In today’s world, data science is becoming an increasingly powerful industry. No matter where in the U.S. you are, chances are good there is a school near you where you can earn a Masters in Data Science.
Top 5 Masters in Data Science Programs
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. |
| 2 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California |
| 3 | Brown University | Providence, Rhode Island |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland |
| 5 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, California |
Why Earn A Masters in Data Science?
Between 2020 and 2026, reports released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics point to a steady demand for qualified professionals that can work in data science. The need for qualified employees in this field is expected to grow by 27.9% within this six-year time period. As of 2020, there is a shortage of people looking for work who possess a data science degree and the ability to implement that knowledge.
20 Best Programs For A Masters in Data Science
Georgetown University
The two-year Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics program offered by Georgetown University prepares students for a career in this thriving industry. Students must complete a programming course the summer before entering the program.
During their second year of studies, students are given the option of completing an internship in the field.
School Overview
University of Southern California
At the University of Southern California, students can earn a Master of Science in Computer Science (Data Science.) The program is meant to gain specialized skills in statistics and algorithms. It prepares students to work in medicine, health, transportation, and media, among other industries.
In addition to the regular curriculum, students also have the option of completing an internship and/or thesis.
School Overview
Brown University
The Master’s Program in Data Science at Brown University is known for being rigorous. The program brings together four departments:
- Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Biostatistics
At the end of this one-year program, students are required to complete a real-world project where they can put the skill they learned to good use. This is included in the required internship.
School Overview
Johns Hopkins University
At the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, students can study for a Master’s in Data Science. There are four core areas of study that must be completed to earn this degree. They are:
- Statistics
- Computing
- Optimization
- Machine Learning
Once students choose their concentration they must also take courses in one of the following areas of study:
- Mathematics of Data Science
- Computational Medicine
- Computer Vision
- Language and Speech
- Computational Machine Learning
- Statistical Theory
Students also have the option of completing an internship before graduation.
School Overview
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco offers a one year program in which students graduate with a Masters in Data Science. The curriculum places a heavy emphasis on computational and mathematical techniques. It involves the teaching of analytical techniques that can be put to use when working in the field. Students who earn this degree go on to work for companies like:
- Twitch
- Apple
- Amazon
Completing the program requires students to spend nine months working on a project with local companies such as Trulia and Airbnb.
- Tuition – $20,720 per semester ($1480 per unit and students take an average of 14 units per semester)
School Overview
University of Washington
University of Washington offers a Master of Science in Data Science. About half of their students are recent college graduates and the rest are industry professionals. Courses are held in the evenings, which enables part-time students to continue working full-time. It also enables full-time students to pursue academic year internships and other professional opportunities during business hours. The program emphasizes data ethics and visualization, statistical modeling, software engineering, research design, and machine learning. Graduates of the program have gone on to work for Microsoft, Amazon, Google, T-Mobile, and Facebook, as well as non-profit organizations like Seattle’s Children’s Hospital.
School Overview
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
The Data Science Masters degree program at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a joint effort between its Mathematics in Arts & Sciences department and the Computer Science in Engineering department. The program is meant for students who want to learn foundational data science skills drawing from probability, database design, computational methods, and visualization. Students specialize in areas such as business analytics or machine learning, and have a wide variety of elective options to choose from.
School Overview
University of Rochester
The Goergen Institute for Data Science at the University of Rochester runs a program where students with an educational/work background in business, science, math, or engineering can earn a Master of Science in Data Science in less than two years. Students are encouraged to pursue an internship during their time studying for this degree.
School Overview
New York University
At the New York University Center for Data Science students with a background in applied statistics, mathematics, and computer science. Students that complete the program learn how to develop new methods that can be applied to data science. The program was created to produce data science professionals that will know how to deal with the deluge of data that comes with each advance in technology.
Some students that complete this program choose to pursue the industry concentration. Those that do are required to complete an internship within their first year of studies.
School Overview
University of Virginia
The Masters in Data Science degree from the University of Virginia is suitable for students who only have one year to complete their degree. The program is a collaboration among the Systems and Information Engineering, Computer Science, and Statistics departments. Most of the material taught in this program is the same for each student, with only 20% of the curriculum being specialty topics within the field.
