Top Universities in USA for Data Science: Rankings 2024, Top Programs & Admission Requirements

With over 60 top Data Science universities in USA, students can choose from multiple bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs. There are around 19 top US universities featured among the world’s top 100 universities in QS World University Rankings 2024 for Data Science.Data Science is an interdisciplinary subject that stands on the pillars of mathematics, computer science and statistics. Many top universities in the USA for data science offer different types of specializations and programs. These programs are taught to analyze, manage and interpret huge amounts of data with a wide range of applications.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected a 27.9% growth in Data Science occupations during the period from 2016 to 2026, driven by the demand for workers who can handle big data. The BLS projects that occupations in Data Science and Mathematical Science will far outpace the average growth rate for all occupations.

Explore: MS in Data Science in USA

Top Universities in USA for Data Science

There are around 19 colleges listed in QS rankings 2024 for data science in the USA. Here are some of the top universities in USA for Data Science:

Top Universities in USA for Data Science: Specializations and Degree Types

Data Science is an interdisciplinary subject that has developed in recent years as an advancement in the analytics field. It is a subject combination of statistics, computer science and mathematics.

Here are some of the specializations the data science colleges in USA provide:

• Data Science
• Data analysis
• Machine learning
• Data mining
• Big Data Analysis
• Data Systems and Processing
• Deep Learning
• Computing in Python
• Business Analytics

Degrees available at Data Science Colleges in USA

Following are the degrees offered at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels for students aspiring to make a career in the field of data science in USA:

• Undergraduate: At the undergraduate level, data science is available both as a major and a minor subject, although there are very few colleges that offer it as a major. An international student can pursue a major in some other subject and complete his degree with a minor in data science.
• Graduate: At the graduate level, it is given as a Master in Science (MS). For example, MS in Data Science, MS in Analytics, and MS in Statistics-Data Science. Data Science is a more popular degree in Masters than in Bachelor or PhD.
• Postgraduate: An International can pursue a PhD in Data Science. There are also degrees specialised in the related fields of data science, like a Ph.D. in Data Analytics, a Ph.D. in Machine learning, Ph.D. in Big Data.

Top Universities in USA for MS in Data Science

Data science in USA is popular among international students as a master’s degree course. Some colleges also provide pre-master courses or graduate diploma courses in related fields. The duration of these is usually 6 months to 1 year.

Here are some of the top universities offering MS in Data Science in USA, along with their annual tuition fees:

Data Science Colleges in USA: Admission Requirements for MS

• Undergraduate degree in computer science, mathematics, economics or statistics with a minimum of 80% (equivalent to 3 GPA).
• GRE scores are waived in most of the universities.
• Language Requirements: International students need to give English language proficiency test scores. Most universities accept IELTS and TOEFL scores as language proficiency scores. The minimum score requirements are as follows: IELTS: 7.0 : TOEFL IBT: 80

Data Science Universities in USA For MS: Documents Required

• Official Transcripts
• Standardized test scores required for pursuing an MS in the USA.
• Statement of Purpose for MS in US
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs) from some professionals in this or related field.
• Online application form
• Personal Statement
• C.V. or Resume

Data Science Colleges in USA: Fees for MS

The tuition fees for a master's in Data Science in USA depend on how many credit hours your course has and whether it is a public or private university. The average tuition fees range from 12,264 USD to 61,768 USD (10.2 lakhs to 51.6 lakhs INR) per annum.

Top Universities in USA for Data Science: Undergraduate Programs

Though less popular than a MS in Data Science in USA, a bachelor’s degree with a major in data science is offered by some of the top colleges in USA. International students can also pursue a Bachelor in Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or Statistics and then go for a master’s in Data Science. Some of the colleges offering bachelors in data science are:

Data Science Colleges in USA: Admission Requirements for Bachelors

Given below is the list of the academic and language requirements usually demanded by the top data science universities in USA.

Data Science Universities in USA For Bachelors: Documents Required

• Official Transcripts.
• Scores of Entrance tests required for pursuing a bachelor in data science in USA (SAT/ACT scores, IELTS, TOEFL scores)
• Statement of Purpose for studying in USA (SOP)
• Evaluation from a math teacher and one from social sciences teacher in High school
• Funding papers. ( If you have opted for any scholarships or loans or any kind of financial funding support)

Data Science Universities in USA: Fees for Bachelors

The fees for various data science colleges in USA depend on what major or minor you are taking, how much credit program it is. State schools offer cost-friendly opportunities for students looking for a bit budget-friendly study abroad destination. The average fees are 45,096 to 64,700 USD (37.7 lakhs to 54 lakhs INR) per annum.

Top Universities in USA for Data Science: Doctorate Programs

Ph.D. in Data Science in USA is a research degree designed to give the masters students a deep-rooted knowledge of the various branches like statistics, programming, and data analysis. It usually takes 3-5 years for an international student to complete his/her Ph.D. in Data Science in USA, but the actual time taken depends on the credit hours of the course.

Companies that specialize in data sciences and major tech players like Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft prefer a student with a Ph.D. degree. Here are some of the colleges which provide Ph.D. in Data Science in USA:

Data Science Colleges in USA: Admission Requirements for Ph.D

To pursue a PhD in Data Science in USA, you must fulfil certain academic and language criteria.

Data Science Colleges in USA For PhD: Documents Required

• All undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• GRE scores (can be optional or not required by the university)
• A statement of intent for the program (the reason for applying and plans)
• Three letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose
• Online application
• A curriculum vitae

Scholarships at Top Universities in USA for Data Science

USA is among the expensive countries in the world for international students. You can study with a fully funded or partially funded scholarship. The government and various universities provide scholarships for international students in USA to fund their study. Some of them are described below:

Data science is one of the fastest-growing industries in the USA. Students can choose to work in various job profiles such as Data Scientist, Big Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Business Intelligence Analyst, Business Analyst, and Data Analyst. Studying data science in the USA will yield a high return on your investment with a salary range of 60,000 to 210,000 USD per year.

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