Data Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Data Science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to extracting meaningful insights from vast and complex data sets through advanced analytical techniques and computational methods. It integrates principles from statistics, computer science, and mathematics to solve real-world problems across industries such as healthcare, finance, technology, and public policy.
- Computer Algorithms: Study of efficient procedures and step-by-step processes for solving computational problems, essential for optimizing data processing and analysis.
- Computer Programming: Development of software solutions using languages like Python, R, and SQL to manipulate, analyze, and visualize data at scale.
- Data Management: Techniques for organizing, storing, and securing data to ensure reliability, accessibility, and compliance with governance standards.
- Data Mining: Discovery of hidden patterns, correlations, and trends within large data sets using statistical and machine learning approaches.
- Information Policy: Examination of ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks governing data use, privacy, and responsible stewardship in digital environments.
- Information Retrieval: Methods for efficiently locating and accessing relevant data from extensive databases or unstructured sources like text and multimedia.
- Mathematical Modeling: Creation of abstract representations of real-world systems using mathematical equations to simulate behavior and predict outcomes.
- Quantitative Analysis: Application of numerical and statistical techniques to interpret data, test hypotheses, and support evidence-based decision-making.
- Statistics: Foundational methods for collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data to draw valid conclusions and assess uncertainty.
- Trend Spotting: Identification of emerging patterns and shifts in data over time to forecast future developments and guide strategic planning.
- Visual Analytics: Integration of data visualization tools and interactive dashboards to communicate complex findings clearly and support intuitive understanding.
Data Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Data Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Data Science degrees, including Computer and Information Systems Managers, Natural Sciences Managers and Computer and Information Research Scientists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 2,919,300 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers 11-3021 | $171,200 | $104,450 - $239,200 | 645,970 | $82.31 |
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists 15-1221 | $140,910 | $80,670 - $232,120 | 38,480 | $67.74 |
| Database Architects 15-1243 | $135,980 | $81,630 - $209,990 | 64,770 | $65.37 |
| Software Developers 15-1252 | $133,080 | $79,850 - $211,450 | 1,654,440 | $63.98 |
| Data Scientists 15-2051 | $112,590 | $63,650 - $194,410 | 233,440 | $54.13 |
| Statisticians 15-2041 | $103,300 | $60,390 - $170,700 | 29,800 | $49.66 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 | $78,490 | $39,720 - $172,850 | 151,530 | N/A |
Data Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $88,845 in Mississippi to $158,804 in California—a 79% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 2,919,300 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Data Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Data Science programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Data Science is found at Eastern University (668 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (632 graduates), University of North Texas (UNT) (376 graduates), New York University (NYU) (358 graduates), and University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (237 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,058 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
668 | Saint Davids, Pennsylvania | Private | eastern.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
632 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
376 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
358 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
237 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
209 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
208 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
174 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Master's
|
171 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
158 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Saint Peter's University (SPU) |
Master's
|
154 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | saintpeters.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
132 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| Lewis University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
127 | Romeoville, Illinois | Private | lewisu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
123 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
122 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Bellevue University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
121 | Bellevue, Nebraska | Private | bellevue.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
118 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Master's
|
107 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
106 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Bradley University |
Master's
|
98 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Master's
|
98 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
86 | Adelphi, Maryland | Public | umgc.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
84 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
78 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
69 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
61 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Florida Polytechnic University (Florida Poly) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
59 | Lakeland, Florida | Public | floridapoly.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Other Award
|
57 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
54 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) |
Postbac Cert.
|
52 | Monterey, California | Public | nps.edu |
| Rice University |
Master's
|
52 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
49 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
47 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
45 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Brown University |
Master's
|
45 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
42 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Smith College |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Northampton, Massachusetts | Private | smith.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
42 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Denison University (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Granville, Ohio | Private | denison.edu |
| Willamette University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
41 | Salem, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Master's
|
40 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
39 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Fordham University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
36 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Duke University |
Master's
|
36 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | USAF Academy, Colorado | Public | usafa.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Master's
|
32 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
|
31 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Clarkson University (Clarkson) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Potsdam, New York | Private | clarkson.edu |
| Kent State University |
Master's
|
29 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
29 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Master's
|
28 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
28 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Houston (UHD) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Master's
|
26 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
23 | Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
23 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Monroe College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
22 | Bronx, New York | Private | monroecollege.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWGB) |
Master's
|
22 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | uwgb.edu |
| Truman State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | Kirksville, Missouri | Public | truman.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Other Award
|
18 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) |
Master's
|
18 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | daytonabeach.erau.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
|
18 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Master's
|
17 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Dartmouth College |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Hanover, New Hampshire | Private | dartmouth.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Master's
|
17 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| College of Charleston (CofC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | cofc.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Carolina University (CU) |
Master's
|
14 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | carolinau.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Residency
|
13 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Mahwah, New Jersey | Public | ramapo.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| St Lawrence University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Canton, New York | Private | stlawu.edu |
| Utica University |
Master's
|
12 | Utica, New York | Private | utica.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Master's
|
12 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Data Science programs
How much can I earn with a Data Science degree?
Salaries for Data Science graduates vary by role and location. Computer and Information Systems Managers earn a median of $171,200 annually, while Natural Sciences Managers earn around $161,180. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $158,804 compared to $88,845 in Mississippi. Approximately 2,919,300 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Data Science programs?
Currently 243 accredited institutions offer Data Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Eastern University (668 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (632 graduates), and University of North Texas (UNT) (376 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
What career paths are available with a Data Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer and Information Systems Managers, Natural Sciences Managers, and Computer and Information Research Scientists. Related occupations employ approximately 2,919,300 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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