Best Online Master’s in Data Science

Sharpen your critical thinking skills and expand your mathematical knowledge with an online master’s in data science. This degree can help you qualify for advanced positions or switch roles, launching a new career in a fast-changing field.

In data science online master’s programs, you can focus on general data science or emphasize an area of specialization such as statistical analysis, computational linguistics, or information visualization. Once you graduate, you can qualify for jobs such as data engineer, database architect, or statistician, which earn higher-than-average salaries.

Use this guide to learn more about the top online master’s in data science programs, benefits of earning your degree online, and career paths you can follow after graduation.

As demand grows for data professionals across industries, earning a master’s in data science can help you stand out in the job search. This degree equips you with the skills to extract insights from data.

Online data science programs typically offer increased flexibility, allowing you to balance your studies with work or other commitments. They often provide access to the same quality education as on-campus programs. Some online degrees even operate in an accelerated format, allowing you to graduate in twelve or fewer months.

Professionals with a master’s degree in data science can pursue an array of careers in mathematics, statistics, and data science. For example, you can become a data engineer, software analyst, or machine learning engineer. Common jobs for data science master’s graduates include:

Database architects build data management systems, which database administrators then manage. These professionals often work in computer systems companies or for insurance and finance agencies.

Using analytic techniques, data scientists mine meaningful information from raw data. They collect, categorize, and analyze information; create data models; present their findings; and make business recommendations. These professionals may work in computer systems, finance, insurance, or scientific research companies. With experience or a master’s degree, data scientists can become managers.

Using math and statistics to solve problems, mathematicians and statisticians collect and analyze data. These professionals design surveys and mathematical models, interpret data, and create data visualizations. They work in industries like government, healthcare, research, and higher education alongside engineers, scientists, and other specialists.

While enrolled in online master’s in data science programs, enrollees learn to use advanced statistical and computational techniques to extract valuable insights and make informed decisions from data. The goal of these programs is to produce professionals who can effectively collect, analyze, interpret, and visualize data to solve complex problems and drive innovation across industries.

Data science master’s students take courses in general data science, business analytics, machine learning, and data ethics. They may also complete a capstone project or master’s thesis to culminate their degree. Many programs require 30-36 credits, so full-time learners taking 9-12 credits per semester can finish their degree in 12-24 months of study. Some accelerated programs move even faster.

Cost varies based on factors like location, student state residency, and public or private institutional status. Some schools charge less than $10,000 in tuition for an entire program, while others are more expensive.

Each school establishes its own admission requirements for master’s programs. Typically, stipulations include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Applicants with a degree in a field other than mathematics or computer science may need to demonstrate their preparation for the program through their resume or the completion of prerequisite courses. Some schools may also require GRE or GMAT scores, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and application fees.

Data science programs offer a variety of courses in computer science, business, and data. Common classes in this field include:

For the 2020-21 school year, the average tuition for graduate programs was $19,749, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Tuition ranged from a low of $8,910 among the bottom quartile of public institutions to a high of $42,910 among the top 25% of private schools.

Many other factors affect the price of higher education, including a school’s prestige, students’ state residency, and whether the program is on campus or online. In addition to tuition, applicants should budget for other educational expenses like required hardware or software, internet access, and student fees.

Financial aid can help cover the cost of a graduate degree. While Pell grants are not available to master’s-level learners, scholarships, employer reimbursement, private grants, and veteran assistance can help learners pay for their degree.

Choosing the best online master’s in data science means looking at each program’s accessibility, affordability, and utility in the marketplace. Consider these factors:

Data science students explore technical concepts like advanced statistics, algorithms, and machine learning. Enrollees who struggle with these topics may find a data science degree more difficult than learners who excel in these areas.

Credible degrees come from accredited colleges or universities. Your school should hold institutional accreditation from accrediting agencies like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

A master’s degree is just one way professionals can pursue data science jobs. Though many careers in this field only require a bachelor’s degree, earning a master’s in data science can help graduates qualify for advanced roles or transition into data science from other academic backgrounds.

Data science is concerned with making sense of data and using it to drive informed decision-making. “Big data” refers to massive volumes of data, which experts in this field often cannot analyze using traditional methods. While data science can certainly work with big data, its focus is on deriving meaningful insights from data rather than solely dealing with large volumes of information.

Data science and data analytics both involve extracting knowledge and insights from data. Data science is a broader, more interdisciplinary field that combines techniques from statistics, computer science, and domain expertise. These tools help professionals extract insights and predictions from complex, often unstructured data.

While data analytics may involve basic statistical analysis, it generally doesn’t involve the advanced statistical modeling and machine learning used in data science.

All rankings and school descriptions on this page were created and reviewed independently by the TBS Rankings Team.