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MS in VLSI in USA: Universities, Admissions, Cost and Much More

Trisha • 10 Mins read • 13 Aug 25

MS in VLSI in USA

The MS in VLSI in USA is about the design and development of integrated circuits, which are applicable in virtually all modern electronics. In the USA, the average duration of completing an MS in VLSI is 1.5 to 2 years. Around. 3 lakh Indian students go to the US each year for higher education.

The MS in VLSI in USA syllabus includes subjects as digital design, microprocessors, and fabrication of circuits, and practical training on CAD tools. The total tuition fees for MS in VLSI in the USA include $30,000-$70,000. To be eligible to apply for MS in VLSI in USA, candidates need a bachelor's degree in electronics or a related field. GRE and IELTS/ TOEFL scores are mandatory for admission to the MS in VLSI in the USA.

The top Universities offering MS in VLSI include Stanford, MIT, and Berkeley. The top recruiters for MS in VLSI in the USA include Intel, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, Texas Instruments, and many more. The average salary package for an MS in VLSI in the USA is around $70,000- $100,000.

MS in VLSI in USA: Quick Highlights

The table below contains important information on programs, duration, syllabus, and much more.

Aspect	Details
Program	MS in VLSI (Very-Large-Scale Integration) in the USA
Duration	1.5–2 years
Indian Students in US (Yearly)	330,000
Key Subjects in Syllabus	Digital Design Microprocessors, Circuit Fabrication CAD Tools
Tuition Fees (Total)	$30,000–$70,000
Eligibility	Bachelor's in Electronics (or related), GRE, IELTS/TOEFL
Top Universities	Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley
Top Recruiters	Intel, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, Texas Instruments, more
Average Salary Package	$70,000–$100,000

MS in VLSI in USA: Important Dates/ Events

Candidates can apply for the GREs throughout the year. However, specific exam dates are scheduled each month. The table below contains detailed information on important dates and events for MS in VLSI in the USA.

Events	Important Dates
GRE Exam dates in September 2025	Sept 8-21
GRE dates in October 2025	October 13-26

Visa Application Timeline

The USA visa process takes around 2-6 weeks. However, it is recommended to start 3 months before. The table below contains important information on the USA student visa application timeline.

Events	Dates
Apply online with the DS-160 form	Up to 365 days before the start
Visa interview	3 months before the program starts
Post visa approval	30 days before start

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines for the USA Universities range between September - December. The table below contains important information on the application timeline.

University	Tentative Application Deadlines
California Institute of Technology	November 1
Stanford University	December 15
Michigan Technological University	November 1
Wright State University	September 15
Southern Illinois University	October 15

Why Choose MS in VLSI in USA?

Specialised courses, high employment opportunities, and research are some of the reasons why choose MS in VLSI in USA. Read below to know more in detail.

MS courses in US universities are very specialised. The students interested in taking up sub-specialisations like integrated circuit design, micro architecture, and chip making courses prefer to shift to the USA to pursue VLSI studies as higher students.
It is easy to obtain different employment opportunities for MS in VSLI graduates, as the industry is large. The number of career opportunities for students includes RTL design, SoC verification, physical layout, and much more.
For USA students, various research opportunities are available in the fields of AI accelerators, quantum logic devices, hardware security architecture, and many more. These funds are provided by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC).
In the USA, students can obtain research opportunities in such fields as e. VLSI programs fall under the category of STEM. Therefore, without H-1B sponsorship, candidates can get an extension on OPT.

MS in VLSI in USA: Tuition Fees

The total tuition fees for the MS in VLSI in the USA range between $42,040- $64,698. The table below contains details about fees. Structure for each University.

University	Total Fees(USD)	Total Fees(INR)
University of Southern California	$64,698	₹56,14,254.92
New York University	$42,040	₹36,48,076
Stanford University	$51,857- $63,381	₹45,00,000 – 55,00,000
California Institute of Technology	$50,705- $62,228	₹44,00,000 – ₹54,00,000
University of Michigan	$43,790-$55,314	₹38,00,000- ₹48,00,000
Carnegie Mellon University	$48,400- $59,924	₹42,00,000 – ₹52,00,000

MS in VLSI in USA: Living Costs

The living costs in the USA can be divided into various categories, including accommodation, electricity, food, health insurance, and transportation. Students can check the table below to get information about each category in detail.

Particulars	Average Monthly Costs(USD)	Average Monthly Costs(INR)
Accommodation	$1,500-$2,500	₹1,31,660-₹21,94,337
Electricity	$ 100 - $150	₹8,777-₹13,166
Food	$400 - $ 600	₹35,109-₹52,577
Health Insurance	$200 - $600	₹17,526-₹52,577
Transportation	$30-$50	₹2,628-₹4,381
Total	$2,230 – $3,900	₹1,95,700 – ₹23,57,000

MS in VLSI in USA: Eligibility Criteria

Candidates have to meet specific eligibility criteria for admission to MS in VLSI course in the USA. The table below contains detailed information about MS in VLSI in Canada eligibility criteria.

