The University of Rochester offers a Master of Science in Data Science through the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The degree requires a minimum of 30 credits and is taught in person on the Rochester campus. Data Mining and Introduction to Statistical Machine Learning are required core courses. Deep learning, natural language processing, and machine vision are available as electives from the Department of Computer Science, and students finish with a team practicum for a sponsoring organization.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Data Science |
| School | Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences |
| Location | Rochester, New York |
| Format | Campus, daytime classes |
| Credits | 30 minimum; students typically complete 32 |
| Culminating Experience | Data Science Practicum, no thesis |
| Minimum GPA | No minimum stated |
| GRE | Not required; optional |
| Tuition | $2,234 per credit hour for 2026–27 |
| Fall Deadlines | January 5 (early), February 15 (regular), March 15 (late round) |
| Typical Length | Two or three semesters full time |
| STEM Designated | Yes |
Official MS in Data Science page
Curriculum
Rochester does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning or artificial intelligence. The MS in Data Science is the closest fit, with a fixed core that includes one data mining course and one machine learning course. The Goergen Institute also offers a Genomics track and a separate online MS in Healthcare Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Students complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits consisting of:
- 16 credits of core courses
- 4 credits of practicum
- At least 10 credits of application area electives, usually three courses
Core Courses
- DSCC 440 – Data Mining
- DSCC 461 – Introduction to Databases
- DSCC 462 – Computational Introduction to Statistics
- DSCC 465 – Introduction to Statistical Machine Learning
Each core course carries 4 credits. DSCC 462 is offered in fall only and is a prerequisite for DSCC 465, which most students take in spring.
Application Area Electives
Students choose electives from five application areas and may spread them across areas or concentrate in one:
- Business and Social Science
- Computational Methods
- Genomics
- Health and Biomedical Sciences
- Statistical Methodology
The Computational Methods area holds most of the machine learning and artificial intelligence courses. Its list includes:
- CSC 442 – Artificial Intelligence
- CSC 445 – Deep Learning
- CSC 446 – Machine Learning
- CSC 447 – Natural Language Processing
- CSC 449 – Machine Vision
- CSC 466 – Frontiers in Deep Learning
- CSC 477 – End-to-End Deep Learning
- DSCC 402 – Data Science at Scale
- DSCC 435 – Optimization for Machine Learning
- DSCC 451 – Machine Learning with Limited Data
- DSCC 475 – Time Series Analysis and Forecasting
- ECE 446 – Digital Signal Processing
Deep learning, natural language processing, and machine vision are electives, not core courses, and the standard plan has room for about three electives. Not every course runs each year, so students should check the current term schedule.
Up to 6 elective credits may come from independent study, master’s research, or one to two internship credits. Electives taken in the Simon Business School are billed at a different rate.
Data Science Practicum
In DSCC 483, taken in the final semester, teams of three or four students work with a sponsoring organization to clean and analyze its data and propose solutions. The course includes an ethics component. The final presentation is evaluated by two Goergen Institute faculty members and serves as the master’s exit exam. The program has no thesis option.
Summer Bridging Course
Admitted students who have not studied data structures take CSC 162 – Data Structures and Algorithms in Python before the first fall semester. It is a five-week online course worth 4 credits, and it does not count toward the 30 credits.
Cost and Tuition
The University of Rochester is a private university and charges graduate tuition by the credit hour, with the same rate for New York residents and nonresidents.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the Goergen Institute lists:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Arts, Sciences and Engineering courses, per credit hour | $2,234 |
| Simon Business School courses, per credit hour | $2,366 |
| Program tuition at 32 credits | $71,488 |
The Institute bases its $71,488 figure on 32 credits, which is what students typically complete. At the 30-credit minimum, tuition comes to about $67,020 before fees and scholarships.
Full-time students also pay a $552 mandatory health fee and a $20 graduate activity fee each semester, and international students pay a $100 fee each semester. University health insurance costs $2,154 per semester and can be waived with qualifying coverage. Part-time students pay no student fees.
Applicants are considered for merit scholarships, and the Institute reports an average award of 33 percent of tuition. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the program.
View MS in Data Science tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree. A degree in a STEM field is preferred but not required.
The program expects:
- undergraduate mathematics through basic calculus
- some prior programming experience
College-level statistics is not required. The program does not state a minimum GPA and treats GPA as one of several factors in its review.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $30 application fee
- transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended
- statement of purpose of one to three pages
- resume or CV
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is not required, though applicants may submit scores. For English proficiency, the program lists minimums of 7 on the IELTS and 120 on the Duolingo English Test, along with a TOEFL requirement.
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall, full time (early action) | January 5 |
| Fall, full time (regular) | February 15 |
| Fall, full time (late round) | March 15 |
| Fall, part time | March 15 |
| Spring, part time only | November 30 |
| Summer, part time only | March 15 |
Full-time students are admitted for fall only. Admitted full-time students pay a $500 non-refundable deposit, which is applied to the first tuition payment.
Program Format
The MS in Data Science is taught in person on the Rochester campus. Courses are offered during the day, and all require in-person attendance. The degree is not available online.
Full-time students finish in two semesters (10 months) or three semesters (17 months). The program is cohort-based, and full-time students cannot extend to a fourth semester. The three-semester plan leaves a summer open for an internship.
Part-time study is allowed in some circumstances, with no more than two courses per semester and up to five years to finish.
The degree is STEM designated, which allows eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension.
Who Is This Program Best For?
The University of Rochester’s MS in Data Science is a strong option for students who want a short, full-time, campus-based degree with required coursework in statistics, databases, data mining, and machine learning.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- statistical machine learning and data mining
- electives in deep learning, natural language processing, or machine vision
- applied work with a sponsoring organization through the practicum
- data science in health, biomedical, or business settings
- entering data science from a non-computing major, with a summer bridging course
- a STEM-designated degree that can be finished in two or three semesters
The degree is a data science master’s, not a dedicated machine learning or AI degree. Only one machine learning course is required, there is room for about three electives, and there is no thesis. Classes meet in person during the day, full-time students start in fall only, and tuition is at private university rates. Students who want a degree built entirely around AI, a research thesis, online or evening study, or public university pricing may want to compare other New York schools.
Official University of Rochester Program Links
- MS in Data Science program page
- Application area courses
- Sample schedules
- Application requirements and deadlines
- Tuition and fees
- Frequently asked questions
Related Machine Learning Programs in New York
Students can also compare University of Rochester with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in New York.
- Binghamton University – Binghamton
- City College of New York – New York
- Clarkson University – Potsdam
- Columbia University – New York
- Cornell University – Ithaca
- Fordham University – New York
- Hofstra University – Hempstead
- Long Island University – Brooklyn
- Manhattanville University – Purchase
- Marist University – Poughkeepsie
- Mercy University – Dobbs Ferry
- New York University – New York
- Pace University – New York
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Troy
- Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester
- St. John’s University – Queens
- Stony Brook University – Stony Brook
- SUNY Buffalo State University – Buffalo
- SUNY New Paltz – New Paltz
- SUNY Oswego – Syracuse
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute – Utica
- Syracuse University – Syracuse
- University at Albany – Albany
- University at Buffalo – Buffalo
- Utica University – Utica
- Yeshiva University – New York