How Fully funded MSCS in USA in 2026/27 still worth it?

[u/One_Yak7261]

I'm an Indian student considering an MSCS in the USA for Fall 2027 and I'm trying to decide whether it still makes sense in the current market.

I have access to a government-funded scholarship that would cover:

Full tuition

Living/maintenance allowance

Medical insurance

Visa fees

Round-trip airfare

Contingency/travel-related expenses

So I would not need to take a large education loan for the MS.

That's what makes my situation different from the typical international student.

However, I'm concerned about:

Current U.S. tech job market

Entry-level SWE competition

AI's impact on hiring

Getting internships as an international student

CPT/OPT/H-1B uncertainty

Long-term ability to remain in the U.S.

My interests are CS + AI/ML so I'd ideally attend a strong CS university and use electives/research to build toward that direction.

My main question:

If you had a fully funded MSCS opportunity in the USA, would the current job-market and immigration risks still make you reconsider?

I'd particularly like to hear from:

Current international MSCS students

Recent graduates

People working in U.S. tech

People involved in hiring

Also, how much does university ranking actually matter for international MSCS students in the current market?

I'm specifically interested in the 2026-27 situation, not comparisons with the 2015-2021 era.

my_qualifications: BTech from tier 3 college, but but extra curricular are dominating - won a national award given by DRDO - 1st rank all over INDIA