Particulars	Details
Educational Qualification	Bachelor’s in Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering
Minimum GPA	3.0/4.0
GRE cut off	Verbal: 153-160 Quantitative: 159-167 Writing: 3.0-5.0
English Proficiency	TOEFL: 79–105 IELTS: above 6.5
Relevant Prerequisite Courses	Digital design, electronics, circuits (varies by program)
Income certificate	Required for application/visa
Work Experience	Not mandatory

MS in VLSI in USA: Application Process

To get admission in MS in VLSI in the USA, candidates must first select the University, sit for the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS examination, apply online via the official University portal, and pay the application fees. The step-wise MS in VLSI application process is as follows:

Step 1- Candidates must first research about top Universities that offer MS programs in VLSI. After, they must shortlist the ones as per their convenience.

Step 2- English proficiency is compulsory to get admission in USA Universities for MS in VLSI course. For this, the candidates must appear for TOEFL/IELTS exams.

Step 3- After the results, the candidates must send their IELTS/ TOEFL scores to the specific Universities. The IELTS/ TOEFL score cards contain both overall and sectional marks.

Step 4- Candidates must now go to the official website portal of individual universities and fill out the application forms. After this, they must upload all the necessary documents required and pay the application fees.

Step 6- Candidates can now log in to the website portal and check the application status from the official website portal of the Universities.

Step 7- If the candidate is selected, the Universities may call the applicant for the interview process.

Step 8- The University's final selected candidates are sent via email or the official website portal. This takes about 2 to 3 months from the application deadline. However, admission is only confirmed after the payment of the admission fees.

MS in VLSI USA: Documents required

The documents required for MS in VLSI in Canada are as follows
Academic transcripts
Degree Certificate / Provisional Certificate
GRE score report
TOEFL / IELTS score card
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
Resume / Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Valid passport
Application Form
Financial Documents (Bank Statements, Affidavit of Support)
Visa Documents (I-20, SEVIS Fee Receipt, DS-160 Confirmation, Visa Appointment Letter, etc.)

MS in VLSI in USA: Entrance Exams

Candidates have to qualify for the GRE and IELTS/ TOEFL examinations to be qualified for MS in VLSI. Read below to know about MS in VLSI in USA entrance exams details.

Entrance exams	Conducting Body
IELTS	British Council, IDP education, and Cambridge assessment English
TOEFL	Educational Testing Service(ETS)
GRE	Educational Testing Service(ETS)

MS in VLSI in USA: Syllabus

The MS in VLSI in the USA syllabus includes circuit I&II, digital systems, electrodynamics, and many more. Details about each topic are provided below.

Course Title	Details
Multivariate Calculus	Theorems (Green, Stokes, Div.) Partial derivatives vector calculus multiple integrals
Differential Equations	applications in engineering First/second order ODEs Laplace transforms
Circuit Analysis I & II	AC/DC circuits transients Basic circuit laws mesh/nodal analysis Thevenin/Norton theorems
Digital Systems	combinational/sequential circuits flip-flops, state machines Boolean algebra Logic gates
Electrodynamics	Electric/magnetic fields Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves transmission lines
Signals and Systems	sampling, filters system analysis Fourier/Laplace transforms Signal types
Engineering Electronics	Diodes transistors amplifiers oscillators op-amps, analogue circuits

Ms in VLSI in USA: Core Courses

The MS in VLSI in the USA core courses include VLSI Design Fundamentals / Introduction to VLSI Design, Computer Architecture, Digital Design with HDL (Hardware Description Language), Logic Design and Synthesis, Physical Design and Verification. Follow the table below to know the details.

Core Course	Description
VLSI Design Fundamentals / Introduction to VLSI Design	Circuit simulation and layout Basics of integrated circuit design Design methodologies
Computer Architecture	Memory hierarchy and performance CPU design principles Study of processor organization
Digital Design with HDL (Hardware Description Language)	Design of digital systems using VHDL or Verilog Synthesis and verification Modelling and simulation of hardware
Logic Design and Synthesis	Optimization techniques Logic synthesis tools and algorithms Design of digital logic circuits
Physical Design and Verification	Timing analysis and verification methods Design rule checking IC layout design

MS in VLSI in USA: Elective Courses

The elective courses for the MS in VLSI in the USA are as follows:

Elective Subject	Details
Hardware and Software Co-Design	Synergism of hardware and software in VLSI design Focuses on design methodology and implementation issues.
Testing of VLSI Circuits	Methods for chip testing post-manufacturing, including burn-in testing, verification, and test vector design.
CMOS Device Modelling	Study of MOS device modelling, working concepts of MOSFETs
Analogue VLSI Design	Design and analysis of analogue integrated circuits and systems.
VLSI System Testing	Testing techniques and fault analysis for VLSI systems.

MS in VLSI in USA: Cut Off

To get admission in USA Universities, candidates must pass the GRE and IELTS/ TOEFL examinations. Follow the section below for details on the MS in VLSI in the USA cut-off.

