20 Good Data Science Masters Programs In USA 2026

by Ndoufang Rosine · Updated Nov 8, 2025

Great Data Science Masters Programs In USA. Analytics is a fast-growing field as companies race to make use of the valuable data they collect. If you want to grow your data scientist career and capitalize on the demand for the role, you might consider getting your master’s degree.

Data science is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after skills in the job market. Earning an online master’s in data science from an accredited college can position you to join the in-demand computer science field. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information research scientists earned a median annual wage of $131,490.

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What Is an Online Master’s in Data Science?

An online master’s in data science program teaches students to analyze and draw conclusions from large data sets. Graduates can work in virtually any field that requires these analytical skills. Most data science programs consist primarily of theory-based coursework, such as classes covering statistics, data visualization, machine learning, and programming languages (e.g., SQL and Python).

Great Schools For Data Science Masters Programs

In this article, you will get the top 10 schools that made the list as having the best data science master’s programs in the US as given below.

1. University of Rochester – Goergen Institute for Data Science

The University of Rochester offers an MS in Data Science through the Goergen Institute for Data Science. The program can be completed in two or three semesters of full-time study, but the two-semester path includes a rigorous course load, so it’s recommended for students who already have a strong background in computer science and mathematics. For those without a strong background in computer science, you can take an optional summer course.

2. Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) – Institute for Data Engineering and Science

Several paths exist to study data science at Georgia Institute of Technology’s Institute for Data Engineering and Science. The IDEaS offers through the College of Engineering an MS in Analytics and, in cooperation with the Scheller College of Business, an MS in Quantitative Finance.

3. Harvard University – Master’s In Data Science

Cambridge, MAHarvard University doesn’t require or accept GRE or GMAT scores from applicants to its master’s degree program in data science. Three letters of recommendation are required and international students must submit TOEFL scores. The acceptance rate for this program was 6.5% for the 2020-2021 academic year. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits to graduate.

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4. North Carolina State University – Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University offers a Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) program that’s designed as a 10-month cohort-based learning experience that focuses on teamwork and one-on-one coaching. To apply to the program, you’ll need experience with coding in more than one language, knowledge of complex quantitative analysis and completed coursework in an undergraduate-level statistic course.

5. University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma offers a master’s in data science and analyticsthrough the Schools of Computer Science and Industrial and Systems Engineering. The course combines expertise and knowledge from both departments to teach students the right skills to “design and build tools to extract, assimilate and analyze data and the systems understanding to predict and enhance future performance.”

6. Purdue University: Krannert School of Management

Purdue University’s Master of Science in Business Analytics and Information Management is a full-time program that starts every year in June and runs for three semesters. The graduate program offers three specializations in supply chain analytics, investment analytics or corporate finance analytics. It’s a STEM-certified program designed to educate students on the latest technologies and analytical techniques through hands-on experience and a well-rounded curriculum.

7. DePaul University.

DePaul University offers an MS in data science that promises to equip students with the right skills for a career in data science. The program includes a graduate capstone requirement, but you can choose between completing a real-world data analytics project, taking a predictive analytics capstone course, participating in an analytics internship or completing a master’s thesis. DePaul University also offers four concentrations for its data science programs, which includes computational methods, health care, hospitality and marketing.

8. Carnegie Mellon University – Master’s in Computation Data Science

Carnegie Mellon University offers a Master’s in Computation Data Science (MCDS) through the Tepper School of Business. During your first semester, you will be required to take four core courses: cloud computing, machine learning, interactive data science and a data science seminar.

9. New York University

New York University offers an MS in Data Science (MSDS) and offers several concentrations to select from, including data science, big data, mathematics and data, natural language processing and physics. You’ll need to earn 36 credits to graduate, which takes full-time students an average of two years to complete.

10. Columbia University Data Science Institute – City of New York.

Columbia University offers an MS in Data Science through its Data Science Institute, which requires 30 credits to complete. Columbia University offers a long list of concentrations for its MS in Data Science program, including health analytics, cybersecurity, finance and business analytics and smart cities, among other topics.

