Boston College offers a Master of Science in Applied Analytics through the Woods College of Advancing Studies.
The 30-credit program is offered on the Chestnut Hill campus in the evening, online, or as a mix of both. Despite the analytics name, the required core is built around machine learning: two AI algorithms courses that reach neural networks, deep learning, and reinforcement learning, a course in AI and machine learning software tools, and a course in algorithmic ethics and governance.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Applied Analytics |
| School | Woods College of Advancing Studies |
| Location | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts or Online |
| Format | Evening campus classes, online, or a combination |
| Credits | 30 (10 courses) |
| Culminating Experience | Applied Analytics Project |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
| GRE | Not required, but strongly suggested |
| Tuition | $1,550 per credit (2026–27) |
| Entry Terms | Fall, spring, and summer |
| Typical Length | 12 months full time or about 20 months part time |
| STEM Designated | Yes |
Official MS in Applied Analytics page
Curriculum
Boston College does not offer a master’s degree titled machine learning or artificial intelligence, and its Computer Science Department offers a Ph.D. but no standalone master’s. The MS in Applied Analytics is the university’s applied machine learning master’s with a campus option. It grew out of the Woods College applied economics program and shares several courses with it.
Students complete 30 graduate credits in ten 3-credit courses, consisting of:
- 6 credits of foundational courses
- 12 credits of core courses
- 3 credits for the Applied Analytics Project
- 9 credits of electives
Students need a cumulative 3.00 GPA to graduate.
Foundational Courses
- ADAN 7220 – Mathematical Methods for Machine Learning I
- ADAN 7301 – Data Analysis
Both courses are taken before the core and elective courses. Mathematical Methods for Machine Learning I covers linear algebra and vector calculus. Students who earned a B or higher in a prior linear algebra course or a prior analytics course such as econometrics can request a waiver. A waiver does not shorten the degree. Students take additional electives in place of the waived courses.
Core Courses
- ADAN 7430 – ML/AI Algorithms I
- ADAN 7603 – AI Algorithms II
- ADAN 7905 – AI/ML Software Tools and Platforms
- ADAN 7500 – Algorithmic Ethics and Governance
ML/AI Algorithms I is cross-listed with the applied economics program as Big Data Econometrics. It pairs econometrics with common machine learning methods, including neural networks, tree-based methods, and clustering, and assumes no prior experience with R or Python.
AI Algorithms II covers neural networks, deep learning architectures, and reinforcement learning. It is taught in Python and expects intermediate Python and linear algebra.
AI/ML Software Tools and Platforms covers the data engineering behind data science work. Algorithmic Ethics and Governance surveys governance frameworks for the responsible use of AI and machine learning.
Electives
Students select three courses from:
- ADAN 7221 – Real Analysis: The Theory of Calculus
- ADAN 7320 – Regression Models
- ADAN 7399 – Computer Vision
- ADAN 7401 – Operations Research
- ADAN 7406 – Predictive Analytics / Forecasting
- ADAN 7431 – Natural Language Processing
- ADAN 7470 – Advanced Econometrics
- ADAN 7520 – AI Product Management
- ADAN 7735 – Visual Analytics
- ADAN 7800 – Foundations of Generative AI
Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, and Foundations of Generative AI are electives, not core courses. With three elective slots, a student can take all three, but only by skipping the econometrics, forecasting, and visualization options.
Students can also count an Internship in Applied Analytics as an elective, graded pass/fail, and can choose some MS in Applied Economics courses with advisor approval. The program adds new electives from time to time.
Applied Analytics Project
In ADAN 8888, every student builds an analytical solution to a business or policy problem from start to finish. The program has no thesis option.
Dual Degree
Students can combine the degree with the MS in Applied Economics. The dual degree takes 15 courses and 45 credits and keeps the same AI and machine learning core.
Cost and Tuition
Boston College is a private university and charges Woods College graduate tuition by the credit, with the same rate for Massachusetts residents and nonresidents. The university does not publish a separate online rate for this program.
For the 2026–27 academic year, Boston College lists:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit | $1,550 |
| Tuition per 3-credit course | $4,650 |
| Estimated tuition for 30 credits | $46,500 |
| Graduate student activity fee, fewer than 7 credits | $42 per semester |
| Graduate student activity fee, 7 or more credits | $62 per semester |
The per-course and 30-credit figures are calculated from the per-credit rate and do not include fees. The application fee is $60. Health fees and medical insurance charges may also apply depending on enrollment.
The dual degree with applied economics comes to about $69,750 in tuition at 45 credits. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with Woods College.
View Woods College tuition and financial aid
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA. No specific undergraduate major is required.
Applicants should have completed two prerequisite courses:
- statistics
- Calculus I
The university catalog notes that a CLEP score of 56 or higher can stand in for a passing grade in a prerequisite course.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online application and $60 application fee
- transcripts from every institution attended
- resume
- personal statement of 550 to 750 words
- two letters of recommendation from professional or academic recommenders
- a two-minute video essay
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE and GMAT are not required. Boston College strongly suggests submitting scores, especially for applicants who have not completed a prerequisite. The program director may also request an interview.
International applicants need a course-by-course credential evaluation and TOEFL or IELTS scores from the past two years unless they qualify for a waiver.
Application Deadlines
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for fall, spring, and summer entry.
| Entry Term | Early Deadline | Regular Deadline | International Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | May 1 | August 15 | June 15 |
| Spring | October 15 | January 5 | October 15 |
| Summer | March 1 | April 1 | March 1 |
Applications received after a regular deadline are reviewed case by case.
Program Format
Students can complete the degree on campus, online, or in a combination of the two, and can study full time or part time.
According to the university catalog, classes ordinarily meet once a week, in the late afternoon on weeknights or during the day on Saturdays. The schedule is built for students who work during the day.
Full-time students can finish in as little as 12 months. Part-time students typically take about 20 months.
The degree is STEM designated, which allows eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension. Woods College expects graduate students on a student visa to finish within three academic semesters.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Boston College’s MS in Applied Analytics is a strong option for working professionals and career changers who want applied machine learning without needing a computer science degree first.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and deep learning taught from the mathematical foundations up
- AI ethics and governance as a required course
- computer vision, natural language processing, and generative AI electives
- econometrics and forecasting alongside machine learning
- evening, Saturday, or online classes with fall, spring, and summer start dates
- a STEM-designated degree that can be finished in 12 months
The degree comes from an applied economics tradition, not a computer science department. It has no thesis, no systems or algorithm theory courses, and only three elective slots, and private tuition comes to about $46,500 before fees. Students who want a computer science master’s, a research thesis, or public university pricing may want to compare other Massachusetts schools. Students who want a fully online, part-time degree can also look at the 36-credit MS in Data Science in Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development, which requires courses in machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing.
Official Boston College Program Links
- MS in Applied Analytics program page
- MS in Applied Analytics program of study (PDF)
- University catalog, Woods College graduate programs
- Woods College tuition and financial aid
- Boston College tuition and fees
- Woods College international students
- MS in Data Science (Lynch School)
Related Machine Learning Programs in Massachusetts
Students can also compare Boston College with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Massachusetts.
- Boston University – Boston
- Brandeis University – Waltham
- Clark University – Worcester
- Fitchburg State University – Fitchburg
- Harvard University – Cambridge
- Northeastern University – Boston
- Tufts University – Medford
- University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Lowell – Lowell
- Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester