Online masters in data science

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sandhya dubey

Did you know that Southwest Airlines once saved $100 million by using data? That’s the power of leveraging data in today’s data-driven world. And thus, an online masters in data science is good option for those who want lead in data-driven business realm.

In God we believe, all others must bring data.
W. Edward Deming

W. Edward Deming, Father of Total Quality Management, was also an American engineer, statistician, management consultant, author, professor, & lecturer.

His enthusiasm for data-based analysis is celebrated across the global sphere and who can resonate with this better than a Data Science student?

Data enthusiasts, you got it!

Both, the exponentially growing data and its handling, have created a great market buzz for data scientists. As per the reports by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this field will show a 27.9% increase in demand by the year-2026.

Further, as per Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America, With 4000 job openings, salary standards, & job satisfaction, Data Scientist is among the Top-3 tier jobs– one of the several reasons for you to step into the field!

You may refer these books to learn about data science.

10 providers of Online Masters in Data Science

You may read our below articles to learn more about data science

10 Online Master’s in Data Science

Note 1:

Data Science has its seeds deep in the alley of Computer Science, Mathematics, & Statistics. But if you’re not from similar subjects in bachelor’s, don’t sweat it! Hang in there firmly.

Try to attend a few coursework that establishes your proficiency in Computer programming, data structures, algorithms, & computational theories. This will strengthen your portfolio undeniably and make the admission officials assess your application carefully.

KIE has crafted our first-string listing of the 10 best online master’s in data sciences. Moreover, we have tried to enlist (& not rank) the following programs

Note 2:

When you’re selecting a college for an online master’s program in data sciences, select one that suits YOU the best. Consider their- admission norms, course details, faculty members, fee structure, career guidance cell, & other specific information you need (in-depth).

Again, choose one that suits you the best, above all!

And finally, Come & follow up with us!

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of California- Los Angeles
University of Maryland
University of Wisconsin
University of Michigan
University of California- Berkeley
Texas Tech University
University of Houston
Johns Hopkins University
Northwestern University

1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has secured rank-1 on most authoritative websites because of its highly educated experts & research faculty members in data science. Certainly, this helped them to serve one of the finest quality academic reputations.

An overview of its online data science master’s course structure:

The data science master’s program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is completely online. It offers 4-core area mentioned following: data visualization, machine learning, data mining, & cloud computing.

Further, you can also study statistics & information science through courses taught in collaboration, with your major course chosen. The 32-credit hours can be completed in a minimum of 1-year or a maximum of 5-year.

Admission process for the online data science master’s program:

Candidates applying for the program must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in computer science background. The applicants must show a GPA of 3.2/4.0 or higher for the last 2-years of their UG studies.

If you don’t have a bachelor’s in a related field, you can submit papers proving your data structure knowledge-for example, a certified data science course where you studied algorithms, theory of computation, data mining, analysis, etc.

If you fail to do both, take it easy. The university gives you one more chance- To win i.e. you can attend their Data Science Proficiency Exam to prove your abilities.

You are required to submit your duly filled online application. Try to follow all the instructions mentioned there. This will certainly strengthen your profile for the screening process.

As per their online portal, GRE isn’t required to attend this particular program. Eager beavers! You feel it.

You can apply by October 15 to join their Spring 2023 cohort soon.

All the Best!

Fee structure for online master’s in data science:

The University of Illinois charges $670 per credit hour, summing up to $21,440 for the entire 32 credits.

Most of their MCS-DS (Master of Computer Science in Data Science) have one or more proctored exams & fees for these exams will be charged separately- as ProctorU Fees.

The ProctorU fee varies with the duration of any exam e.g., 30-minute; 1 hour; or 90-minute.

Additional courses will have additional fees e.g., AWS cloud programming platform used for cloud computing courses.

You can also explore their student financial aid & schemes.

Career cell for online data science programs:

The dedicated cell for career consultation at the university is an extra edge as the team arranges various consultation calls, meetings, & associations between- newly graduated students & established companies & recruiters.

Their CS-ECE section collaboration with corporate partners is worth mentioning herein.

