2027 Best Value Data Science Master’s Degree Schools
[Data Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong data science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 86 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for data science students.
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2027 Best Value Data Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the data science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Data Science Schools
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 best value for data science in the United States. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Students looking for strong value in data science will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the data science program here. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in data science will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete the data science program here. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Rice University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Data Science graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in data science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Houston Victoria placed #7 among the best values for data science. Set in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,149 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $24,081. Early-career data science graduates make about $47,345. That is a strong return on a $24,081 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Michigan Technological University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Data Science graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Data Science graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,800 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Christian Brothers University came in at #9 for value in data science this year. Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,420. Data Science graduates carry a median of $32,416 in student loans. Data Science graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $51,040 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Truman State University came in at #10 for value in data science this year. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,838, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $39,764. That is a strong return on a $23,168 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #11 for value in data science this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Saint Peters College landed the #12 spot for data science value this year. Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,552. Students borrow a median of $22,969 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $50,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Peters College admits about 90% of applicants.
New College Of Florida ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Set in the city of Sarasota, New College Of Florida is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,916, while out-of-state students pay about $29,944. Data Science graduates carry a median of $17,407 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $26,626. Set against $17,407 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New College Of Florida admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Memphis came in at #14 for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $26,315. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #15 position for value in data science this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Data Science graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #16 among the best values for data science. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $20,778. Data Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #17 position for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #18 position for value in data science this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete the data science program here. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $45,496. Set against $24,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #19 for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $24,477. Early-career data science graduates make about $42,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #20 among the best values for data science. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $24,619. Data Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #21 among the best values for data science. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,755 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $71,549. Set against $24,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #22 for value in data science this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $45,488. That is a strong return on a $15,501 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #23 for value in data science this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $46,561 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,657 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Old Dominion University placed #24 among the best values for data science. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Data Science graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $57,131. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Phoenix Arizona came in at #25 for value in data science this year. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. In-state tuition and fees average $9,552. Data Science graduates carry a median of $35,323 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona generally make around $60,453. Set against $35,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Data Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s data science value ranking:
Other Data Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Data Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Data Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 86 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 86 ranked schools only.
- 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.
