Masters in Data Science in USA: Top Universities, Courses, Fees & Eligibility 2025-26

While earning a PG degree or master’s degree, in general, has been shown to increase one’s earning potential  -  a median of 250 USD per week in the United States of America compared to a UG or bachelor’s degree holder - data science as a domain/subject tends to pay more.  Thus, earning a PG or a Master in Data Science in the USA may lead you to a higher pay package because you qualify for managerial or senior-level roles. 

The demand for a data science professional is extremely high. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, data science graduate jobs are expected to grow 37% between 2021 and 2031. 

MS in Data Science: Best Universities in the USA

With over 50 plus top universities in the United States offering MS in data science degrees, international students can choose from multiple one or two-year master's, programs. Around 20 plus top universities in the United States of America featured among the world’s top 150 universities in QS World University Rankings in 2024 for Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, ML, and Data Science courses.

Discover the best universities for master's in data science in the USA with the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. 

Why Study Masters in Data Science in the USA?

While several top-class universities across the globe offer UG and PG courses in Data Science programs, international students have an irrefutable preference for the United States as their first choice. Here is why data science in the USA:

• A master's degree in data science from a top US university helps you land a good job with an attractive pay package. 
• The USA has more openings in this field than the current data science graduates.
• High pay packages attract data science graduates to the United States labor market. 
• A great pay scale means one can easily get the ROI in a few years.
• The top-ranked universities, like Chicago, MIT, Cornell University, etc. adorn the country’s Data Science landscape. 

Eligibility for master in data science in the USA

Let’s see the basic prerequisites for applying for a master’s degree in Data Science in the USA:

• Bachelor’s or UG degree in Statistics, CS, Engineering, business analytics, or Economics
• Valid GRE scores
• English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS, PTE, etc.)
• A Statement of Purpose 
• A letter of recommendation

1-year data science master in the USA

You can opt for a 1-year data science master's in the USA to achieve a degree within a shorter period. Many top universities in the United States offer some of the best 1-year master’s degrees in the “said” discipline. The course is fast-paced and comprehensive. Universities are: 

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. Harvard University
3. Stanford University
4. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
5. University of Chicago
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Cornell University
8. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
9. Yale University

Cost of Studying Master in Data Science in the USA

The master’s in Data Science program tuition fees can range between 20,000 to 70,000 USD per annum. The total expense to study graduate programs will be higher in the USA, which includes accommodation, and miscellaneous expenses. You can explore some top universities in the USA for Master's programs in Data Science. 

Course Curriculum for Master’s in Data Science in the USA

The Master’s in Data Science curriculum covers a comprehensive study. Here are some of the courses covered in this program.

• Data optimisation
• Deriving BI and Big Data
• Statistical Modelling
• Data Analytics
• Software Development
• Machine learning 
• Data Mining

The master's in data science curriculum offers advanced study in various disciplines. It is a combination of courses that covers a wide range of disciplines. These subjects help the student observe, plan, decide, implement, and provide solutions to issues that pertain to the available data sets.

Top 5 Scholarships to study master’s in data science in the USA

• New American University Scholarship - International Academic Award - amount varies
• Inlaks scholarships - 100,000 USD
• Aga Khan Scholarships - 50% grant for the master courses
• International Fulbright student programs - amount varies
• International Peace Scholarships - 12,500 USD

Salary after master in data science in the USA

Job prospects after data science in the USA are huge. The salaries/ pay packages are lucrative. Most organizations require data science professionals with strong problem-solving, technical, programming, and analytics skills. They also look for candidates with good communication and interpersonal skills. 

Here are some of the highly demanding and well-paying salary/job opportunities available to PG/Master’s in data science professionals in the USA.

Return On Investment after studying MS in Data Science in the USA

The master’s in Data science is one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States International students choose to study data science in the USA for a global career and networking opportunities, a globally recognized degree with a high return on investment. Data science graduates can work anywhere in the world, in jobs such as big data or data scientist, ML expert, business intelligence specialist, business analysis, and, much more. Studying for a Master's in Data Science in the United States of America can yield a high ROI. You can expect a salary from 65,000 USD to 2,00,000 USD annually. 

The Key Takeaways

The demand for a data science professional is extremely high. The master's in data science curriculum offers advanced study in various disciplines. Job prospects after data science in the USA are huge. The salaries/ pay packages are lucrative. You can also opt for a 1-year data science master's in the USA instead of 2 years MS program to achieve a degree within a shorter period. With over 50 top Data Science universities in the United States, you can choose your dream University!

If you need further help choosing an affordable University, you can contact Education Vibes. One of the leading and most trusted study abroad consultants in India.