An MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering is the most common route for Indian engineers into US chip design. This page covers the programs that feed the industry, what admission takes, and what changes after graduation.
Top research universities (Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, Georgia Tech, UIUC, Michigan) are excellent for circuits research and PhD paths. For an industry career after an MS, what matters most is whether chip companies recruit on that campus and whether the program has hands-on VLSI courses with real tools.
Several schools are known for exactly that and enrol large numbers of international students in VLSI tracks: USC, UT Dallas, Arizona State, Texas A&M, NC State and the University of Florida, alongside the top-ranked programs. Location matters too: Austin, Phoenix, San Diego and Dallas have dense chip employers nearby.
Most master's students fund themselves, so cost and the post-study work rules matter. STEM graduates can work on OPT for 12 months plus a 24-month STEM extension. Longer-term visa policy changed repeatedly in 2025–26, so check current USCIS guidance before you commit.
| Degree | MS in Electrical (and Computer) Engineering, sometimes with a VLSI or circuits track. |
|---|---|
| Tests | GRE is optional or not required at many schools now; TOEFL or IELTS is usually required. |
| Intake | Mostly Fall (August); some offer Spring (January). Deadlines are usually December to February for Fall. |
| Cost | Roughly US$30,000–70,000 a year in tuition, plus living costs. Teaching and research assistantships are limited for MS students. |
| After graduating | OPT for 12 months, plus 24 more months on the STEM extension for eligible degrees. |
Fees, thresholds and deadlines change every year. Treat these as orientation and confirm on the official sites before you apply.
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Best for circuits research, PhDs and the most competitive industry roles.
In the middle of Silicon Valley, with deep links to NVIDIA, Apple, Google and every major chip company.
Birthplace of SPICE, RISC and RISC-V; the one-year MEng is industry-focused.
World-class circuits and microsystems research; mostly a PhD route.
Large ECE school with strong VLSI, packaging and analog programs.
In one of the biggest chip hubs: AMD, Apple, Arm, NXP and Samsung are minutes away.
One of the largest and most respected ECE departments.
Strong in low-power circuits and microsystems.
Built a large semiconductor education program with industry partners.
Strong in computer architecture and EDA research.
Large VLSI course offerings and many international MS students who go straight into industry.
One of the most popular VLSI MS programs among Indian students.
Next door to Qualcomm and San Diego's RF and modem cluster.
Large VLSI program near Texas Instruments and the Dallas chip cluster.
Close to TSMC Arizona, Intel Chandler and Microchip.
Well-known analog and mixed-signal group.
Large program with strong ASIC and computer-engineering courses.
Popular with international students; strong in hardware security.
One of the few undergraduate microelectronic-engineering degrees with its own cleanroom.
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For research and PhDs: Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, Georgia Tech, UT Austin, UIUC and Michigan. For an industry-focused MS with many VLSI courses and international students: USC, UT Dallas, ASU, Texas A&M, NC State, UCSD and Florida, among others.
Many US programs have made the GRE optional or dropped it. Check each program; English tests such as TOEFL or IELTS are still usually required.
STEM graduates can usually work on OPT for 12 months plus a 24-month STEM extension. Longer-term work visas depend on current US policy, which has changed often in 2025–26.
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