Their alumni are working with many global companies & MNCs. Microsoft, Yelp, Optimizely, YouTube, C3, and PayPal to name a few.

You can scan their career cell working mechanism on its official website.

2. University of California- Los Angeles

University of California- Los Angeles (UCLA) is a dominant college for online data science programs across the globe.

Its well-composed online programs will charge a bit more compared to the above university. But it’s worth investing!

Let’s see its silhouette for online data science masters:

An overview of its online data science master’s course structure:

UCLA’s online data science master’s program has 36 credits in total. It has 9 courses in it. 5 of which must be at the graduation level.

You can select 4-core courses- for example, database systems, advanced data mining, data management system, algorithms, analytics & many others.

The remaining courses are electives. And, the student has the freedom to choose a maximum of 2-elective courses outside the data science major.

The minimum time assigned to the program is- 2 years 3 months (including summer sessions) & maximum is 3 academic years, excluding summer sessions. You can check out their website portal for online data science engineering. To build in-depth insights.

Admission requirements for the online data science master’s programme:

Students preparing for the program must clear a comprehensive exam. To verify your abilities. This exam has 2 options. You can choose either.

Option:1 Take & pass ENGR-299 Capstone Project Course; Option:2 Take 3 different graduation-level written exams. This exam will be in your specialisation area only.

A constant GPA of 3.0 or higher is important in the previous two years of academics. More importantly, a GRE score is asked. Educational transcripts, 3 Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) & a Statement of Purpose (SoP) are also needed.

If you’ve any queries or need some additional information, check it out!

Fee structure for online master’s in data science:

Each course has a fee of $4,200. $37,800 for the entire 9 courses. And textbooks & other miscellaneous elements’ charges vary from course to course.

The exact amount can be guessed once the program actually begins. Though an additional $100 could be added per course.

Career cell for online data science programs:

UCLA ensures well-oiled machinery of career counselling for each of its students. Its career programs have various horizons.

For example, Alumni mentorship, career guidance, sessions with Bruins, career coaches, entertainment networking with alumni, & many others.

Their distinguished alumni, particularly in the field of Data Science, at UCLA, are very valuable. to name a few of them:

Allen Adham (Founder of Tenfold Capital Management & co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment), Vladimir Braverman (Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University), Josephine Cheng (VP, IBM corporation).

3. University of Maryland

University of Maryland, Green Park is an excellent public research university. The land-grant Institute was founded in 1856.

The National Science Foundation said that the university has invested a combined budget of $1.1 billion in its research & development programs. In the year-2020.

The total fee of this program is among the least.

The post-baccalaureate online master’s in data science at UMD will teach you: to manage sample surveys, data analysis, survey methodology, data management, & representing the results.

An overview of its data science master’s course structure:

The 30-credits coursework has 2 sub-parts as explained along the lines. The first part has 19 credits.

These credits will be derived from the core-courses: research questions, the process of data generation, data curation & storage, data analysis, & data output/access.

Students are free to choose their preferred set of core courses from the list & the remaining 11 credits will be through elective courses.

Most courses have 1-2 credits & are designed such that a student will have the maximum grasp of the subject. The program is semester-based with an International reach.

The 19 credits will be concluded from 5 core courses. You can check out their course overview to have a better understanding of the program.

Admission requirements for the online data science master’s programme:

The 30-credit data science master’s degree is titled: MPDS at the University of Maryland i.e. Master’s of Professional Studies in Survey & Data Science.

Just go to their Graduate School at the University of Maryland portal. Scroll & find MPDS- online master’s in Data Science.

Requirements are fundamentally similar-for example, Previous course transcripts, SoP, resumes, & a full-fledged application form. Description of research and/or work experience is asked but is not mandatory.

Here, we’d recommend you submit a well-articulated description of your work or research experience, with their references. Of course, if you don’t have any, you can avoid this part. And be more careful with your SoP.

TOEFL/IELTS/PTE is asked if you’re an international graduate student. Know their in-depth official needs at their MPDS admission requirements, online.

The good news, again, is that GRE, GMAT, or LoR is not required.

Fee structure for Online master’s in data science:

The course is 30-credits long (as mentioned above) & the tentative fee for each course is $1,125. For its 2-year-long term. You can get their detailed fee chart by clicking here.

