MS in Data Science in the USA

USA is considered one of the best universities to pursue an MS in data science. The USA is home to Ivy League institutions with many other institutions that put forward their best in the education sector.USA university is best known for its diverse students from around the globe & quality education. MS in data science in the USA is a postgraduate level of study of about 12-24 months.US is ranked in the top 3 countries to pursue an MS in Data Science & also in the top 3 for providing jobs in Data Science. Before we move forward to the college list offering MS in data science in the USA let’s explore a bit about data science.

What is Data Science?

Data Science is a field that brings out knowledge and insights from structured & unstructured data with the use of scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems and applying this knowledge to different domains of application. 

Also Read: BSc in Data Science

Why Should I Pursue Data Science?

• High paying Job – A job in the field of data science provides a good job status as well as remuneration. An individual at the entry-level can up to $95,000 whereas a managerial post can earn up to $195,000.
• Rapid Growth – Data Science is a field that has shown tremendous growth before and is continuing the same. An estimate by McKinsey Global Institute is that there would be  250,000 vacancies in 2024.
• More Job opportunities – The industry has more demands in the field of data science and the production number is much less. In conclusion, the jobs are more whereas the person to fill the job is very less making it easier to grab job opportunities.

Also Read: PG in Data Science

Top 10 Colleges/Universities offering MS in Data Science in USA

There are several universities in the USA that teach MS in Data Science. But here are the top 10 universities that you must consider studying in:

• Stanford University
• Columbia University
• Harvard University
• Yale University
• New York University
• University of  Southern California
• Indiana University Bloomington 
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Boston University
• University of Washington

Also Read: Masters in Data Science in Canada

Eligibility Criteria for MS in Data Science in USA

Before applying for the course applicants should always check if she/he matches the required eligibility criteria.

University	Educational Qualification	IELTS	GPA (Out of 4)
Stanford University	4 Year- UG degree	7.0	3.96
Yale University	UG Degree in the first division	7.0 & above	3.0
Columbia University	UG Degree	7.0	3.27
Harvard university	UG degree	6.5	3.0
New York University	UG degree	7.0	3.0

• Stanford University doesn’t accept a three-year bachelor’s degree, An applicant can pursue a three-year bachelor’s degree & 2-year master’s degree or choose an integrated course.
• An applicant should have an undergraduate degree in a related field.
• A good GRE is also required for admission.

Application Process for MS in Data Science in USA

After getting to know about data science, top universities & checking if you match the eligibility criteria. The next thing is the application process. Here’s how you can apply to these universities.

• Visit the official website of the university
• An applicant has to register themselves and will receive a username.
• Use that username and login into your profile.
• After logging in, fill in the required fields, personal information & educational information.
• Applicants with employment experience, have to fill in the information of employment on the application.
• Select the course you want to pursue.
• Add your personal statement
• Complete the process by paying the application fee. The application fee is different for each university & course.

Course Highlights of MS in Data Science in the USA

Duration	1-2 years
Eligibility	Students must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in the same field with a passing percentage in the topics studied at the undergraduate level.
Entrance Exam	GRE, TOEFL, IELTS
Course Fee	The cost ranges from $25,000 – $100,000. Several factors influence the cost, including the university chosen, the location, and whether the student is a native or international student.
Jobs Roles and Average Salaries	Analytics Engineer – $111,480Business Analyst – $ 72,000.Data Analyst – $73372Data Scientist – $96494Data Engineer – $116,591Statistician – $97990Data Visualisation Specialist – $76065

Course Curriculum of MS in Data Science in the USA

Course curriculum of MS in Data Science in the USA include:

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

MS in Data Science in the USA Cost

It is true that studying in US is expensive. A data science course in the USA would cost around INR 30,00,000 – 55,00,000. But there are various partial and full funding scholarship options in the universities of the USA.  

Pre-arrival costs

• GRE Cost: This exam costs $205 and is typically the first stage in the process of obtaining an MS in the United States.
• TOEFL: While some universities will accept admissions without the GRE, applicants must also take the TOEFL. You may need to share your TOEFL score for visa considerations if you need to provide proof of your language ability to universities. The test is $170
• Applying to universities in the US: The application price for each university ranges from $50 (3700) to $100 (7400), with the former being the more common. However, unless official test scores (GRE and TOEFL) are sent through ETS, which costs an additional $47 (GRE: $27; TOEFL: $20), applications are not complete.
• Airline Tickets: Single-way economy class tickets can cost anywhere between 40,000 (about $517) and 60,000 (about $776) depending on the city, the destination, and the carrier. The cost of round-trip tickets ranges from 60,000 (or $776) to 90,000 (or $1164).