School Overview
DePaul University
At the DePaul University College of Computing and Digital Media students can work towards a Master of Science in Data Science. They can choose from concentrations like Computational Methods, Hospitality, Healthcare, and Marketing.
In addition to the curriculum, students enrolled in this program can also work with the school’s Data Science Group. This group helps students connect with each other, as well as participate in hackathons, workshops, skill training, and panel discussions. They can get real-world experience in the field by utilizing the Center for Data Science. Students team up with local non-profit companies to participate in analytics projects.
School Overview
Chapman University
The Schmid College at Chapman University offers a Master of Science in Computational & Data Science. The program encompasses chemistry, mathematics, statistics and computing, physics, and biology. It prepares students for a career in Economic Science, Predictive Analytics, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, and Earth Systems Science, among other fields.
School Overview
New College of Florida
At New College of Florida, students can earn a Masters in Data Science in two-years. Its curriculum is tailored specifically to graduate students. During their last semester of studies, students must complete a practicum chosen from one of the school’s many corporate partners. Students work as part of a data science team to put their skills to good use.
School Overview
New Jersey City University
At the New Jersey City University School of Business, students earn a Master of Science in Business Analytics and Data Science, preparing them for a career in Data Analytics. It also facilitates students getting certified as Analytics Professionals. After completing their degree, they often go on to work in fields such as retail and accounting, financing, and marketing.
Graduates of this program have gone on to work for companies like IBM, Fidelity Investments, and AIG.
School Overview
St. John’s University
Students can earn a Master of Science in Data Science from St. John’s University. The program is designated as a STEM. Students are required to choose from one of three concentrations; Big Data, Healthcare, or Marketing Analytics. Some of the topics every student takes a course in includes data visualization, text analytics, data mining and machine learning, and database management systems.
School Overview
Northeastern University
The College of Engineering at Northeastern University offers a complex Master of Science in Data Science program. It is led by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Khoury College of Computer Sciences. The courses taught as part of the program are designed for students with math or technical training already under their belts.
After their second semester, students complete an internship and/or a co-op program in order to gain real-world experience prior to graduating. While the internship takes three or four months to complete, the co-op program takes six to eight months.
School Overview
University of Wisconsin
Students at the University of Wisconsin can earn a Master of Science in Statistics: Data Science in one to two years. The program is best suited for students who have already studied statistical theory.
One of the highlights of enrolling in this program is that students gain access to data conferences, where they can network with those who already work in the field.
School Overview
University of North Dakota
At the University of North Dakota, students studying for a Master of Science in Data Science can choose whether or not they want to complete a thesis prior to graduation. Students can also choose to take elective courses to help them tailor their degree to areas of study such as scientific visualization, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
In addition, they have the option to participate in events such as the Midwest Instruction and Computer Symposium, and the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest.
School Overview
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston offers a Masters in Data Science and Analytics. Students have the freedom to choose whether or not they want to pursue a practicum or complete a thesis. Those that choose to pursue a practicum have to pitch their idea for it to a company that they can work with to complete it. Those who choose to complete a thesis must obtain a faculty advisor to oversee their completion of it.
School Overview
New York Institute of Technology
Students at the New York Institute of Technology can earn a Masters in Data Science. The highlight of the program is its sponsored research projects. Students can choose to utilize the school’s Entrepreneurial and Technology Innovation Center. When they do, they have access to entrepreneurship and commercialization training. In addition, students have the option to complete a thesis before graduation.
School Overview
How We Rank Schools
We note the acceptance rate for each school, as well as their per semester in-state tuition rates. Points are assigned to schools based on how low their tuition is and how high their acceptance rate is. The lower the tuition the more points a school gets. The higher the acceptance fee the more points a school gets. We then add those points together to determine each school’s rankings.
If you work at one of the schools on our list and you feel we ranked it wrong, please contact us. We are committed to fixing any mistakes we might make in our ranking process.