Career cell for online data science programs:

University of Maryland’s career programs helps its students a lot. The cell provides information on the latest job opportunities, on & off-campus. Their career guides help students in preparing CVs & cover letters.

Other career fairs & meet-ups, workshops, panels, and interviews are also held frequently. You can visit its online career portal herein.

4. University of Wisconsin

In the KIE list of 10 best colleges for online masters in data science, the University of Wisconsin won the position-4 & there’re many reasons to grab this spot.

The program offered by the university is accredited by its Board of Regents & Higher Education Commission. Let’s look at the reasons one by one.

An overview of its data science master’s course structure:

The University of Wisconsin (UW) offers a complete online course in the Master of Science in Data Science. The online master’s in data science is offered by UW extended departments & others campuses partnered together.

Students with Computer Science, Maths, Statistics, management & communication are welcomed. The 12 courses-36-credits, 100% online can be completed in 1 year minimally.

The detailed timeline is variable and is dependent on the campus you select when admitted. The courses offered in the master’s program have produced Data Analyst, Data Engineer, Data Scientist, Programming Analyst, Software Engineer, etc.

Admission requirements for the online data science master’s programme:

GRE/GMAT is not required, same as the above university. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is needed for your bachelor’s. If you scored less than a 3.0 GPA, you can apply for the program, if you want because you might be selected based on the analysis of your entire application portfolio. If it instils their admission officials!

Prerequisites: Prerequisite courses in these 3 areas- elementary statistics, computer programming, & databases are required & appropriate work experience is always a plus.

Note: the officials at your home centres can waive one or two requirements based on their portfolio & experience.

Try to build your portfolio very strong so that even if you lag at one or the other point, you still grab the seat.

Fee structure for Online masters in data science:

$850 per credit. This is the fee for both in-state & out of state students. Though the fees are increased to $875 per credit for this Fall, 2022 session. Study materials & textbooks costs are excluded herein.

Academic officials will consider you for grants, scholarships, & other financial aids if you check in all the qualifying points for the same. Here are the details, to check whether you are in or not!

Career cell for online masters data science programs:

The best thing about the University of Wisconsin is it cares for both online & on-campus students equally. Also, the certificate that online students receive is similar to that of on-campus students.

The well-connected & structured career service is top-notch along with distributed student resources. You can excess their 1:1 consulting services by their team of career coaches. They’ll help you in deciding further steps of your data science career. Their hands-on experience in counselling the best will help you a lot!

5. University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is one of the earliest American universities. It’s a public research university at Ann Arbour. The University of Michigan’s School of information has a fully online advanced data science master’s & at a comparatively affordable cost.

The UMSI welcomes students with diverse backgrounds to join their team- online masters in advanced data science.

An overview of its data science master’s course structure:

The course will have the following topics: computational methods to deal with big data, exploring & communcating data, visualizing, analytic technique, application in context,, 3 major projects.

The 3 projects will boost your portfolio strength manifolds.

Online Masters in Data Science has 34 credits in total. You can win 1-3 credits per month & as per your time slots. So, you can complete the course in as little as 1 year. Or maximum, in 3- years!

The course is designed to take part-timers under care. So you can pursue your full-time or part-time job along with doing your online master’s.

The community you’ll get during the online course will help you in many ways. For example- to build your own network with the faculty & other resources, chat with people from different cultures & time zones, etc.

Admission requirements for the online data science master’s programme:

Before we move ahead, let’s tell you that GRE/GMAT scores are not mandatory for this completely online data science master’s. Yeah!

The requirements are quite similar. For example- a bachelor’s degree & previous educational transcripts; 1-3 LoR; any data-based problem you’ve solved earlier; 3 short essays (& other general documents asked by the authority).

You also need to pass an online exam (also called the entrance statement) in fundamental statistics & Python. The exam is just to ensure your basic knowledge of statistics & Python.

Also, the exam isn’t needed if you have a Python 3 programming specialization through the University of Michigan Coursera program. Or if you’ve got your UG or graduation degree in Computer Science, Information Science, etc.

You can gather the detailed description on its portal.

