Data science master’s programs combine statistics, programming, data management, and machine learning to help students turn large datasets into useful models and decisions. The programs below have been reviewed for a meaningful data science focus rather than a single related elective.
Our current inventory includes 14 master’s programs classified under data-science. Use the table to compare degree type, location, delivery format, tuition, and program length. Each school name links to a full program profile with curriculum, admissions, and cost details.
Data Science Master’s Programs
| School | Location | Degree | Format | Tuition | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State | Tempe, AZ | MS in Data Science with Bayesian Machine Learning | campus | $15,000 | 24 Months |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | Master of Science in Data Science | campus | $71,520 | 2 years |
| College of Charleston | Charleston, SC | M.S. in Data Science and Analytics | campus | $19,800 | 2 Years |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | Master of Science in Data Analytics and AI | Hybrid | Approx $11.2K resident / $43.2K nonresident | About 1.5–2 years |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | Master of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | Campus | Approx $13.7K resident / $34.4K nonresident | 1 year full-time |
| Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, IN | Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence – Data Analytics | Online | Est. $17,700 tuition | 15–20 months |
| Montana State University | Bozeman, MT | M.S. in Data Science | campus | $13,141 resident | 2 years |
| North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro, NC | M.S. in Data Science and Engineering | Online | $303/credit in-state | 2–3 semesters |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence | Online or Campus | $29,670 estimated total tuition | As little as 1 year |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX | online | $37,855 | 20 Months | |
| Tennessee Tech University | Cookeville, TN | Computer Science MS: Machine Learning Track | campus | $23K | 2-2.5 years |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | MS in Information Science: Machine Learning | hybrid | $18,017 per semester | 18 months |
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO | Master of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | Online, Hybrid, or Campus | Approx $17K | 18–24 months |
| University of Montana | Missoula, MT | M.S. in Data Science | campus | $16K-$20K | 2 years |
What You Study in a Data Science Master’s
Data science programs usually combine mathematical foundations with practical computing. Common subjects include probability, statistics, data visualization, databases, programming, machine learning, data mining, optimization, and large-scale data analysis.
The balance varies by school. Some programs lean heavily into mathematics and statistical modeling. Others emphasize computer science, engineering applications, artificial intelligence, or production data systems. A degree with a strong machine learning component should include more than one isolated ML elective.
How Data Science and Machine Learning Overlap
Machine learning is one of the main technical areas inside modern data science. Data scientists often prepare and analyze data, select features, train predictive models, evaluate results, and communicate findings. Machine learning engineers usually place more emphasis on model development, software systems, deployment, and performance at scale.
For this directory, a data science program can also receive the machine-learning classification when the curriculum shows substantial ML coursework, a formal ML concentration, or required machine learning study. We do not classify programs from keyword mentions alone.
How to Compare Data Science Programs
Curriculum: Look for required statistics, programming, databases, and machine learning rather than a broad analytics degree with little technical depth.
Cost: Compare total tuition when the university publishes it. When it does not, compare the per-credit rate against the required credit total.
Format: Confirm whether the degree is online, mostly online, hybrid, or campus-based. Do not assume that individual online courses make the full degree online.
Length: Many full-time programs take about 12 to 24 months, but thesis work, prerequisites, and part-time enrollment can extend the timeline.
Applied work: A capstone, practicum, internship, project, or thesis can provide useful experience beyond coursework.
Who Is a Data Science Master’s Best For?
A data science master’s can fit students who want broad preparation across statistics, computing, machine learning, and data analysis. It can be especially useful for applicants who want flexibility between roles such as data scientist, machine learning analyst, analytics engineer, data engineer, or applied AI professional.
Students who want most of their graduate study devoted to neural networks, AI systems, computer vision, natural language processing, or machine learning theory may prefer a more specialized machine learning or artificial intelligence degree.