online data science master's degree
Master of Science in Data Science
Start your online data science master's degree
Enjoy interpreting, decoding or transforming data? Curious about converting raw data into wisdom? The Master of Science (MS) in Data Science may be a good fit for you. Learn to analyze, design and manage complex and unorganized data sets for businesses – and increase your leadership capabilities.
Strategically apply data science to optimize functionality, scalability and system performance. Plus, gain career-relevant skills in topics like artificial intelligence, database administration, data warehousing, data visualization, machine learning, statistical analysis and more.
- Ideal for data scientists, data analysis practitioners and business professionals
- Gain additional experience in data management and business intelligence
- Examine key principles of data modeling, integration and mining for decision making
- Apply data governance principles and practices to ensure the ethical use of customer data
Ignite Your Passion
Start when you're ready
Courses
Browse courses for your online data science master's degree
Education never stands still. That’s why we have advisory councils made up of leaders in their fields. They meet periodically to review industry needs and trends, providing valuable insights that help us keep our programs relevant. Our courses cover career-relevant skills you can add to your resumé in weeks, not years. Topics learned in the MSDS program include artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and more.
Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.
MS in Data Science requirements
You’ll need 36 credits to complete the Master of Science in Data Science. You’ll also complete an applied capstone course that focuses on the strategic application of data science to improve business decision making. You may transfer eligible college credits to waive a maximum of 12 credits from your required course of study.
Flexible schedule for data science master’s students
Your academic counselor will help you schedule your courses for a Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS). Since many of our data science students are working adults who need to balance family, work, school and life, we provide you with the flexibility to attend classes whenever it fits your life, day or night. You can attend your online MS in Data Science classes 24/7/365 – allowing you to learn when and where you want.
Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.
Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.
We’ve worked with the labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
Tuition
Paying for school
Tuition is based on number of credit hours per course. Courses are typically 3 credits, but can range from 1-6 credits. Costs do not include savings opportunities like transfer credits and scholarships.
Master's cost per course
$2,289 / course
What affects the overall cost of my program?
Your full program cost can vary by:
- Savings opportunities. Get your degree faster and for less with eligible transfer credits, scholarships and work experience credits. Students with eligible credits and relevant experience can save up to $6,800 and 9 credits off their master’s degree.
With our Tuition Guarantee, you pay one flat, affordable rate from the moment you enroll to the day you graduate from your program.
Earn your master’s degree faster and for less with eligible savings opportunities:
Transfer credits
When it comes to going back to school, the only thing better than a fresh start is a head start. Your previous eligible college credits can save you time and money. You may transfer eligible college credits from an institutionally accredited university or college to waive a maximum of 12 credits from your online data science master’s degree program requirements.
Financial aid
You may have options when it comes to paying for college tuition and expenses, such as federal grants and loans. Our finance advisors can answer your questions about financial aid and can help guide you through the process.
Federal Student Loan Basics
Careers & Outcomes
What can you do with a Master of Science in Data Science?
Discover where your online data science master’s degree might take you. Our MSDS program imparts knowledge related to project management, data governance, data warehousing, customer relationship management and more. You’ll focus on how to apply and manage data as you prepare for management or director-level roles that oversee the use of data science and business analytics tools and processes in an organization.
A MSDS can prepare you to be a(n):
- Application Development Director
- Computing Services Manager
- Data Processing Manager
- IS Supervisor, Manager, or Director
- IT Manager or Director
- MIS Director
- Technical Services Manager
- Research Scientist
Top skills learned in this program:
Information Systems
Data Analysis
Data Management
Strategic Planning
Ready to get started?
Start your application for free or request additional information.
What you’ll learn
When you earn your online Master of Science in Data Science, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. You’ll learn how to:
- Integrate data from disparate sources while preserving data integrity
- Evaluate enterprise data for meaningful patterns and trends
- Develop presentations to explain data and share insights
- Recommend value-added solutions for business problems using statistically relevant data
17% Growth
According to the , job growth for computer and information system manager jobs is projected to be much faster than average between 2023 and 2033.
The BLS Projected Growth for 2023-2033 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ۴ý students or graduates.
