Photos: The top 10 universities for data science
Image 1 of 11
\N
\N
While MOOCs and bootcamps can give your skillset a quick boost, college degrees are often critical to convincing hiring managers that you know your stuff. For big data, advanced degrees in fields like business analytics and data science can be a step into roles such as big data specialists and researchers, which make $112,000 to $121,000 a year, according to Glassdoor.
In no order, here are the top 10 universities to study data science, plus their approximate tuition costs and types of degrees offered.
1. University of California Berkeley
1. University of California Berkeley
University of California – Berkeley:
Location: Berkeley, CA
Tuition and fees: $9,404 to $16,866 a semester, depending on residency
Master’s degrees: Information and Data Science (MIDS), Information Management and Systems (MIMS).
Ph.D. offered: Yes – Information Management and Systems
For those that already have a graduate degree, Berkeley is one of the few schools on this list with a Ph.D. program. The MIMS and Ph.D. programs are offered in-person, while the MIDS program is online.
2. Northwestern University
2. Northwestern University
Location: Chicago, IL
Tuition and fees: Starts at $17,000 a quarter
Master’s degrees: Analytics (MSIA), Predictive Analytics (MSPA)
Ph.D. offered: No
The MSIA program is offered in-person through the McCormick School of Engineering, while the MSPA program is fully online and part-time. Tuition depends on the program. Additionally, Northwestern offers multiple graduate-level certificates in data science, analytics, and related fields.
3. Carnegie Mellon University
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Tuition and fees: Starts at $24,000 a semester
Master’s degrees: Computational Data Science, Information Systems Management, and more
Ph.D. offered: No
CMU takes an interdisciplinary approach to data science, offering multiple master’s degrees with different focuses and tracks. Top options for big data include computational data science and information systems management, with a focus on business intelligence and data analytics. With most programs lasting two years, tuition varies by program and by semester–for example, the Information Systems Management degree doesn’t charge tuition for the last semester.
4. Stanford University
4. Stanford University
Location: Stanford, CA
Tuition: $16,329 a quarter
Master’s degrees: Statistics: Data Science
Ph.D. offered: Yes – Statistics
Stanford offers both a master’s and a doctoral program in statistics. While the master’s degree offers a data science track, the Ph.D. does not.
5. New York University
5. New York University
Location: New York, NY
Tuition: About $21,000 a semester
Master’s degrees: Data Science
Ph.D offered: Yes – Data Science
NYU’s Center for Data Science was created to further the university-wide goal of leading in the field. NYU offers master’s and doctorate degrees specifically in data science, but also offers a large list of graduate degrees with a significant portion of data science content.
6. Syracuse University
6. Syracuse University
Location: Syracuse, NY
Tuition: $41,198 (one academic year for in-person) or $59,400 (full online program)
Master’s degrees: Applied Data Science, Business Analytics
Ph.D offered: No
The school’s master’s degree in applied data science is interdisciplinary, combining courses from the School of Information Studies and the Whitman School of Management. The program is offered in-person and online, but uses the same faculty and content. Syracuse also offers a graduate-level certificate in data science.
7. American University
7. American University
Location: Washington, D.C.
Tuition: $1,642 per credit hour
Master’s degrees: Analytics
Ph.D offered: No
American’s master’s degree in analytics is offered in-person through the Kogod School of Business. All MSAn students are required to complete a capstone project through partnering with a local organization and using their education to help solve one of their analytics problems. The master’s degree is also available online.
8. Texas A&M University
8. Texas A&M University
Location: College Station, TX
Tuition: $4,533 to $9,793 a semester, depending on residency
Master’s degrees: Analytics
Ph.D. offered: No
Using courses from the Mays Business School, Texas A&M’s master’s degree in analytics is part-time and designed for working professionals. Like American’s program, A&M also requires a capstone project where students help an organization solve a problem.
9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Location: Cambridge, MA
Tuition: $57,350
Master’s degrees: Business Analytics
Ph.D. offered: No
Announced in March 2016, the new master’s in business analytics is a one-year program offered through MIT’s Sloan School of Management. The degree is tailored to recent graduates interested in data science, or people looking for a career advancement. The school also offers a graduate-level business analytics certificate.
10. Kennesaw State University
10. Kennesaw State University
Location: Kennesaw, GA
Tuition: $4,476 or $13,542 a semester, depending on residency
Master’s degrees: None
Ph.D. offered: Yes – Analytics and Data Science
While Kennesaw State doesn’t offered a clear data science or analytics master’s program, it’s home to a rare Ph.D. in analytics and data science. The program offers those in the field and holding a master’s degree a chance to continue their education, and it was developed in response to market demand for workers with advanced data science degrees.
Also see
- Job description: Data scientist (Tech Pro Research)
- How to build a successful data scientist career (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
- Cheat sheet: How to become a data scientist (TechRepublic)
- The dirtiest little secret about big data: Jobs (ZDNet)
- IT jobs in 2020: A leader’s guide (PDF) (ZDNet/TechRepublic special report)
