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USA vs Canada for Indian Students

The two most popular destinations, compared honestly: cost, admissions, work rights, PR odds and salaries — so you choose with evidence, not vibes.

Cost · Visa · PR · SalaryData-backed comparisonApply to both strategies2026 intake ready

The head-to-head

Indicative figures for master’s-level study; verify current policies before applying.

Factor🇺🇸 USA🇨🇦 Canada
Total cost (MS)₹40–60 lakh+₹15–30 lakh/year
GRECommonRarely required
Post-study workSTEM OPT up to 3 yearsPGWP up to 3 years
Path to residencyH-1B lottery → green card queueExpress Entry — points-based
Typical tech salary$95k–140k+CAD 75k–100k
FundingAssistantships and merit aidThesis-based funding common
IntakesFall (main), SpringSep (main), Jan, May

Choose the USA if…

🚀

Salary ceiling matters most

US tech and quant salaries remain unmatched; ROI is highest for top-school CS and data profiles.

🏆

You target elite programs

The depth of top-50 US programs in CS, AI and engineering has no parallel.

🧪

Research is the goal

Funded PhDs and research assistantships are abundant — see the MS in USA guide.

Choose Canada if…

🍁

PR is the priority

PGWP plus Express Entry is the most predictable migration path in the English-speaking world.

💰

Budget is tighter

Half the cost, co-ops that pay, and no-GRE admissions — see the MS in Canada guide.

👨‍👩‍👧

You want certainty

No lottery between you and work rights after graduation.

FAQs – USA vs Canada

Canada, usually: ₹15–30 lakh/year all-in versus ₹40–60 lakh+ total for a US MS. US merit funding and assistantships can narrow the gap for strong profiles.

Canada has the clearer path: PGWP up to 3 years, then Express Entry. The US route runs through OPT and the H-1B lottery — higher salaries, less certainty.

The USA, clearly — tech salaries often run 1.5–2.5x Canadian equivalents. Weigh that against visa uncertainty and cost.

Many US MS programs use GRE; most Canadian master’s do not. IELTS/TOEFL applies to both.

Yes — many students do. We build a combined shortlist and stagger the deadlines and budgets sensibly.

Stop guessing — run your numbers

The ROI Predictor compares both countries for your exact profile, free.

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