Clarkson University offers a Master of Science in Applied Data Science as an interdisciplinary graduate program based at its Potsdam campus.
The 36-credit program can be completed in Potsdam or fully online. Data Mining and Machine Learning are both required core courses, and students finish with a six-credit sponsored capstone project. Clarkson does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning or artificial intelligence.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Applied Data Science |
| School | Interdisciplinary graduate program |
| Location | Potsdam, New York or Online |
| Format | Campus or online |
| Credits | 36 |
| Culminating Experience | Six-credit sponsored capstone project |
| GRE | Optional |
| Application Deadlines | Rolling, no set deadlines |
| Tuition | $1,046 per credit for 2026–27 |
| Typical Length | Three semesters full time on campus; about two years part time |
| STEM Designated | Yes, listed as STEM OPT eligible |
Official MS in Applied Data Science page
Curriculum
Clarkson lists the MS in Applied Data Science among its interdisciplinary programs. It draws on courses from information systems, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and business, and it is separate from the university’s MS in Computer Science.
Students complete 36 graduate credits consisting of:
- 18 credits of core courses, six 3-credit courses
- 12 credits of electives, four 3-credit courses
- 6 credits of capstone project
The course codes below come from the 2025–26 graduate catalog, the most recent one Clarkson had posted at the time of review.
Core Courses
- IA 510 – Database Modeling, Design and Implementation
- IA 530 – Probability and Statistics for Analytics
- IA 605 – Data Warehousing
- IA 640 – Information Visualization
- IA 650 – Data Mining
- IA 651 – Machine Learning
A core course may be waived for students who have already covered equivalent material. Those students take additional electives to reach 36 credits.
Electives
Students select four courses with a faculty advisor. The catalog list includes:
- IA 626 – Big Data Processing and Cloud Services
- IA 628 – Introduction to Big Data Architecture and Applications
- IA 637 – Data Driven Application Development
- IA 653 – Natural Language Processing
- CS 549 – Computational/Machine Learning
- CS 551 – Artificial Intelligence
- CS 570 – Deep Learning
- CS 572 – Image Understanding
- CS 502 – Business Intelligence
- CS 503 – Systems Analysis and Design Methods
- CS 559 – Human Computer Interaction
- EE 501 – Digital Signal Processing
- EE 574 – Pattern Recognition
- EM 620 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques
- EM 680 – Decision Analysis and Risk Management
- ES 505 – Design of Experiments
- ME 529 – Stochastic Processes for Engineers
- CE 502 – Applications in Geospatial Analytics, Science, and Engineering
- EC 611 – Econometrics
- MK 696 – Marketing Research Methods
- OM 680 – Strategic Project Management
The catalog describes this list as not exclusive, and advisors can approve graduate courses from other Clarkson schools. Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Image Understanding, and Artificial Intelligence are electives rather than core courses.
Capstone Project
In IA 690 – Capstone Project, interdisciplinary teams work on a sponsored data analytics project. The capstone is either a 2-credit seminar with a 4-credit project or a mentored 6-credit project. The catalog notes that some sponsored projects involve on-site fieldwork. The program has no thesis option.
Cost and Tuition
Clarkson is a private university and charges graduate tuition by the credit, with the same rate for New York residents and nonresidents.
For the 2026–27 academic year, Clarkson lists these charges for the MS in Applied Data Science:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit | $1,046 |
| Resource fee, Potsdam campus students | $426 per term full time, $213 part time |
| Activity fee, Potsdam campus students | $38 per term full time, $19 part time |
| Resource fee, online students | $95 per session |
| Activity fee, online students | $15 per session |
At 36 credits, tuition comes to about $37,656 before fees and scholarships. The $1,046 rate is the lower of Clarkson’s two graduate per-credit rates. The MS in Computer Science is billed at $1,576 per credit.
Clarkson says its in-person graduate programs offer merit-based scholarships covering up to 30 percent of tuition, and that online programs may qualify for discount rates through employer partnerships. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the university.
View Clarkson University graduate tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree. Clarkson does not require a specific undergraduate major for this program.
The catalog requires foundation coursework in mathematical statistics and basic programming. Students can meet this through their undergraduate degree or through the program’s Summer Analytics Foundation courses, which run from June to August before the fall semester.
The program page adds that free introductory online courses are offered to accepted candidates whose backgrounds do not cover calculus, programming, and statistics.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application
- official transcripts
- resume
- statement of purpose
- two letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency when required
GRE scores are optional. Clarkson reviews applications without them, and applicants may submit scores if they wish. The university is currently waiving graduate application fees.
International applicants need a minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 56 on the PTE, or 115 on the Duolingo English Test.
Application Deadlines
Clarkson has no set deadlines for graduate admission and reviews applications on a rolling basis.
The graduate catalog gives these recommended dates:
| Applicant | Recommended Date |
|---|---|
| Fall entry, applicants requesting financial aid | January 30 |
| Spring entry, applicants requesting financial aid | September 1 |
| All applicants | At least five months before the intended term |
The program page does not list entry terms, so applicants should confirm available start dates with the Graduate Admissions Office.
Program Format
Clarkson states that students can complete the program at the Potsdam campus or 100 percent online. Online courses are held in real time or on the student’s own schedule, and the same faculty teach both formats.
Full-time students on campus generally finish in three semesters. Part-time students generally finish in about two years, and the catalog gives five semesters as the expected length for distance students.
The program page lists the degree as STEM OPT eligible, which allows eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension.
Clarkson also offers a dual degree that combines the MS in Applied Data Science with an MBA.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Clarkson University’s MS in Applied Data Science is a strong option for students who want required machine learning and data mining courses inside an applied data science degree, with the choice of campus or online study.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and data mining
- databases, data warehousing, and big data processing
- information visualization
- statistics for analytics
- a sponsored team capstone project
- entering data science from a non-computing major, with free foundation courses
- a STEM OPT eligible degree that can be finished online
The degree is a data science master’s first. Half of the core is data management, statistics, and visualization, and deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision are available only as electives across four elective slots. There is no thesis, and tuition is at private university rates. Students who want a degree built entirely around AI, a research thesis, or public university pricing may want to compare other New York schools or Clarkson’s MS in Computer Science.
Official Clarkson University Program Links
- MS in Applied Data Science program page
- Graduate catalog, 2025–26 (PDF)
- Graduate admission requirements
- Graduate costs and financial aid
- Tuition and fees
- MS in Computer Science program page
Related Machine Learning Programs in New York
Students can also compare Clarkson University 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
- 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
- University of Rochester – Rochester
- Utica University – Utica
- Yeshiva University – New York