Guides
Guides to Choosing a Data Science Degree
Plain explanations of data science degrees, admissions, costs and study formats. Factual claims cite official sources with an access date; guides never promise admission, earnings or employment.
Degrees & pathways
Choosing a Data Science PhD
How a PhD in Data Science differs from joint statistics or computing PhDs and related doctorates with a data science focus, and how to compare research fit, structure, credits and funding.
What Degree Do You Need to Become a Data Scientist?
What federal labor data says about the education data scientists typically need, and how bachelor's, master's and PhD paths in data science differ in time, entry and purpose.
Data Science vs. Business Analytics: MSDS, MSBA and Joint Degrees
How an MS in Business Analytics differs from an MS in Data Science, why the academic unit matters, and how joint degrees such as Data Science and Business Analytics are built.
Data Science vs. Computer Science: Dedicated Degrees and Concentrations
How a data science degree differs from a computer science degree with a data science concentration, what your diploma will say, and when a concentration is the better fit.
Data Science vs. Data Analytics: How the Degrees Differ
How data science and data analytics degrees differ in statistics, machine learning and programming depth, why we list only data science degrees, and how to read a program title.
Data Science vs. Statistics: Curricula, Joint Degrees and Careers
How statistics and data science degrees differ in theory, computing and data management, how joint Statistics and Data Science degrees work, and what BLS reports for both occupations.
Choosing a school
Online vs. On-Campus Data Science Degrees
How online and on-campus data science degrees differ: fully online vs required attendance, live vs self-paced classes, the diploma, visas and the states a program can enroll from.
Thesis vs. Capstone in a Data Science Master's
What a master's thesis and a capstone project involve in data science programs, who each route suits, and how to read the way programs publish their culminating requirements.
Admissions
Applying to a Data Science Master's Without a Computer Science Degree
Which published requirements matter if your bachelor's is not in computer science, how bridge courses and performance-based admission work, and how to prepare a convincing application.
Master's in Data Science Admission Requirements
What data science master's programs ask for: degree, GPA, prerequisites, GRE policy, letters, statements, English tests and deadlines, and how to read the wording on admissions pages.
Mathematics Prerequisites for Data Science Degrees
How data science master's programs describe their calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics prerequisites, with real program wording and ways to fill gaps before you apply.
Programming Prerequisites for Data Science Degrees
What data science master's programs expect you to know about Python, R, SQL and computer science before you start, and the bridge and foundation courses some programs publish.
Tuition & funding
How Much Does a Data Science Degree Cost?
How to read data science tuition: per-credit, per-term and whole-program prices, resident vs nonresident rates, fees, estimating the total, and the basics of federal aid.
Understanding PhD Funding in Data Science
How guaranteed, conditional and competitive PhD funding differ, what tuition remission, stipends, assistantship duties and health insurance cover, and how to read a program's funding wording.