Data science was deemed the “sexiest job of the 21st century” by Harvard Business Review about a decade ago based on the demand for the profession. In 2023, demand for data scientists remains strong with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting 36% job growth by 2031.
Such demand comes with a starting salary to match: Data scientists, on average, make about $100,000, according to the BLS. But many employers want to hire professionals who have a master’s degree in data science, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
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- GRE RequiredNo
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While there are plenty of in-person master’s in data science programs to choose from, many online master’s in data science programs come with the same resulting salary outcomes. In fact, some online master’s in data science grads make more than the industry average. Syracuse University, which is ranked by Fortune as having a top online data science master’s program, sees grads make median base salaries of $106,000.
“Our data science graduates reap the benefits of high average base salaries due to the increasing demand of data specialists in the United States,” Christopher Perrello, director of career services and professional development at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies, previously told Fortune. “Organizations are discovering they can maximize their bottom lines by analyzing large amounts of data for better decision making, so they need to hire to keep up with this demand.”
For reference, some of the most common job titles held by grads with a master’s degree in data science include data scientist, data manager, data architect, data engineer, software engineer, and machine learning engineer. Companies both large and small—both in the tech sector and not—hire these professionals as our world becomes increasingly digitized.
Five schools on Fortune’s ranking of best online master’s degree programs in data science report that their graduates earn more than six figures after graduation. Not all schools submit salary reports to Fortune, so this list is not exhaustive of all online master’s in data science programs that have the same career outcomes. All figures listed below are reported by the schools and reflect salaries four months after graduation.
1. University of California—Berkeley
Median salary: $148,000
Acceptance rate: 36%
Average number of years of work experience: 7
2. University of Southern California
Median salary: $138,700
Acceptance rate: 13%
Average number of years of work experience: 1.7
3. Bay Path University
Median salary: $110,000
Acceptance rate: 49%
Average number of years of work experience: 3
4. Syracuse University
Median salary: $106,000
Acceptance rate: 90%
Average number of years of work experience: 4
5. Illinois Institute of Technology
Median salary: $104,500
Acceptance rate: 66%
Average number of years of work experience: did not report
Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.
Berkeley's Data Science Master's
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The online Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) program is preparing the next generation of experts and leaders in the data science field and providing students with a UC Berkeley education without having to relocate. Students graduate with connections to UC Berkeley’s extensive alumni network in the Bay Area and across the world. All international applicants will be required to submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
- GRE RequiredNo
- Part TimeYes
