An increased emphasis on technology and the importance of accurate data for organizations have triggered the importance of data science programs in recent times. The USA holds a prominent rank in analytics and data science globally. 

Many USA universities offering MS in Data Science are listed in the top 100 QS 2023 World University Rankings. Additionally, universities like Harvard and Stanford that offer an MS in Data Science are ranked in the top 10 by QS Rankings. Undoubtedly, the USA is the dream destination for post-graduation courses in data science. International students tend to choose the USA for data science courses due to the global brand exposure, academic excellence, finest scope for research, and high-paying job opportunities.

Keep reading to learn more about the top data science universities, admission requirements, documents, and job opportunities associated with a master’s in data science in the USA. 

Course Highlights

Why Study MS in Data Science in USA 

Popular Universities –

Popular universities make the USA a leading destination to pursue a Master’s degree in data science. Of the globally ranked 100 universities, 40 belong to the USA. These 40 globally ranked universities, like Stanford University, Rochester University, New York University, and Columbia University, are notable institutions that offer data science programs.

Academic Excellence –

The academic system of the USA is reputed and renowned, with universities having strong alum records. In postgraduate courses like Masters in Data Science, students get time to study all the related subjects and then choose a major or specialization per their interest and understanding. This speaks about the flexibility in the education system that offers enough scope for excellent results.

Economy –

The United States of America is a leading economy with a promising job market for Data Scientists. The average base salary of a data scientist in the USA is $124,283 (INR 1,01,64,920) per year. This makes the USA a preferred destination for students.

Job Prospects –

Data science produces the most job opportunities in the USA after computer science. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2026, there will be a 27.9% increase in the number of jobs requiring data science expertise, making it the best time to start a career in data science.

Faculties –

American universities boast renowned faculties with years of experience and skills to train students according to market standards. The faculties are aware of the requirements of the global brand; hence, it becomes easy for students to work with international brands.

Research & Development –

Excellent scope for research and development! After Germany, the USA is the best destination for research opportunities. Data science requires a lot of research and innovation. Hence, American universities and the Government offer international students enough opportunities and research prospects.

Cultural Diversity –

An excellent campus life with cultural diversity! The USA is a melting pot of different cultures, races, and ethnicities. Students from around the globe form a unique cultural amalgamation for personality development and interesting campus life. The universities organize many cultural events, seminars, and workshops to ensure enough cultural acceptance. Campus life in the USA is matchless. Irrespective of the university, one can always find themselves immersed in the American way of life. 

Funding & Scholarships –

Data science programs in the USA are supported with partial and full funding options. Some of the partially and fully funded master’s scholarships in the USA in 2023 are the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship, National GEM Consortium, ACM SIGHPC, Bill Caspar Memorial Diversity Scholarship, and Open Data Science Conference Scholarship. Meritorious and needy students can avail fully funded scholarship opportunities. This helps the economically backward classes with merit to get quality education abroad.

Internship Opportunities –

An ample number of internship programs and live projects in the data science curriculum offer  international industry exposure to the students. The top brands that hire students for internship programs are EY, Deloitte, Stanley Morgan, Accenture, IBM, Disney, and Cisco.  

Top Universities in USA for MS in Data Science

Listed below are some of the top universities in the USA that offer courses in data science:

*As mentioned on the official university website

Course Curriculum of MS in Data Science inUSA

A master’s degree in data science equips students with advanced data analysis, interpretation, and problem-solving skills. The following are the core modules taught in most master’s programs in data science in the United States:

• Business Intelligence from Big Data
• Statistics
• Data Mining
• Machine Learning 
• Data Optimization
• Software Development

Fees for MS in Data Science in USA 

Studying in the USA is an expensive affair, and taking a STEM background course is even more costly. A data science course in the USA would cost between INR 30,00,000 – 55,00,000 on average. Several partial and full funding options are available in public and private universities in the USA to make it affordable. Stanford and MIT offer 100% funding to meritorious international students, making the USA a hub for the cheapest data science masters. 

Pre-Arrival Cost for MS in Data Science in USA

GRE Fee

This is usually the first step towards the entire journey of doing MS in the USA, and the cost of this exam is $228.

TOEFL

Some universities take in applications without GRE, but TOEFL is a test that candidates can not skip. Universities require proof of language proficiency, and you might also need to share your TOEFL score for visa purposes. The exam costs $120.

Applying to USA Universities

Each university’s application fees range from $50 (₹4,088) to $100 (₹8,177), with the former being the most frequent. However, applications are incomplete until official test scores (GRE and TOEFL) are sent through ETS, which costs an additional $47 (GRE: $27; TOEFL: $20).

VISA

Candidates must pay the VISA charge of $160, followed by the SEVIS fee of $200, once they obtain their official document from the university stating their stay in the United States and the amount to be spent for the year.

Flight Tickets

Depending on the city, destination, and airline, single-way economy class tickets range from ₹42,301 ($517) to ₹63,492 ($776). Return flights range in price from ₹63,492 ($776) to ₹95,238 ($1,164).

Eligibility Criteria for MS in Data Science in USA

Before applying for a course, applicants should always check if they meet the required eligibility criteria

Admission Requirements for Masters in Data Science inUSA

American universities hold a lot of prestige and recognition globally. International students must fulfill the eligibility criteria and admission requirements to enroll at USA universities. Requirements for admission to the best universities to pursue MS in Data Science vary from each other. To meet the competitive edge, students must meet all the admission requirements. 

• GRE and GMAT scores are essential to take admission in data science. American universities need the GRE score to understand the academic proficiency of students seeking a master's in data science. The minimum score is 280, and the GRE score requirement for universities like Stanford and MIT is above 310. 
• Students interested in data science programs need to pass higher secondary education with compulsory subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Maths. 
• A full-time graduation degree of 4 years from a STEM background is a prerequisite for students applying to various data science programs. A BTech or BE degree in Computer Science, Physical Science, Mathematics, Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, or Engineering is necessary.
• An excellent academic record is an important admission criterion. Students need to have a good GPA in their bachelor’s degree and high school. A minimum GPA of 3 out of 4 is a compulsory requirement for international students in graduation. The GPA requirement for high-ranked educational institutions like Stanford and MIT will be higher. 
• English language proficiency is important for non-native English-speaking students. Therefore, the test scores for IELTS and TOEFL examinations are essential. The top-ranked universities ask for a score above 7 in IELTS. 
• Students need to have all the documents in the right order. The academic transcripts should be original. Evidence of financial resources should be submitted. Along with this, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and essays should be submitted as required by the respective university. The GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS scores should be submitted to every university you apply to. Lastly, the application form and fee receipts are important to confirm registration. 
• Prior work experience is accepted and required by various data science universities in the USA. Previous work experience waives off the GRE score under multiple circumstances. Students with a low GRE score can study data science courses if they have prior work experience. 
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) is  a unique statement where international students need to state their purpose, goals, and expectations of a data science program in the USA. The SOP should also mention a candidate’s goals, achievements, and experiences. The SOP you write increases the chances of getting an admission. 
• A letter of recommendation is important. A Minimum of 2 to 3 letters of recommendation is compulsory for universities. The LOR should be from respective faculty members or ex-employers

Application Deadlines for MS in Data Science in USA

Data Science and Data Analysis is a topic of study that has acquired a lot of popularity in recent years, leading to lucrative job prospects for those who choose to pursue it. The following are some of the application deadlines for the spring, summer, and fall intake of the MS in Data Analytics/Data Science program in the United States:

Source: As mentioned on the official university website

Scholarships for MS in Data Science in USA

Some of the scholarships for international students for MS in Data Science in the USA:

ACM SIGHPC/Intel Computational & Data Science Fellowship:

The Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) Special Interest Group on High-Performance Computing (SIGHPC) partnered with Intel to offer a $15,000 Computational & Data Science Fellowship to master’s or doctorate candidates working on large-scale big data research. Females and members of racial minorities who have finished less than half of their computing degrees at authorized USA universities are eligible.

CA Technologies Fellowship for Women:

One of the most valuable big data scholarships is the CA Technologies Fellowship for Women at the University of Vermont, which covers full tuition up to $14,670 each semester for females pursuing the MS in Complex Systems and Data Science.

Daniel Larose Scholarship for Data Mining Excellence:

The Daniel Larose Scholarship for Data Mining Excellence awards $4,000 per year, or $2,000 per semester, to MS in Data Mining students at Central Connecticut State University who excel.

Fisher Family Fund Fellowship Program:

Each Spring, the Fisher Family Fund Fellowship Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte awards $2,000 to exceptional graduate students in the College of Computing and Informatics pursuing a Professional MS in Data Science and Business Analytics.

HIMSS Minnesota Graduate Health IT Scholarship:

The Graduate Health IT Scholarship from the HIMSS Minnesota Chapter awards $1,500 to master’s students and $2,000 to doctorate students studying quantitative-based health informatics degrees, such as data analytics or data science. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA who live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, or South Dakota are eligible.

Lilly Endowment Scholarship for Data Science:  

At Saint Mary’s College, The Lilly Endowment Scholarship at Saint Mary’s College awards $1,000 every term for a total of $5,000 to outstanding male or female post-grads who are pursuing the mathematically rigorous MS in Data Science program. 

Job Opportunities after Masters in Data Science in US

Employment opportunities for data science offer a great Return on Investment (ROI). At an entry-level, a data science graduate can earn up to $95,000 (INR 77,77,222), whereas a managerial post can earn up to $195,000 (INR 1,59,63,772) yearly. For the last five years, the American job market has been flourishing with ample job opportunities in data science. Data science and big data have highly demanding career opportunities associated with top global brands. Find out the jobs after MS in Data Science in the USA.

Top Jobs after MS in Data Science in USA 

• Analytics Engineer: $111,480 
• Statistician – $72,100 
• Business Analyst: $72,000 
• Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst: $67,600 
• Data Analyst: $73,372 
• Big Data Engineer: $114,800 
• Data Scientist: $96,494 
• Database Administrator (DBA): $72,800 
• Data Engineer: $116,591
• Data Architect: $115,800 
• Data Visualisation Specialist: $76,065 
• Machine Learning Engineer: $111,600 

Conclusion

Data science has a vibrant future. Pursuing a master’s in data science from a prestigious American university is the best career decision one can take. As per the present market scenario, choosing a career in the young fold emerging Data Science field from a globally ranked USA university is wise.