Tuition Fees

Among the top 10 colleges in the USA, the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor charges the lowest tuition for an MS in Data Science programme, at 21,389 USD annually. The highest yearly tuition is 74,540 USD at Stanford University, which is ranked first among all universities in the world.

Cost of living

The cost of living in the USA is estimated to be 15,000 USD (11.21 lakh INR) per month, making it a fairly costly place to live. Below is a list of typical monthly costs associated with living here:

Categories	Cost Per Month (in INR)
Rent of Apartment	74,400- 1.48 lakhs
Meals	8,930- 11,908
Transportation	7,442- 22,324
Personal Expenses	22,324- 29,766
Health Insurance	33,486- 52,090

Admission Requirement

American universities enjoy widespread acclaim and distinction. To get admitted to American universities, international students must meet the eligibility requirements and admission standards. The leading colleges have different requirements for entering their MS in Data Science programmes. Students must make sure they fulfil all entry requirements if they want to maintain a competitive edge.

• For data science entrance, GRE and GMAT scores are required. The GRE score is required by American colleges to assess students’ intellectual readiness for master’s-level data science coursework. The required GRE score is above 310 for schools like Stanford and MIT, with a minimum score of 280.
• Students interested in data science programmes must successfully complete their upper secondary education with required courses in math, physics, and chemistry.
• Students applying to different data science programmes must have a four-year full-time graduation degree in a STEM field. It is essential to have a BTech or BE degree in engineering, computer science, physical science, mathematics, mathematics and computing, statistics, or another related field.
• A strong academic record is a crucial admittance requirement. Students must maintain a strong GPA in both their undergraduate studies and high school. International students must meet a graduation GPA requirement of at least 3 out of 4. The GPA threshold will be higher for renowned universities like Stanford and MIT.

English Proficiency

• English language competency is crucial for students who do not speak English as their first language. As a result, IELTS and TOEFL test results are quite important. The leading universities require an IELTS score of at least 7.
• Students must have all of their materials organised properly. The academic records must be authentic. The submission of financial resource documentation is required. Additionally, as required by the particular university, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and essays must be submitted. Each university you apply to should receive your GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS scores. Last but not least, it’s critical to verify registration with the application form and fee receipts.
• Numerous data science universities in the USA allow and demand prior work experience. It depends on the situation whether the GRE score is waived or not. If a student has prior work experience, they can enrol in data science courses even with a low GRE score.
• The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the special statement required of international students who wish to enrol in a data science programme in the United States. Goals, successes, and experiences of a candidate should all be mentioned in the SOP. Your chances of being accepted rise as a result of the SOP you write.
• It’s crucial to have a recommendation letter. Universities require a minimum of two to three letters of recommendation. The LOR needs to come from the appropriate faculty members or former employers.

Visa Requirement

Once candidates receive their formal document from the university outlining their stay in the United States and the amount to be spent for the year, they must pay the SEVIS fee of $200 followed by the VISA fee of $160.

Application Process for MS in Data Science in USA

After getting to know about data science, top universities & checking if you match the eligibility criteria. The next thing is the application process. Here’s how you can apply to these universities.

• Visit the official website of the university
• An applicant has to register themselves and will receive a username.
• Use that username and login into your profile.
• After logging in, fill in the required fields, personal information & educational information.
• Applicants with employment experience, have to fill in the information of employment on the application.
• Select the course you want to pursue.
• Add your personal statement
• Complete the process by paying the application fee. The application fee is different for each university & course.

Application Deadlines

In recent years, the study area of data science and analysis has grown significantly in popularity, providing attractive career opportunities for those who choose to pursue it. The deadlines for the MS in Data Analytics/Data Science programme in the United States are as follows for the Spring 2023 intake:

University	Deadline
Illinois Institute of Technology	November 15, 2022
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	January 18, 2023
Northeastern University	November 1, 2022
Boston University	November 15, 2022
DePaul University	January 15, 2023

Admission Requirements for Masters in Data Science in the US

The following are the admission requirements for Masters in Data Science in the US:

• GRE and GMAT scores minimum score 280-310 depending on the university. 
• Higher Secondary Education Certificate with compulsory subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Maths. 
• A graduation degree of 4 years from a STEM background or a BTech or BE degree in Computer Science, Physical Science, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computing, Statistics or Engineering.
• A GPA of a minimum of 3 out of 4 is a compulsory requirement for international students in graduation. For ranked educational institutions like Stanford and MIT, the GPA requirement will be higher. 
• English language proficiency score above 7 in IELTS. 
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)  
• A letter of recommendation.