11. University of Iowa – Master’s in Business Analytics

The University of Iowa offers its Master’s in Business Analytics through the Tippie College of Business. This degree will give you the skills to analyze raw data, deliver insightful reports and to use that data to make business decisions. The course focuses on giving students the skillsets to apply descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics in real-world settings.

12. University of Oklahoma – Data Science and Analytics Institute

13. University of Minnesota – Master’s of Science in Data Science program.

Minneapolis, MNThe University of Minnesota doesn’t require applicants to submit GRE scores to qualify for its master’s degree program in data science. Students admitted to this program for the 2020-2021 academic year had an average GPA of 3.68. Three letters of recommendation are required and international students must submit TOEFL scores.

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14. University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)

The University of California at Berkeley offers data science-affiliated graduate programs through multiple departments, most prominently through the School of Information. Its scope encompasses all ways we interact with data: academic, scientific, civic, cultural, corporate, and other uses. The Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS) takes place on campus; three other Master’s programs can be completed online.

15. Stanford University (Stanford, CA) – Data Science for Social Good Summer Program.

Stanford offers multiple Master’s degrees with data science components. Its Data Science Institute coordinates various kinds of research on and off Stanford’s campus, engages Post-Doctoral Fellows for collaboration, and administers summer programs in data science practices. The Scholars program brings together students using data science in programs throughout the university, funding their studies and creating a collaborative community.

16. University of Maryland, College Park (College Park, MD)

The University of Maryland offers a Master of Professional Studies in Data Science and Analytics, a Master of Machine Learning, and professional certificate programs in data science and digital studies. All of the data science programs at Maryland can be pursued on campus or online. The Data Science and Analytics program at Maryland encompasses statistics skills, machine learning (non-traditional distributional model-based statistics), computer science and programming, and a component consisting of professional applications.

16. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)

Rather than offering a traditional slate of degree programs, the Statistics and Data Science Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology serves as a research and organizational hub for data science-related study throughout the university. MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems, and Society hosts research projects, events, visiting and permanent faculty all focused on expanding the practical and academic uses and definitions of data science.

17. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL).

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers Data Science and Big Data Analytics studies within the school’s Department of Statistics, housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. This department’s majors and graduate degrees teach students how to model, summarize, compute, and analyze data, tools useful within any scholarly context.

18. University of St. Thomas

St. Paul, MNThe University of St. Thomas doesn’t require applicants to submit GRE scores to qualify for its master’s degree program in data science. Students admitted to this program for the 2020-2021 academic year had an average GPA of 3.14. No letters of recommendation are required and international students must submit TOEFL scores.

19. University of Texas at Austin – Master of Data Science

In today’s data-driven world, there’s an increased need for data scientists in every industry. Accelerate your career in this rapidly growing field by completing a rigorous master’s degree program that’s 100% online, affordable, and flexible to fit your life. With an MSDS from the top-rankedExternal link:open_in_new University of Texas at Austin’s, you’ll gain in-demand skills in data visualization, data mining, data analysis, machine learning.

20. Oklahoma State University – Master’s in Business Analytics and Data Science

OKProspective students applying to Oklahoma State University’s master’s degree program in data science are required to submit GRE or GMAT scores to qualify. Three letters of recommendation are required and most international students must submit TOEFL scores. Students admitted to this program for the 2020-2021 academic year had an average GPA of 3.49. The acceptance rate for this program was 39.5% for the 2020-2021 academic year. Students must complete a minimum of 37 credits to graduate.

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Ndoufang Rosine

Student Tips, Online Learning & Educational Resources Writer

Rosine is an educational content specialist and student counselor with a background in pedagogy and digital learning, dedicated to helping students from Cameroon thrive academically and professionally. She writes Kamerpower's student tips section, covering study strategies, online learning, time management for students, and how to access educational resources. Rosine also contributes guides on professional school admissions and bridges the gap between academic life and career readiness. Her work as a Student Success & Educational Resources Advisor empowers students to make informed decisions at every stage of their educational journey.