Fortune released its ranking of the best online master’s in data science programs last week—and it couldn’t come at a better time for students looking to upskill in an in-demand field.
Degrees in data science are some of the fastest growing in the country. And it makes sense as universities see the exponential growth for data careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientists will be the fourth fastest growing occupation over the next decade, with an average growth rate of 36%.
This year, the University of California, Berkeley was deemed the No. 1 online master’s in data science program.
“We understand, not only why data science, in its practice, got to where it is now, but we also know where it's heading, and we're playing an active role in shaping where it's heading,” says Alex Hughes, assistant professor of practice at the UC Berkeley School of Information, who has been involved in the online data program for a decade.
Overall, a master’s in data science seeks to equip students with the most up-to-date skills in topics like data engineering, visualization, and mining along with areas like machine learning, research design, ethics. The University of Illinois and Marshall University are the No. 2 and No. 3 best schools, respectively, where students can in part be equipped with those skills.
“We're proud that our commitment to excellence in education, research, and student support is being recognized on such a prestigious level," explains Nancy Amato, interim director of the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois. "This achievement motivates us to continue innovating and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our field."
The 5 best online master's in data science programs
What makes the best online master’s in data science programs the best?
At UC Berkeley, one school that has consistently been a top school in Fortune's ranking, the proof of demand and success is in the data. The program began in 2013 with fewer than 30 students. By 2020-2021, the school's graduating class size was about 279 students. Its most recent class, 2023-2024, was nearly double—at 535. This track record of demand—while still maintaining a top-notch curriculum and faculty helped land the school high marks in Fortune’s ranking.
And even with high enrollment, the school is one of the most competitive. While most schools have acceptance rates above 65%, Berkeley only admits about 36% of applicants.
Despite the fact that online programs do not have to worry about physical classroom space to accommodate for exponential growth, more faculty than ever are needed to teach the growing student population.
Being in the Bay Area, Hughes says the school has been able to scale with purpose and to only hire faculty with the most relevant experience in the field of data science. He also says even with a growing student population, completion rates remain high.
Students also get the same access to career and student affairs teams—which help students and alumni with obtaining internships, jobs, and other top opportunities in data.
“We have the same people who are working with our in person students, are also working with our online students, and they're getting the exact same level of care and investment in their education,” Hughes notes.
Amato adds that flexibility is core to Illinois's program—which allows students to complete the degree in as little as one year or over a span of five years. Plus, a strong alumni network across the university in engineering and tech gives students access to career advancement and mentorship opportunities.
View this interactive chart on Fortune.com
When it comes to applying to an online master’s in data science program, there’s good news overall. First off, all of the schools that participated in Fortune’s ranking do not require applicants to submit a GRE examination score. While this takes off the pressure of having to do well on a standardized test, it does mean essays, letters of recommendation, and resumes become even more important parts of one’s application package.
Online master’s in data science programs are also relatively affordable. The average total program cost rings in at about $37,000. The University of Texas–Austin’s program totals to just $10,000.
The 5 cheapest online master’s in data science programs
Ranking changes
Fortune slightly altered its methodology this year to create a more robust assessment of the data science graduate education ecosystem. While it is more difficult to track program success—than say MBA programs, due to a lack of outcomes data like salaries—other points like graduation rate, retention rate, and total program cost were able to be measured.
Of those that participated in our ranking last year, the University of Illinois and Rice University saw the biggest jumps this year, with increases of 13 and 5 spots, respectively. Schools like Oklahoma State University and DePaul University each fell eight spots. But keep in mind these movements are also affected by newcomers to our list—of which there were eight.
However, overall, many programs are also relatively new, meaning their data is still fresh and changing relative to others in the coming years. We intend our lists to be resources for student exploration as they navigate their next career pathway as a data scientist, data analyst, or beyond.
Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.
