MS in Data Science Colleges in USA: All you need to know
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MS in Data Science Colleges in USA: All you need to know

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Oct 22, 2024 09:58 IST

MS in Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, techniques, algorithms, and processes to solve complex programs where a very large amount of data is involved and to extract useful information and apply it in a structured manner. Check out everything about MS in Data Science in USA for international students planning to study in USA. 

ms in data science in usa

Data is the future, hence it is the most important aspect of the current century. Data Science is the most sought-after course in the tech industry today. In almost all industries from big tech giants (Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft) to small entities, Data Scientists are in demand. MS in Data Science is a popular STEM course in USA which is offered across 100+ prestigious US universities. Those who graduate with an MS in Data Science are sure to get a good job after graduation in Tech giants. If you want to study in USA and pursue a masters in Data Science, then you can find all major details in this article, so check them out now.

MS in Data Science in US Highlights

Type of Course STEM-related course
Number of US Universities Offering MS in Data Science 100+
Duration 1 to 2 years
Average Fee USD 30,000 to USD 120,000
Mode Offered in Full-time or Online
Admission Requirements GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0 point scale + TOEFL/IELTS + SOP + LOR + Transcripts
Average Annual Salary USD 70,000 to USD 170,000
Median Salary USD 146,000
Popular Employers Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, HCL and others
Scholarships  Available

Why Study MS in Data Science in USA

There are various advantages of studying MS in Data Science in US. Some of the reasons why it's advantageous to pursue an MS in Data Science from the USA are as follows:

  • MS in Data Science in USA is a STEM education course, which gives students the opportunity for STEM OPT Extension after graduation.
  • Admission to MS in USA especially for Data Science aspirants is tough, but prospects can include good jobs or higher education.
  • Based on a report from US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for Data Scientists will increase by 36% between the years 2021 and 2031.
  • MS in Data Science graduates can easily find a job in the USA because Data Science openings are usually the maximum if found online.
  • International students can avail of scholarships to study MS in Data Science easily either from their universities or from external funding sources. 

Based on these reasons, students can plan their masters in Data Science courses in USA easily for admissions. 

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Best Colleges for MS in Data Science in USA 

Check out the list of top universities in the USA offering a master's in Data Science to international students:

University

Course Offered

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

Carnegie Mellon University

MSc in Computational Data Science

#2

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

MS in Information & Data Science

#3

Harvard University

MSc in Data Science, MSc in Health Data Science

#4

University of Washington

MS in Data Science

#5

Cornell University

MS in Data Science

#16

New York University (NYU)

MS in Data Science

#17

University of Pennsylvania

MSE in Data Science

#20

Johns Hopkins University

MS in Data Science

#27

University of California, San Diego

MS in Data Science

#31

University of Maryland

MPS in Data Science & Analytics

#33

MS in Data Science in US is offered across some of the popular US universities like:

Apart from the universities mentioned above, there are also Online Data Science masters in USA offered. To name few, including the universities include - Northwestern University, UCB, Indiana University and others. 








Eligibility/Admission Requirements for MS in Data Science in US

The following are the basic admission requirements for pursuing an MS in Data Science in US:

Note: Admission requirements for masters in Data Science in US can vary with the university the international student is applying for. Thus, applicants must read all requirements carefully and then apply for admission. 







Can a Master’s in Data Science be completed in 1 year in USA?

Usually, the majority of the universities in the USA offer an MS in Data Science as a 2 years degree, however, certain universities offer a master’s in Data Science as a one-year course. In certain cases, students need to take more courses than usual to complete credit hours to get a master’s degree.

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Arizona State University

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86 courses
₹ 17.7 L - 43.87 L
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Texas A & M University

College Station, USAPublic

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₹ 12.64 L - 33.71 L
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53 courses
₹ 18.11 L - 51.07 L
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33 courses
₹ 29.76 L - 68.65 L
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₹ 14.85 L - 52.09 L
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New York University

New York, USAPrivate

60 courses
₹ 26.75 L - 70.94 L
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University of Washington

Seattle, USAPublic

62 courses
₹ 19.49 L - 46.71 L
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Salary of MS in Data Science Grads in USA

Data Science graduates are now required in almost every industry from fashion to e-commerce, or tech giants to IT companies. With ever-increasing digitization, the need for managing a huge amount of data, decoding and applying it carefully to benefit the organization has soared exponentially.

With Big Data and Machine Learning, graduates are well-equipped for major roles in industries like health and remote-sensing data, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Data Scientists and Analytics graduates can also find positions in top-notch research development labs.

Top Jobs and Salaries after MS in Data Science in USA

Popular job roles for Data Science postgraduates in USA are as follows:

Jobs after MS in Data Science in US

Average Annual Salary

Data Scientist

USD 160,586

Data Visualization Developer

USD 133,600

Robotics Research Scientist

USD 156,000

Machine Learning Engineer

USD 166,401

Data Mining Engineer

USD 127,500

Big Data Solutions Architect

USD 132,887

AI Researcher

USD 113,102

Business Intelligence Analyst

USD 91,318

Still, have doubts about studying Master’s in Data Science in the USA? Please read the FAQs or you can sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling.

MS in Data Science in USA FAQs

Q. What is the duration of MS in Data Science in the USA?

A. MS in Data Science is offered as a 2-years course by top-ranking universities in the USA. There may be some US universities which offer a one year MS in Data Science course also. These are basically online courses and can be taken up from one's home country also and attend classes online at leisure. There are very few part-time MS in Data Science courses in USA. Thus, the most popular ones include a full-time and an online course at masters level in Data Science course. 