Fee structure for Online masters in data science:

The University of Michigan has a reasonable fee structure for its in-state & outside-state students. As the college is partially funded by the state, in-state students have to pay $968 per credit. This sums up to ($968×34=$32,912) for the entire 34 credits.

While students outside Michigan State (which perhaps most of you are) would pay $1,291 per credit. And this comes out to be ($1,291×34=$43,894) & an additional cost ($165/semester).

The university also provides scholarships to meritorious students online worth $1,000 to $5,000 with extra financial aid.

And the relaxing news is you don’t need any extra paperwork to apply for the scholarship. All the candidates applying for the program will automatically be screened for the scholarship.

Want even elaborated knowledge? Check this out!

Career cell for online masters data science programs:

Many career coaches have been awarded for their excellent career services at the University of Michigan because of their valuable help in- preparing resumes, job searches & internships, & counselling sessions, of course!

Please note that many of their career fairs are exclusively for on-campus students. You can check the detailed description herein.

6. University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is one of the most highly ranked universities across the globe. It’s a public land-grant research university.

UC-Berkeley shows a freshman acceptance rate of 14.5% & graduation rate, of 92%. This reflects their highly-reputed data science course at UC Berkeley School of information or ischool.

Interestingly, UC-Berkeley launched its online master’s in data science program back on July 17, 2013. Quoting a McKinsey report (2011). The step was taken to meet the increasing demand for data scientists in the US.

An overview of its data science master’s course structure:

Its 27- unit data science master’s is completely online, however, asks for a short trip (of 3-4 days) to the campus, offline. This in-person experience will help you to know & network with your batchmates, and professors, & participate in seminars & workshops.

The online program can be completed in a minimum of 1 year or 32 months or maximally 2 years 8 months i.e., 32 months.

The multidisciplinary curriculum is named MIDS or Master of Information & Data Science. It has these 8 core courses– data engineering, data mining/exploration, statistical analysis, research analysis, data cleansing, visualization, data ethics and privacy, & ML (machine learning) of course!

Know the online master’s data science curriculum at UC Berkeley school in-depth by clicking here.

Admission requirements for the online data science master’s program:

Acceptance probability increases manifolds if you have a GPA of 3.0 or above, though it’s not specified. The University doesn’t ask for any specific coursework but it’s recommended to have a prior proficiency in programming languages like Java, Python, C++, etc. You can show this through any certificate, course, or training you took.

A fundamental understanding of data structures, linear algebra, and statistics is important. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college along with 2 LoRs, SoP, & an updated CV is required.

Importantly, GRE/GMAT isn’t needed if you have 8 or more years of working experience. TOEFL is needed (if applicable). Know the detailed admission information herein.

Fee structure for Online masters in data science:

Let’s start with the application fee first. It’s $120 for domestic candidates. Overseas students will pay $140. The 27- unit online data science has a very detailed fee structure. You can find that easily on their portal.

The University encourages students to apply for loans, financial aid, sponsorship aid, etc. to fulfil the online masters program.

Career cell for online masters data science programs:

Their 1:1 consulting & career coaching services are a great hit with students’ paths-To their career goals. A database of jobs, employers, resume-building, and pitching skills training comes as bonus features.

And the icing on the cake is their alumni network, workshops, career fairs, & many more. Know their career support mechanism in detail.

7. Texas Tech University

The students in their summer-2020 batch had an average age of 33 years. Which is very similar to other universities’ average. Their gender ratio was 22:78 in the same batch. Texas Tech University is ranked no. 3, for the best online, non-MBA program in the US, 2022.

An overview of its online data science master’s course structure:

The online data science master’s at Texas Tech University has a cutting-edge curriculum. The 36- credit hours course has the core aspects like- big data strategy, decision making & business analytics, etc.

The master’s program can be studied on-campus or remotely. The 1- year course format has both options available: on-campus or online mode.

While the 2-year coursework is available through online mode only & this is more suitable for professionals seeking a better career with better work-life balance.

Their unique lock-based program helps students to learn step by step. One concept after the other. Faculty members provide real-world technical mastery. Its summer 2020 batch had 43% international students exemplifying a diverse learning culture.

