Master’s In Data Science In The USA For International Students

With the expansion of the Internet, billions of people around the world are online, generating vast amounts of structured and unstructured data. Managing and deriving insights from the data has become crucial for businesses because they use the data to make informed decisions and optimize customer experiences. Handling such complex data requires specialized skill sets, which has led to demand for data scientists.

Pursuing an MS in Data Science provides a strong, career-focused foundation for becoming a successful data scientist. Many US-based MS programs in data science emphasize practical training, giving exposure to solving real business problems. This makes their education highly relevant to the job market.

In this article, we will delve into the top 10 universities offering MS programs in data science and explore the critical aspects of these programs.

Top 10 Universities Offering MS In Data Science In The USA

  • Picture
    University Name
    Top Electives
    University Details
     
  • Harvard University
    Harvard University
    Master’s in Data Science
    Full-time
    On campus
    Duration: 18 months Intake: Fall(Aug or Sep)
    Tuition Fees: $61,000 annually
    Placement: 84%
    QS Ranking: 4th Globally
    Acceptance Rate: 3%
  • University Of Illinois Springfield
    MS in Data Analytics
    Full-time On campus
    Duration: 1 to 2 years
    Intake: Fall (Aug), Spring (Jan 2025)
    and Summer (June)
    Tuition Fees: $14,000 per year
    Placement: 88%
    QS Ranking: 140 Globally
    Acceptance Rate: 82%
  • Stanford University
    MS in Statistics And Data Science
    Full-time On campus
    Duration: 1.5 to 2 years
    Intake: Autumn (Sep), Winter (Jan2025)
    and Summer (May 2025)
    Tuition Fees: $60,000 Annually
    Placement: 90%
    QS Ranking: 6th Globally Overall
    Acceptance Rate: 3.7%
  • University Of Pennsylvania
    University Of Pennsylvania
    MSE in Data Science
    Full-time On campus
    Duration: 1 to 1.5 years
    Intake: Fall (Aug), Spring (Jan2025)
    Tuition Fees: $49,000 Annually
    Placement: 80%
    QS Ranking: 11th Globally Overall
    Acceptance Rate: 6.5%
  • New York University
    New York University
    MS in Data Science
    Full-time On campus
    Duration: 2 years
    Intake: Fall (Sep) and Spring (Jan2025)
    Tuition Fees: Total tuition cost is $41,000 per year
    Placement: 96%
    QS Ranking: 43 Globally Overall
    Acceptance Rate: 12.5%
  • Arizona State University
    Arizona State University
    MS in Data Science, Analytics, and Engineering (Computing and Decision Analytics)
    Full-time On campus
    Duration: 1.5 to 2 years
    Intake: Fall (Aug or Sep)
    and Spring (Jan or Feb)
    Tuition Fees: $38,000
    Placement: 83%
    QS Ranking: 200 Globally Overall
    Acceptance Rate: 89%
  • University Of Washington
    University Of Washington
    MS in Data Science
    Full-time or Part-time
    On campus
    Duration: 1.5 years for full-time
    and 2.5 years for part-time
    students Intake: Autumn (Sep), Winter (Jan 2025)
    and Summer (June 2025)
    Tuition Fees: Total tuition cost is $50,000
    Placement: 93%
    QS Ranking: 76 Globally Overall
    Acceptance Rate: 47.5%
  • GAvila University
    Avila University
    MS in Business Analytics Management
    MS in Computer Science Management
    Full-time On campus
    Duration: 1.5 to 2 years
    Intake: Fall (Aug) and Spring (Jan 2025)
    Tuition Fees: $600 per credit hour
    Placement: 90%
    Overall Acceptance Rate: 67%
  • Nova Southeastern University
    Nova Southeastern University
    MS in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
    Full-time On campus
    Duration: 1.5 to 2 years
    Intake: Aug, Jan 2025, and May
    Tuition Fees: $979 per credit hour
    QS Ranking: 1401
    Overall Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Avila University
    Avila University
    Master Of Science In Technology Management – AI specialization
    Full-time On-campus
    Duration: 2 years
    Intake: Fall(Aug)
    Spring(Jan 2025), Summer(May)
    Tuition Fees: $16,000 to $22,000 per year
    Placement: 89% to 98%
    QS-Ranking: 102
    Acceptance rate: 67%
  • Bay Atlantic University
    Bay Atlantic University
    MS in Big Data Analytics
    Full-time On-campus
    Duration: 2 years
    Intake: Fall(Aug)
    Spring(Jan 2025), Summer(May)
    Tuition Fees: 22,000 USD per year
    Placement: 93%
    QS-Ranking: 200
    Acceptance rate: 58%

Admission Requirements for MS in Data Science in USA

UniversityGPATest Score
Arizona State UniversityA bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0GRE – Not Required TOEFL – 80IELTS – 6
Harvard UniversityA bachelor’s degree equivalent to the US with first-class honorsGRE – Not required IELTS – Minimum 7.5TOEFL – 106
Stanford UniversityA bachelor’s degree equivalent to the USGRE – RequiredTOEFL – 100
University Of PennsylvaniaA bachelor’s degree from a reputed institutionGRE – OptionalIELTS – 7.5TOEFL – 100
University Of WashingtonA bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 from the last 2 years of graded full-time studyGRE – Not required TOEFL – 80IELTS – 6
New York UniversityA bachelor’s degree in statistics, computer science, or related field with a minimum GPA of 3.8GRE – OptionalTOEFL – 100
Bay Atlantic UniversityA bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0GRE – Not Required TOEFL – 80IELTS – 6
Avila UniversityAll undergrad students should have a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher.GRE – Not Required TOEFL – 78IELTS – 6
University Of Illinois SpringfieldA bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0GRE – Not Required TOEFL – 79IELTS – 6
Nova Southeastern UniversityA bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5GRE – Not Required TOEFL – 80IELTS – 6