Q. Which are the top universities offering Masters in Data Science in the USA?

A. Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Yale, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago are some of the top-ranking universities that offer MS in Data Science in the USA. These are tier one US universities which offer a renowned MS in Data Science course to international students. However, there are also tier two and three universities available for international students who have not been able to get through tier-one universities for MS in Data Science course in the USA. Thus, there is plenty of fish in the sea and there are no dearth of options for international students who wish to study MS in Data Science in USA. 

Q. Is Data Science a growing field in the USA?

A. Demand for Data Scientists is high in USA! According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in Data Science will increase by around 28% through 2026. In numbers, this is going to be 11.5 million new jobs in this field. Plus, the salaries will also record a high of 28% in the upcoming five years for those into Data Science courses and pursuing jobs related to it in not just the US but globally. Hence, this is a flourishing industry which can be fruitful for those who wish to enter it. 

Q. Which is the cheapest university that offers Masters in Data Science in USA?

A. Missouri State University-Springfield and Fitchburg State University offer the most affordable Data Science course in the US. Both these universities offer a graduate certificate in Data Science which is almost equivalent to a master's degree. The cheapest MS in Data Science courses are those which have 12-20 credits and ech credit costs around USD 1,000 or lower. Also, the online MS in Data Science courses in USA are also very cheap in the USA. Thus, those who are comfortable pursuing an off-campus degree can go for online MS in Data Science course.

Q. Is GRE mandatory for getting admission to MS in Data Science in the USA?

A. Usually, universities require candidates to submit GRE scores for giving admission to MS in Data Science in the US. Some universities like Oregon State UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University also give admission without GRE scores. There may be universities in the US which may be test optional for international students. Plus, there may be universities which may waive GRE score requirement in certain cases. Hence, applicants are required to check all details and possibilities for a GRE waiver before applying for MS in Data Science in USA. 

Q. What are the eligibility criteria for getting into Masters in Data Science in the USA?

A. Candidates need to have a bachelor's degree in statistics, mathematics from a recognized university. Apart from this, candidates need to have English language proficiency test scores along with GRE scores. A minimum GPA of 3.0 will also be required from international students applying for MS in Data Science in USA. Apart from this, there are certain subject knowledge that may also be required at the bachelor's level from the applicant who is international. Hence, these are very basic requirements, admission criteria may vary per US university.

Q. What are the job prospects of Data Science graduates in the USA?

A. There are various job roles which can be bagged after pursuing an MS in Data Science in the USA. The MS in Data Science graduates can work as:

  • Data Scientists
  • Data Mining Engineers
  • Business Intelligence Analysts
  • Database Scientist
  • Data Engineer
  • Data Architect
  • Machine Learning Engineer 

Q. Apart from the USA, which country is best to pursue MS in Data Analytics?

A. UK, Australia, France, Germany, France, Canada, and the Netherlands are other popular countries for studying Data Science at the master's level for international students. Apart from these countries, international student can also consider studying at Norway, Denmark and even Italy. These countries are renowned and degrees they offer to international students are recognised globally for taking up a job in a foreign land after MS in Data Science. Thus, applicants should keep these options also handy. 

Q. Which country pays the highest salary for a data scientist?

A. USA is one of the highest-paid countries for Data Science professionals. The median annual salary for those with a degree in MS in Data Science is around USD 100,000. Plus, the average starting salary for a Data Scientist holding a master's degree is USD 146,000 annually. Some of the highest paid job roles in USA are those o Data Science since it is a STEM course and those with this degree usually bag roles which are highly paid. 

Q. Is MS in Data Science in USA hard?

A. MS in Data Science degree curriculum is tough and is designed in a manner that requires precision, hence it is a hard to crack degree. Also because of the technical requirements for Data Science jobs, it is a little difficult to learn in comparison to other technological fields. One needs to learn different languages and applications to excel in this field. Thus, a lot of it requires technical precision and knowledge and hence, it is a slightly difficult degree program in comparison to other MS degrees in USA. 

Q. Which are some of the universities that offer Data Science courses online?

A. Some of the US universities that offer online MS in Data Science courses are as follows:

Q:   What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?

A:

The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.

Q:   What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?

A:

There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.

Q:   Is MIT costly for Indians?

A:

MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.

Q:   What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?

A:

GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.

Q:   How much is the application fee for Alabama University?

A:

The Alabama University application fee for International students vary by application type. Mentioned below are the application fee for UG and PG applications at Alabama:

  • UG: USD 40 or INR 3,342.14
  • MBA: USD 80 or INR 6,684.28

Q:   Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?

A:

According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:

Q:   Is Texas Wesleyan hard to get into?

A:

As per the US News and World Report, Texas Wesleyan University acceptance rate is 58%. This shows that the university's admission process is relatively selective. Therefore, some students may find it harder to get into the university. Also, international students are advised to check the minimum eligibility for their courses before applying. Please note that the data on the acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.

Q:   What is the OHIO Excellence Scholarship?

A:

First-year students who are new to the Athens campus of Ohio University are considered for the OHIO Excellence Scholarship. The factors that are considered to grant this scholarship are academic achievement, financial need, and individual contributions to the incoming first-year class. This is a merit-based scholarship and the award amount for this scholarship varies up to USD 6,500 annually.

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Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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MS in USA

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