programme at #11. The position belongs to the 2022 U.S. News Best Computer Science Schools ranking, so it is historical context rather than a current 2027 result.

No target-cycle ranking edition was confirmed in the checked official material, and the historical position does not establish placement probability.

Publisher Edition Scope Position
U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Computer Science Schools Graduate Computer Science programmes #11

Indian applicants can use the historical subject position as one academic signal, but the thesis or capstone fit, technical preparation and funding plan carry more immediate decision weight.

Read More: UCLA Computer Science ranking details

Honest take: The verified #11 position is a 2022 subject-ranking reference; assess the 2027 application using current requirements, cost and programme fit rather than an old rank alone.

UCLA’s MS Computer Science suits Indian applicants with a four-year technical degree, strong quantitative preparation and a defined thesis or capstone direction. Its two-year full-time structure offers depth, but unpublished Fall 2027 tuition and absent course salary data create material funding uncertainty. The historical #11 subject ranking is useful context, yet it cannot replace evidence about current costs, fit or employment outcomes. Prepare the three recommendations, 500-word statements and first-year funding proof before the application window opens for the 15 December 2026 deadline.

FAQs

Ques. Can Indian students apply to UCLA MS Computer Science without a prior master’s degree?

Ans. Yes, applicants can apply with a four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent and the required academic and English preparation. A prior master’s in Computer Science or a related field is not considered.

Ques. What should an Indian applicant budget for UCLA MS Computer Science in Fall 2027?

Ans. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished. The official 2026-27 planning illustration was US$152,068 (INR 1.46 Crore) for two years, and it is not a target-cycle quote.

Ques. What is the UCLA MS Computer Science deadline and intake for Indian applicants?

Ans. UCLA admits the MS Computer Science cohort for Fall only. The deadline is 15 December 2026 at 23:59 Pacific Time, equivalent to 16 December 2026 at 13:29 Indian Standard Time.

Ques. Is the GRE required for UCLA MS Computer Science for Fall 2027?

Ans. The target-cycle GRE policy is not stated on the current department page. The last dated policy concerns Fall 2025-26, so verify the 2027 checklist before deciding whether to test.

Ques. Can UCLA MS Computer Science graduates receive a 36-month OPT period?

Ans. The standard post-completion Optional Practical Training period is 12 months. A further 24-month STEM extension is conditional, and UCLA has not confirmed it for this exact Computer Science degree.


Important Alert

  • Application Deadline For Fall 2027 Intake - Dec 15, 2026

Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
Tuition Fees$14430

Other Expenses

HeadAvg Cost Per Year
Food & Housing$27396
Transportation$3639

Previous Year Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
2024$33238
2023$11700
2021$11442

Important Dates

Dates for upcoming intake are tentative

EventApplication Date
Application Deadline For Fall 2027 Intake Dec 15, 2026

Scores Required

7 / 9

Avg. Score in

IELTS

4.5 / 6

Avg. Score in

TOEFL

155

Application Fees

36

ECTS Credits


Required Document List

Transcripts: Official or unofficial academic records from all institutions attended.
English Language Proficiency Score: Proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL), if applicable.
Resume: Summary of academic background, skills, and professional experience.
Copy of Passport: Identification page of a valid passport.
Statement of Purpose: Essay outlining academic interests, goals, and reasons for applying.
Letters of Reference: Recommendations from academic or professional referees.


Ranking

20222021

Times Higher Education logo
Sciences 20 out of 1200 in Global Ranking
( #4 out of 52 in USA 2022)

Academy Ranking of World Universities,Clasificación Académica de Universidades Mundiales logo
Sciences 7 out of 500 in Global Ranking
( #5 out of 147 in USA 2022)

US News logo
Sciences 20 out of 250 in Global Ranking
( #6 out of 57 in USA 2022)

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TOP Scholarships

Scholarship nameAward amountEligibility
Generation Google Scholarship$10,000Must be enrolled at a university this academic year, plan to continue next year, and be pursuing a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field



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Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids

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Go Clean ScholarshipScholarship per student$ 3,500/Yr$3,500Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based

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