Wichita State University offers a Master of Science in Data Science through the School of Computing in the College of Engineering.
The 30-credit program is taught on the Wichita campus. Machine Learning is a required core course, students finish with a capstone project, and the elective list includes Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks and Deep Learning, and Image Analysis and Computer Vision.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Data Science |
| School | School of Computing, College of Engineering |
| Location | Wichita, Kansas |
| Format | Campus |
| Credits | 30 |
| Culminating Experience | Capstone project, no thesis |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 in the bachelor’s degree |
| GRE | Not required for U.S. degree holders; sources differ for degrees earned outside the U.S. |
| Tuition | $367.92 per credit hour (Kansas resident), $903.59 (nonresident), 2026–27 |
| Entry Terms | Fall, spring, and summer |
| STEM Designated | Yes (CIP 11.0199) |
Official MS in Data Science page
Curriculum
Wichita State does not offer a master’s degree titled machine learning or artificial intelligence. The MS in Data Science is the university’s closest fit. The School of Computing describes data science from a computing view as revolving around machine learning, data mining, and big data, with supporting courses from mathematics and business.
Students complete 30 graduate credits consisting of:
- 15 credits of core courses, including a 3-credit capstone project
- 9 credits of data science electives
- 6 credits of discipline electives
Core Courses
- CS 746 – Perspectives on Data Science
- BSAN 775 – Introduction to Business Analytics
- MATH 746 – Introduction to Data Analytics
- CS 770 – Machine Learning
- CS 896 – Capstone Project in Data Science
Core courses cannot be substituted. CS 770 covers supervised and unsupervised learning, including decision trees, support vector machines, neural networks, deep learning, clustering, and dimension reduction.
Data Science Electives
Students select 9 credits from:
- CS 665 – Introduction to Database Systems
- CS 771 – Artificial Intelligence
- CS 797K – Advanced Topics in Data Storage
- CS 797M – Introduction to Linear Data Modeling
- CS 797O – Neural Networks and Deep Learning
- CS 797P – Algorithms and Applications on Graphs
- CS 898BE – Advanced Topics in Machine Learning
- CS 898CA – Introduction to Intelligent Robotics
- CS 898BA – Image Analysis and Computer Vision
- CS 898AW – Artificial Intelligence for Robotics
- CS 898BD – Deep Learning
Artificial intelligence, deep learning, and computer vision are electives rather than core courses. Several carry special topics course numbers, and the catalog does not list a natural language processing course for this degree.
Discipline Electives
Students select 6 credits from the data science electives above or from:
- MIS 750 – Data Visualization
- STAT 763 – Applied Regression Analysis
- STAT 764 – Analysis of Variance
- STAT 776 – Applied Statistical Methods II
- IME 780AP – Neural Networks and Machine Learning
- IME 869 – Bayesian Statistics and Uncertainty Quantification
- SMGT 800 – Analytics and Decision Making In Sport
- IME 780AN – Big Data Analytics in Engineering
- IME 734 – Introduction to Data Mining and Analytics
- MIS 884 – Database Planning and Management
- BSAN 875 – Prescriptive Analytics with Python
Students who want to substitute another computer science course for an elective must consult the graduate coordinator before taking it.
Capstone Project
CS 896 is open only to MS in Data Science students. They work on a project that covers the full data science life cycle, from data collection and preprocessing through modeling. The capstone also meets the program’s applied learning requirement. The degree has no thesis option, and thesis, project, and individual reading credits from the computer science program cannot be applied to it.
Cost and Tuition
Wichita State is a public university and charges graduate tuition by the credit hour. Rates depend on residency, and students from some neighboring states and counties qualify for reduced rates.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the university lists these graduate rates:
| Category | Tuition per Credit Hour | Estimated 30-Credit Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas resident | $367.92 | $11,038 |
| Shocker City Partnership (listed counties in eight states) | $367.92 | $11,038 |
| Shocker Select, Midwest Student Exchange, or Global Select | $551.89 | $16,557 |
| Nonresident | $903.59 | $27,108 |
The 30-credit totals are estimates of tuition only. All students also pay mandatory fees of $22.33 per credit hour and a Student Support Services Fee of $742.35 per fall or spring semester when enrolled in 7 or more credits.