Industry Spotlight
The state of data science
Data science is a relatively new field with a variety of employment opportunities, especially for graduates with expertise in programming, database management and integration, data analysis, predictive modeling techniques and the use of business intelligence.
Explore diverse fields
Data science can be applied to a variety of industries, including information technology, healthcare, finance and banking, communications, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality and human resources.
Build your resumé
Earn career-relevant skills and update your resumé in weeks, not years, with every 6-week course in our online MS in Data Science. You’ll learn data science, machine learning, cloud computing and more.
Prepare for jobs
If you’re interested in overseeing the use of data science and business analytics in various organizations, the MSDS program can help you prepare for management or director-level roles in several industries.
Admissions
Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.
Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.
- No cost to request prior transcripts
- No GMAT
- No essay required
How to enroll at ۴ý
Receive 1-on-1 support
You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.1Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.
[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)
Call or chat with us 7 days a week.
Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep
Receive 1-on-1 support
You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 85% of our surveyed students.[1]
[1] Transactional Survey, September 2022-August 2023 (23,739 respondents)
Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.
Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.
Student Experience
Balancing it all – work, family and school
By taking just one 6-week course at a time, you can focus on every assignment, skill and victory without giving up what matters most. Plus, we offer up to 8 opportunities a year to start your online MS in Data Science.
Online learning environment
You’ll take courses in our online learning management system and use a variety of programming languages, database and spreadsheet software, data visualization applications, BI and CRM software, and machine learning to complete your data science assignments.
Around-the-clock support and resources
You have a support team available up to 14 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Computer requirements for courses
Many course assignments will require you to use a computer to complete and submit your assignment.
Faculty Spotlight
Data science professionals dedicated to you
Your success is a top priority for our faculty members. They bring an average of 28+ years of practical experience to the classroom. Our faculty actively work in the fields they teach and leverage their experience as chief information officers, chief technology officers, IT system administrators, managers and more. This helps bridge the gap between what you learn in the classroom and how it translates in the job you pursue.
Accreditation
Accredited for 45+ years
Since 1978, ۴ý has maintained institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), . Learn more about the value of ۴ý accreditation and how it benefits our students.
Data science articles
Frequently asked questions about the Master of Science in Data Science
At ۴ý, our data science courses include career-relevant skills for data science professionals. Our MS in Data Science program covers topics important in the field, such as database management, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data modeling and data governance. These skills can help you prepare for positions in data science, business and IT management.
Our online data science master’s degree also offers you flexibility and convenience so you can learn when it fits your schedule. Plus, you can save time and money with scholarships, transfer credits and more.
Our Master of Science in Data Science requires applicants to have an undergraduate degree from an approved college or university with institutional accreditation and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale). We recommend having some experience in data science/analytics, business intelligence, database management or statistics, such as earning a Bachelor of Science in Data Science or relevant data science certifications.
۴ý offers master’s degrees in information systems, cybersecurity and data science.
The Master of Information Systems covers how information technology leads and supports businesses today. You’ll learn key theories and principles for how to address real-world business opportunities and challenges.
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity focuses on deepening your understanding of cybersecurity and operations at an enterprise level. You’ll learn topics in information assurance, such as threat analysis, incident response and more.
The Master of Science in Data Science prepares you to design, manage and analyze data sets and models to optimize business functionality, scalability and reliability. You’ll learn about information systems, data analysis, data management and more.
The estimated length of an online MS in Data Science at ۴ý is 17 months. You may transfer eligible college credits to waive a maximum of 12 credits from your required course of study – potentially saving you time and money on your degree. Speak with an enrollment representative for more information.
In our online data science master’s degree program, you’ll learn how to prepare and analyze data for a variety of business applications. You’ll gain knowledge and skills that can prepare you for employment opportunities such as information system directors, data processing managers, computing services managers, application development directors, IT directors, technical services managers and research scientists.
The cost of an online data science master's degree varies. At ۴ý, our Master of Science in Data Science has a $698 cost per credit and 36 credits are required to complete the program. Please speak with an enrollment representative for additional information about potential costs and ways to save.
While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.