Scholarships for MS in Data Science in the USA

• ACM SIGHPC/Intel Computational & Data Science Fellowship
• CA Technologies Fellowship for Women
• Daniel Larose Scholarship for Data Mining Excellence
• Fisher Family Fund Fellowship Program
• HIMSS Minnesota Graduate Health IT Scholarship
• Lilly Endowment Scholarship for Data Science

Stanford University

Stanford University is a private university founded in 1885 and spread across an 8,100-acre campus. Stanford offers undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral research & professional degrees in the field of humanities, sciences, business, education, engineering, law, and medicine & also famous sports teams that have recorded many medals at the Olympic level.

Course Name	MS in Statistics
Duration	15-18 Months
Cost (In USD)	149,080
Cost (In INR)	10897889
University Rank ( Times Higher Education 2021)	#2
University Location	Stanford, California

Columbia University

Columbia University is a private university founded in 1754  spread across a 36-acre campus & also the 5th oldest educational institution in USA. Columbia University is a part of the Ivy League. The university has been used for filming many movies like Spiderman, Kinsey, Ghostbusters, Mona Lisa’s Smile. Columbia University offers students a chance to conduct their own research, interact with industry experts & excellent faculty and environment.

Course Name	MS in Data Science
Duration	18 Months
Cost (In USD)	63,120
Cost (In INR)	4614131
University Rank ( Times Higher Education 2021)	#17
University Location	New York

Harvard University

Harvard University is a public research university founded in 1636. Harvard university famous around the globe and the oldest university in the united states. Some of the popular courses at Harvard University are Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering & History. 

Course Name	MS Data Science
Duration	24 Months
Cost (In USD)	109,760
Cost (In INR)	8023560
University Rank ( Times Higher Education 2021)	#3
University Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts

Yale University

Yale University is a private institution established in 1701 & its campus is spread over 373 acres. Yale University is an ivy league institution. Yale is home to 21% of international students from 120 countries. Yale offers both M.A & MS in data science & statistics.

Course Name	M.S. in Statistics & Data Science
Duration	24 Months
Cost (In USD)	86,600
Cost (In INR)	6330542
University Rank ( Times Higher Education 2021)	#8
University Location	New Haven, Connecticut

Also Read: Study at Yale: 5 Interesting Facts about Yale University

New York University

New York University is a private university charted in 1831 & its urban campus is spread across 230 acres. NYU has the highest number of international students as compared to any other university in the USA. & also has a famous quidditch team that was part of the world championship.

Course Name	M.S in Data Science
Duration	24 Months
Cost (In USD)	129,240
Cost (In INR)	9447566
University Rank ( Times Higher Education 2021)	#26
University Location	New York

Also Read: SOP for MS in Data Science

Additional Documents Required

There are some more documents required at the time of application process. The list of documents that will be required are –

• Program Selection and sub-plan declaration
• Transcripts, GPA, Converting International GPA
• Exam scores: GRE General & TOEFL, IELTS
• Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose

Salary and Job roles after MS in Data Science in USA

Job Role	Average Salary (per annum)
Analytics Engineer	$111,480
Business Analyst	$ 72,000.
Data Analyst	$73372
Data Scientist	$96494
Data Engineer	$116,591
Statistician	$97990
Data Visualisation Specialist	$76065

Other Universities offering MS in Data in USA

There is a long list of universities offering MS in data science courses, if you are interested in pursuing the course here is a list of other universities. 

• University of Pennsylvania – Master of Science in Engineering in Data Science
• Rutgers University – Masters program in Data Science
• University of Washington – Master of Science in Data Science
• Duke University – Master in Interdisciplinary Data Science
• University at Buffalo – MS in Engineering Sciences – Data Sciences
• University of San Francisco – Master of Science in Data Science
• University of Southern California – Master of Science in Applied Data Science
• Carnegie Mellon University – Master of Computational Data Science
• Tufts University – Master of Science in Data Science
• Clarkson University – Master of Science in Data Analytics
• University of the Pacific – Master of Science in Data Science
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – Master’s in Data Science
• Florida International University – Master of Science in Data Science
• Kent State University – M.S in Computer Science -Computational Data Science
• Fairfield University – Master of Science in Applied Data Science

FAQs

We hope this blog was useful & informative in providing details related to MS in Data science in the USA. If you have any doubts & queries regarding the admission process or want to know more about the university connect with Leverage Edu and get help from experts!