Admission requirements for its online data science master’s programme:

We recommend you apply at least 6 months before the beginning of the actual session. Their team give a personalised & resilient service during the application process (as stated by them on the college portal).

A bachelor’s in Computer Science, Information Technology, engineering, etc. need to be submitted. Work experience isn’t mandatory. Experience in programming languages-fir example-Python, SQL, and React, among many others, would be a plus.

And when you have completed a prior course on statistics, calculus, & probability, you’ll add one more star to your portfolio.

A detailed up-to-date resume, 3 LoRs, SoP, and English proficiency test score (for non-native English-speaking nations, of course) is required. GRE/GMAT was waived during the Covid-19, for the academic year 2020-21 but now, It’s resumed again.

However, Texas Tech University (TTU) motivates students to apply for their online MSDS (Master of Science in Data Science)– as they haven’t set any minimum score to qualify GRE. The University wants to examine the student with a holistic approach- Taking care of your entire portfolio!

Further, you don’t need any GRE/GMAT scores if you have an experience of 5 or more years. Experienced folks, you got it slightly smoother!

Note: The Texas Tech University doesn’t accept GMAT scores, they approve GRE marks only.

Fee structure for Online masters in data science:

In-depth tuition fee has been reported on their official MSDS-online portal. $333 is charged per credit hour with additional fees during the entire curriculum- such as a late registration fee (if applicable) & International support student fee.

The fees for international and domestic students are almost similar. If you are a working professional, you can also reach out to your HR departments to know about the Employer Tuition Reimbursement policy of your company. And it might be helpful in monetary values.

You can scan this to know about their financial aid, scholarships, grants, etc.

Career cell for online data science programs:

Before knowing about their career support, you can check out their Blackboard initiative for online learners. The program is specially designed for easy access to e-learning resources for their students.

8. University of Houston

The Master of Science in Statistics & Data Science is offered by the Department of Mathematics-at the University of Houston. The program is STEM-designated.

The University of Houston (UH) is the largest public research university in Houston & is the third largest in Texas. The university has a remarkable history in research activities and post-grad employability. Read more about the university in detail!

An overview of its online data science master’s course structure:

The 30- credit online data science master’s program takes only a year to complete. So, you can guess how much vibrant its curriculum would be! Now if you’re a part-time student, the course is also available in a 2-year convenient curriculum. University has designed a hybrid master’s program, combining both on-campus & online classes.

Its online portal has enlisted the program highlights. Starting from fundamental skills to advanced statistical analysis & machine learning, its expert faculties teach all.

The Department of Mathematics provides hands-on experience through research internships in industrial, commercial, & biomedical engineering.

Admission requirements for the its online data science master’s programme:

You need to submit official online transcripts through their online portal. There’s no application fee for domestic applicants. Students of Houston must smile there! However, international students need to pay an application fee of $80. You can contact the appropriate advisor for more details.

The applicants are to hold a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA for the last 40 credit hours.. 3 LoRs, a CV, & a personal statement are needed. A very basic level of proficiency in programming languages with the knowledge of topics like- probability & statistics is a plus.

The University of Houston (UH) has put 2 prerequisite courses to complete before getting into the data science masters. These are: Calculus II & Linear Algebra. Check this out for detailed information

GRE is required along with English Language Proficiency Tests-such as TOEFL, IELTS, etc. (for international students).

GRE was exempted for the applicants of Spring 2022.

Fee structure for Online masters in data science:

The fee is between $334.00-421.76 per credit hour. For in-detail calculations, visit this site for real-time calculations on the university’s portal itself.

The University of Houston encourages US applicants to apply for FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid).

Career cell for online data science programs:

Internships in research projects such as commercial, industrial, and biomedicine help students strengthen their practical experience. The career cell at UH has a job database & wide network of industry employers.

The career coaches advise on resume-making, job selection, & overall career planning. Check out their details on career services offered!

9. Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) offers a Master’s of Science in Data Science that gives access to state-of-the-art facilities of the Physics Laboratory, JHU.

JHU shows a huge graduation rate of 93% & only 11% of acceptance (for in-house courses mainly. The college really encourages part-time students to apply for the online data science master’s program. Check the thorough history of the university.