The College of Engineering charges a fee of $97 per credit hour, and some computer science courses carry a $50 course fee. The Barton School of Business and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences charge their own per-credit course fees.
The Office of Financial Aid estimates 2026–27 graduate tuition and fees at $12,200 for Kansas residents and $24,940 for nonresidents, based on 24 credits across fall and spring. Rates are set by the Kansas Board of Regents and can change each year.
View Wichita State University tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related engineering discipline may be admitted in full graduate standing.
The program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA in the bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent score from another country.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another quantitative field, such as mathematics or physics, may be admitted on a conditional basis if they show quantitative skills and programming proficiency. Entering students are expected to have completed courses in:
- programming
- linear algebra
- statistics
- data structures
Students with gaps in this coursework may be admitted conditionally, and the catalog recommends completing deficiencies before starting graduate study.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application
- application fee of $60 for domestic applicants, or $75 to $175 for international applicants depending on the date
- unofficial transcripts from each institution attended
- proof of English proficiency when required
The university’s sources differ on the GRE. The 2026–27 catalog says applicants whose bachelor’s degree is from outside the United States must submit GRE General Test scores, with no minimum score. The School of Computing program page and the Graduate School application checklists say the GRE is not required. International applicants should confirm with the graduate coordinator.
The Graduate School’s minimum English proficiency scores are 79 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 58 on the PTE Academic, or 115 on the Duolingo English Test.
Application Deadlines
The program admits students in all terms and follows the Graduate School’s general deadlines.
| Applicant Type | Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens and permanent residents | Fall | August 1 |
| U.S. citizens and permanent residents | Spring | December 1 |
| U.S. citizens and permanent residents | Summer | May 1 |
| International applicants | Fall | March 1 (priority), April 30 (secondary) |
| International applicants | Spring | August 31 (priority), September 30 (secondary) |
International applications are accepted after the secondary date at a higher application fee. The Graduate School may defer international summer applicants to the fall semester because few entry-level courses run in summer.
Program Format
The MS in Data Science is a campus program in Wichita. It is not on the university’s list of online degrees.
The degree is coursework based and ends with the capstone project. Students file a plan of study, naming their electives, after completing any deficiency courses and 9 credits of degree courses.
The program is STEM designated under CIP code 11.0199, which allows eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension. International students must register for at least nine credit hours each semester.
Wichita State undergraduates in computer science can reach the degree through an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program that shares up to 9 credits.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Wichita State’s MS in Data Science is a strong option for computer science and engineering graduates who want a campus data science degree in Kansas with machine learning in the required core.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning as a required course
- artificial intelligence and deep learning electives
- computer vision and robotics
- statistics and business analytics alongside computing
- a capstone project in place of a thesis
- a STEM-designated degree with fall, spring, and summer entry
The degree is campus based and favors applicants with a computing or engineering background. Deep learning, artificial intelligence, and computer vision are electives, many of them special topics courses, and there is no natural language processing course or thesis option. Students who want an online program, a research thesis, or a degree built entirely around artificial intelligence may want to compare other Kansas schools or the university’s MS in Computer Science.
Official Wichita State University Program Links
- MS in Data Science program page
- Graduate catalog entry
- School of Computing master’s programs
- Graduate application terms and deadlines
- Graduate application checklist
- Tuition and fees
- College and department fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in Kansas
Students can also compare Wichita State University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Kansas.
- Fort Hays State University – Hays
- Kansas State University – Manhattan
- Ottawa University – Overland Park
- Pittsburg State University – Pittsburg
- University of Kansas – Lawrence