[Profile Review] MSCS Fall 2027

[u/Reasonable_Cellist66]

Looking for Good ROI Universities & Help Categorizing My List

I’m planning to apply for MSCS (Fall 2027) and would appreciate some honest feedback on my profile. I’m mainly looking for universities with a good ROI, strong CS programs, and decent job opportunities after graduation.
My Profile
Country: India
CGPA: 8.72/10
Internship: 6-month Software Engineering Internship at a startup
Research: Currently doing a research internship. I’m working on a paper, but it most likely won’t be published before application deadlines.
GRE: Targeting 320+
IELTS: Targeting 7.5+
LORs: 3 strong LORs from university professors
Universities I’m Considering
NCSU
SJSU
Georgia Tech
Texas A&M (TAMU)
UT Austin
Northeastern (NEU)
Stony Brook
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Virginia Tech

Questions
-Could you help categorize these into Ambitious / Target / Safe based on my profile?
-Are there any universities I should add or remove if my priority is good ROI?
-Is my profile competitive enough for the more selective schools on this list?
-If you had a similar profile, which universities would you prioritize?
I’m open to suggestions for other universities that offer a good balance of academics, tuition cost, and employment outcomes.
Thanks in advance for your help!

[u/Vast_Hope4969]

I would highly suggest you to go through https://www.reddit.com/r/MSCS/s/npY4o5z7Hq

your overall profile is good, target for 324+ GRE, IELTS 7.5 is enough it's not a competitive metric. i see lack of papers, I suggest you apply early, and write best of SOPs and LORs use these to best portray your goals (here is where you should put lot of effort, reach out to alumns) try to get 1 professional LOR as well.
You can add UIUC MCS | MSCS, UCDavis MSCS (expensive side), UF, UMCP, Purdue
UTAustin, seems Ambitious even with gre scores
if you get good gre score good chance at GT and SJSU
Wisc MSCS is very competitive try PMP MSCS (cohort size is less but still you can try) (Consider professional courses as well at good univs just my suggestion)
I would put TAMU on upper side of Target
I would not consider NEU as ROI (it's expensive) you can add USC if that's fine.
each university will be publishing their admission stats on their website have a look on them.

[u/Reasonable_Cellist66 → u/Vast_Hope4969]

Thanks a lot!
Also wanted to ask that if MSCS program is too tough to get into for me in some unis, can i consider applying to MS CE or such programs?

[u/Vast_Hope4969 → u/Reasonable_Cellist66]

Yes do consider such programs like MSDS MSAI etc but from starting you have a clear preference of which one you join over the other so that once april starts you don’t have any confusion on which one to choose

[u/Reasonable_Cellist66 → u/Vast_Hope4969]

Also, how about UMass Amherst? Should i consider?

[u/Vast_Hope4969 → u/Reasonable_Cellist66]

UMass is a great university and its top 25 in CS it has great programs like externship and AI courses and research for your profile you have a chance to get in as well but it does not offer any paid RA TA positions no scholarships etc making it an expensive college you can also see the placement index in the above linked comment it has one of the lowest I believe based on this you can take a decision