An overview of its online data science master’s course structure:

You can attend the Master’s of Science in Data Science at JHU fully online or through hybrid online/on-site opportunities.

Working professionals like most of you will get an opportunity- to expand your knowledge of- data science, AI-ML, Game Theory, & large-scale data systems.

You’ll learn from their experienced senior-level engineers & data scientist. Get the entire details at their online room!

Admission requirements for the its online data science master’s programme:

ou are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the latter half of your academics. Required programming knowledge in Java or Python. GRE scores aren’t mandatory but a plus.

This online data science master’s program asks for a few prerequisite courses to be in your portfolio & here’s a good thing, if you’re yet to complete these prerequisite courses, the university still considers you for provisional admission (based upon other factors) & allows you the time to complete these courses to be considered for final admission.

JHU offers a master’s & post-master data science program & in both, hybrid & online formats. We shall talk mainly about the master’s program for which the University offers a proficiency exam.

Students who don’t have the required transcripts/background in their UG course but have relevant experience & knowledge, can give this exam. You can also skip a few prerequisites based on your performance in the exam.

Fee structure for Online masters in data science:

$5,872 is the per-course tuition fee for their 3-credit graduate-level course. Though their dean’s support can make it drop to $4,920 per course.

They’ve also designed a sophisticated table to explain each point of its tuition summary for the year 2022-23. Visit their Tuition & Fee category to get a detailed description.

Career cell for online data science programs:

The career cell at Johns Hopkins University is well-equipped with modern resources, career coaches, & recorded data sets. They serve as the connecting string between newly graduates & potential employers.

The university also ensures that each of its students (online or on-campus) has the required resources to fulfil the soft aptitudes of a course provided. Together with these student resources facilities, their team hit it well off!

10. Northwestern University

Northwestern University, founded in 1851 is the oldest chartered university in Illinois. It is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois.

The top-notch university shows a huge graduation rate of 95% & just a 9% acceptance rate. This 171 year old university has 11 undergraduate, graduate, & professional colleges. You can check out the detailed information on this by clicking here.

An overview of its online data science master’s course structure:

The online data science master’s at Northwestern University (NU) is among the oldest & the most experienced. Students at NU can attend either a general data science program or a specialization in any one of the following subjects: Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering, Analytics & Modelling, or Analytics Management, etc.

The program has 12 courses to complete and 6 of them are foundation courses. These foundation courses have: 1 course in leadership/project management, 2 in specialization, & 2 electives & finally a capstone project or thesis for all.

We found, Northwestern University has a higher fee but it also stood out as one of the preferred university for online data science master’s.

Admission requirements for the its online data science master’s programme:

NU has both, a completely online part-time data science master’s & one-year accelerated program for full-timers.

Their winter session is going to start in January for which the deadline is October 15. While January 15 is the last date to apply for the spring session. So, If you’re planning to opt-in to this university, choose accordingly.

Applicants must show a 4-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA checked. These certificates & transcripts must be submitted through their online application portal along with the non-refundable application fee of $75.

Resume, SoP, and LoRs along with the contact information of two references- GRE/GMAT isn’t mandatory as admission officials scrutinise your entire portfolio on a holistic approach.

Fee structure for Online masters in data science:

Let’s start with the fee structure for part-timers. $4,780 per course is charged for the online MSDS program. This sums up to $58,860 for the entire program including the technology fee.

Full-time students would pay 14,715 per quarter. There will be a total of 4 quarters to complete the course & this sums up to the same figure, $58,860.

Check out the page to know about their fee structure in detail.

Career cell for online data science programs:

Northwestern University has a dedicated Student Leadership Council (SLC) for MSDS students. The council helps students network with alumni & world-class industry professionals in various career fiestas, seminars, & annual conferences.

This automatically creates opportunities & strong contacts among them.

So, here we would end up our list of online data science masters programs. Let us know what you think about these programs. And which one is the best choice for you to go with?

We shall meet soon with a new value-packed post. Let us know if you have any suggestions for our next post. We would love to incorporate them.

Signing off!

Love & Peace!