2027 Best Data Science Master’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 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 86 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for data science students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Data Science in the United States
Below are the best data science schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Data Science
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Austin, our #1 school for data science. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 338 data science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
Read more about the data science program at The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in data science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 141 data science degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
Get the full data science details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes Stevens Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for data science. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hoboken. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates 87% of students within six years. Stevens Institute Of Technology awarded about 147 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Stevens Institute Of Technology generally make around $87,055. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete this degree.
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Duke University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best data science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 52 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from Duke University earn around $83,388 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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University Of California San Diego is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in data science, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 121 data science students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
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Rice University earned the #6 position for data science this year. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 57 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
See the full data science program report for Rice University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #7 among the best data science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 65 data science degrees were awarded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Data Science graduates of Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $91,834 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,259.
Read more about the data science program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #8 position for data science this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 17 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
San Jose State University came in at #9 for data science this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 225 data science degrees in the most recent data year.
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New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for data science this year. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public university. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 197 data science students who graduated with this degree at New Jersey Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn around $71,549 in the first couple years of their career. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #11 for data science this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 data science students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
See the full data science program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best data science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 25 data science degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in data science from Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #13 position for data science this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 58 data science degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836.
More information about a degree in data science from University Of Maryland College Park
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #14 spot for data science this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 189 data science degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Colorado School Of Mines earned the #15 position for data science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Golden. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 27 data science degrees were awarded at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent year. Data Science graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Colorado School Of Mines graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans.
More information about a degree in data science from Colorado School Of Mines
New York University landed the #16 spot for data science this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 180 data science students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $64,516 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University came in at #17 for data science this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 136 data science degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Data Science graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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University Of Delaware earned the #18 position for data science this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Delaware awarded about 43 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $54,155 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
More information about a degree in data science from University Of Delaware
University Of The Pacific earned the #19 position for data science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Stockton. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 68 data science degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Data Science graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $77,022 early in their careers. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for University Of The Pacific
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #20 for data science this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 data science students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $45,488 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,501 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in data science from University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Connecticut placed #21 among the best data science schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 data science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $58,784 in their early career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
More information about a degree in data science from University Of Connecticut
Michigan Technological University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best data science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Houghton. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 data science students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $64,652 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete this degree.
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Seattle University landed the #23 spot for data science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. Seattle University graduates 76% of students within six years. Seattle University awarded about 42 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their data science degree from Seattle University earn around $63,214 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete this degree.
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Boston University earned the #24 position for data science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 data science students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the data science program make about $63,598 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
See the full data science program report for Boston University
Florida State University placed #25 among the best data science schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Florida State University awarded about 76 data science degrees in the most recent data year. Data Science graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans.
See the full data science program report for Florida State University
Rest of the Top 50 Data Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong data science education:
Other Data Science Degree Levels
Explore the best data science schools at other degree levels:
View All Data Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 86 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.