MS In VLSI in the USA: GRE Scores

The GRE cut-off for MS in VLSI in the USA is as follows:

University	Verbal	Quantitative	Analytical Writing
Rice University	160	167	5.0
University of Washington	156	167	4.0
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	157	160	5.3
University of Chicago	154-158	160-165	4.0-4.5
Northwestern University	157-160	157-160	5.0
University of California, San Diego	162	160	5.5
Stanford University	158	160	4.8

MS in VLSI in Canada: TOEFL cut off

The IELTS cut-off for MS in VLSI in the USA ranges between 95-105. Harvard University has the highest TOEFL cut-off rate. Details about the MS in VLSI in the USA are provided below.

University	TOEFL Cut Off
Harvard University	105
Columbia University	100
California Institute of Technology	100
UC Berkeley	90-120
Duke University	100
Brown University	105
University of California, Los Angeles	80+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	84
Northwestern University	95

MS in VLSI in USA: Best Universities/ Colleges

Students must select the top Universities in the USA that offer an MS in VLSI in the USA. The table below contains the list of the best Universities/ colleges for MS in VLSI in the USA, along with their rank.

University	Global Rank
North Carolina State University	272
Illinois Institute of Technology	591
Wright State University	1501
Florida International University	582
Southern Illinois University	1501
Purdue University	88

MS in VLSI: USA VS India

An MS in VLSI in the USA will help students get better research facilities, greater industry exposure employability, as of course being near Silicon Valley. India is a lot less expensive and has less global exposure, comparatively. Read below to know about MS in VLSI USA vs Canada.

Particulars	MS in VLSI Design - USA	MS / M.Tech in VLSI Design - India
Program Focus	Advanced IC design, fabrication/miniaturization with the latest tech and research facilities	Strong theoretical and practical focus, with emphasis on fundamentals and industry applications
Typical Duration	1-2 years	2 years
Top Institutions	MIT Stanford UC Berkeley CMU, Caltech Michigan, Georgia Tech	IIT Bombay IIT Delhi, IIT Madras IIT Kharagpur NIT Surathkal
Tuition Fees (approx.)	₹20-50 lakhs/year (including living expenses)	₹3-7 lakhs total
Entrance Requirements	Bachelor’s in EE/ECE/CpE, GRE, TOEFL/IELTS, SOP, LORs	Bachelor’s in a relevant field, GATE, or university-specific entrance exams
Job Opportunities	High demand in the semiconductor industry with large tech firms (Intel, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, TSMC)	Good opportunities in top tech and semiconductor firms, research labs, and the Indian industry
Average Starting Salary	$70,000 - $100,000	₹8-12 LPA
Post-Study Work	Optional Practical Training (OPT) for 12 12-month work permit	Limited post-study international opportunities

MS in VLSI: Top Recruiters/ Placement Companies

The top recruiters of MS in VLSI in USA are as follows:

NVIDIA
Qualcomm
NXP Semiconductors
Samsung Electronics

MS in VLSI in USA: Career Options

The USA offers multiple job opportunities for VLSI graduates. The top career options after an MS in VLSI in the USA include VLSI Design Engineer, Physical Design Engineer, Verification Engineer, Firmware/Embedded Systems Engineer, and Analogue/Mixed-Signal Design Engineer.

Career Option	Description
VLSI Design Engineer	Designs integrated circuits and chipsFocuss on functional logic and digital architecture.
Physical Design Engineer	Convert digital circuit designs into manufacturable layouts, working on floor planning STA, routing.
Verification Engineer	Develops and implements testbenches and methodologies to ensure chip designs meet specifications.
Firmware/Embedded Systems Engineer	Works on hardware-centric software and embedded device integration
Analog/Mixed-Signal Design Engineer	Designs circuits that process both analog and digital signals

MS in VLSI in USA: Salary Package

In the USA, the starting salary package for MS in VLSI graduates is $139,060LPA –$120,000LPA. Placements in companies like Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA can help one earn $140,000+, depending on work experience and area of specialization.

Job Role	Salary (USD)	Salary( INR)
FPGA Design Engineer	$139,060	₹121,82,000
Research & Development Engineer	$102,902	₹901,51,000
Design Verification Engineer	$154,579	₹135,42,000
AI and Machine Learning Hardware Engineer	$171,774	₹150,48,000
Principal Engineer / Lead Engineer	$175,716	₹153,94,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques: What are the tuition fees of an MS in VLSI in the USA?

Ans: The total tuition fees of an MS in VLSI in the USA range between $30,000-$70,000

Ques: How much do candidates have to spend on living costs in the USA?

Ans: Candidates have to spend around $2,230-$3,900 as living costs in USA

Ques: Who are the top recruiters of MS in VLSI in USA?

Ans: The top recruiters of MS in VLSI in the USA include Intel, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and many more

Ques: What are some of the top Universities offering MS in VLSI in USA?

Ans: The top Universities offering MS in VLSI in the USA are Stanford University, Harvard University, and UC Berkeley.