Documents Needed For Admission Process

UniversityDocuments
Arizona State University-Application form and application fee
-Official transcripts
-Written statement
-Professional resume
-Proof Of English Proficiency
Harvard University-Original degree-certified documents
-English Proficiency test scores
-Resume
-3 or 4 letters of recommendation
-Statement of purpose
-Personal statement
Stanford University-Official final transcripts in a sealed cover
-Recommendation Letters
-Personal Statement
-CV
-Test Scores
University Of Pennsylvania-Professional Resume
-Personal Statement
-Two letters of recommendation
-English Proficiency Test Scores
-Transcripts (Check the university’s website for more information on transcripts)
University Of Washington-Unofficial digital transcripts
-Short resume
-2 letters of recommendation
-Proof of English Proficiency
New York University
-Proof of English Proficiency
-Official college transcripts
-Three letters of recommendation
-Statement of Academic Purpose
-Personal history statement (optional)
-GRE test scores (optional)
Bay Atlantic University-Official transcripts from all post-secondary
-institutions attended
-2 letters of recommendation
-A statement of purpose
-Current CV
-Proof of English Language Proficiency
Avila University-Financial documents
-Test scores
-Transcripts
University Of Illinois Springfield
-Official transcripts from all institutions attended
-English Proficiency Test Scores
-Statement of purpose
-CV
Nova Southeastern University-Sealed official transcripts from all institutions attended
-A resume
-Test Scores

Application Process

UniversityOnline Application WebsiteCommons Steps For The Application Process
Arizona State UniversityApply Now-Create an account

-Fill out the application with your details, academic background, and other details.

-Upload the necessary documents.

-Some universities may ask for additional responses such as the purpose of taking the program, etc. Answer these questions.

-Review the application and submit it. 
Harvard UniversityApply Now
Stanford UniversityApply Now
University Of PennsylvaniaApply Now
New York UniversityApply Now
Bay Atlantic UniversityApply Now
University Of Illinois SpringfieldApply Now
Nova Southeastern UniversityApply Now

Different Types Of Scholarships To Fund MS in Data Science In The USA

UniversityScholarshipApplication DeadlineLinks
Arizona State UniversityNew American Scholarship – International Academic Award: This scholarship is given to incoming international students with high competitive GPAs and test scores. The scholarship is eligible for grad and undergrad studies. No separate application is required for this scholarship. The scholarship is decided when students apply for admission. However, materials like GRE scores have to be submitted before April 1 for the upcoming academic year.Scholarship Link
Harvard UniversityAga Khan Scholarship: The scholarship is given to students from developing countries who want to pursue postgraduate degrees.March 31st 2025Scholarship Link
Bay Atlantic UniversityMerit-Based Tuition Assistance Scholarship: All students are eligible for this scholarship. October 1st 2025Scholarship Link
University Of PennsylvaniaPenn GSE Merit-Based Scholarships: The scholarship is given to domestic and international students. It provides partial tuition support to full-time master’s studentsThere is no application for the scholarship. The scholarship is awarded based on the merit of the candidate at the time of admission application review.Scholarship Link
University Of Illinois SpringfieldGlobalScholarships.com’s Scholarship For International Students: $3000 is awarded to international students for the Fall 2025 studies.May 31st 2025Scholarship Link

Trends In The US Data Science Job Market

  • The data science job market is seeing constant growth in the USA. According to the US Bureau Of Labor Statistics, the employment of data scientists will grow 36% between 2023 and 2033. This growth is much faster than the average for all occupations.
  • The resilience of data science jobs is more than other technological roles in the US, especially in times of economic uncertainty. According to a 2023 tech layoffs study, data scientists were less affected by layoffs compared to groups like software engineers. Only 3% of data scientists were laid off while 22% of software engineers were shown the door in 2023.
  • Coding skills are a major part of the data scientist jobs. According to reports, Python skill is the most sought-after skill in data science. The skill holds the lead with 57%, followed by R (33%) and SQL (30%).

Job Opportunities After MS In Data Science In The USA

Job RoleExpected Salary
Data Scientist$95,000 to $130,000 per year
Data Analyst$60,000 to $85,000 per year
Machine Learning Engineer$110,000 to $145,000 per year
Data Engineer$90,000 to $125,000 per year
Business Intelligence Analyst$70,000 to $95,000 per year

Conclusion

Pursuing a Master’s program in Data Science in the USA opens doors to promising careers and research opportunities. The program will not only help you gain cutting-edge technological skills but also give you exposure to solving real-world challenges. Invest in the program and in return, you’ll gain a wealth of knowledge, hands-on experience, and a strong professional network.

FAQs

Some universities in the USA may ask for work experience but the majority of them do not require. Having said that, having work experience can strengthen your application.

While studying, international students are under the F1 student visa, and after post-graduation, students will be eligible for an H1B visa. The H1B visa will be a stepping stone to citizenship.

Yes, several universities offer internships as a part of the Master’s program.

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