2026 Best Data Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Data Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 327 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for data science students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Data Science in the United States
These are the top schools for a bachelor’s degree in data science, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Data Science
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in data science. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 21 data science degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their data science degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the data science program at Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong data science program will find one at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 158 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete this degree.
Get the full data science details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong data science program will find one at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Worcester Polytechnic Institute awarded about 44 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $91,834 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete this degree.
Get the full data science details for Worcester Polytechnic Institute
A rank of #4 makes Dartmouth College one of the top schools for data science. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 data science students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
Get the full data science details for Dartmouth College
A rank of #5 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for data science. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 122 data science degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in data science from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #6 spot for data science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 246 data science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
Get the full data science details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Tufts University placed #7 among the best data science schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. Tufts University awarded about 17 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
More information about a degree in data science from Tufts University
Denison University earned the #8 position for data science this year. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. Denison University awarded about 29 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in data science from Denison University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #9 for data science this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 data science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #10 for data science this year. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 data science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $58,507. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete this degree.
Get the full data science details for The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #11 position for data science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 103 data science degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their data science degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $66,254 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in data science from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
College Of William And Mary placed #12 among the best data science schools. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 data science students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,338. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in data science from College Of William And Mary
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #13 position for data science this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 20 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
See the full data science program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Mount Holyoke College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best data science schools. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 data science students who graduated with this degree at Mount Holyoke College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from Mount Holyoke College earn around $35,038 in the first couple years of their career. Mount Holyoke College graduates carry a median of $22,041 in student loans.
Read more about the data science program at Mount Holyoke College
John Carroll University earned the #15 position for data science this year. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. John Carroll University awarded about 11 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $44,308. Typical student debt for the program is $26,131.
Get the full data science details for John Carroll University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #16 position for data science this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 17 data science degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their data science degree from Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn around $67,909 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete this degree.
See the full data science program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
South Dakota State University landed the #17 spot for data science this year. This large public university is located in the town of Brookings. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 data science degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the data science program make about $51,260 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in data science from South Dakota State University
Smith College earned the #18 position for data science this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 21 data science degrees were awarded at Smith College in the most recent year. Students who receive their data science degree from Smith College earn around $40,436 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,941 to complete this degree.
Read more about the data science program at Smith College
University Of Vermont ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best data science schools. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 data science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Vermont in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $44,588 early in their careers. University Of Vermont graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for University Of Vermont
University Of North Texas landed the #20 spot for data science this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. About 32 data science degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $49,157. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete this degree.
See the full data science program report for University Of North Texas
Willamette University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best data science schools. Set in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Willamette University awarded about 11 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from Willamette University earn around $41,892 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,537.
More information about a degree in data science from Willamette University
Arizona State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best data science schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 47 data science degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,876. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for Arizona State University
Drexel University placed #23 among the best data science schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 24 data science degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Graduates of the data science program make about $67,556 in their early career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for Drexel University
University Of Iowa landed the #24 spot for data science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 11 data science degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their data science degree from University Of Iowa earn around $57,375 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
More information about a degree in data science from University Of Iowa
University Of Central Florida ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best data science schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 15 data science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $51,790 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
Read more about the data science program at University Of Central Florida
Rest of the Top 44 Data Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for data science this year:
Other Data Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Data Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Data Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 327 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.