Master of Science in Data Science
Purdue University's online Master's in Data Science will mold the next generation of data science experts and data engineers to help meet unprecedented industry demand for skilled employees. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree allows students to work with Purdue's well renowned faculty in their fields, and customize the program tailored towards specific areas of data science.
Master of Science in Data Science
Purdue University’s online Master’s in Data Science will mold the next generation of data science experts and data engineers to help meet unprecedented industry demand for skilled employees. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree allows students to work with Purdue’s well renowned faculty in their fields, and customize the program tailored towards specific areas of data science.
Master of Science in Data Science Overview
Data Science is a rapidly growing area within a number of different sectors and jobs. Meet the growing demand for data science experts with Purdue University’s online Master’s in Data Science. Delivered through an online and flexible modality, select from different courses and pathways tailored towards your specific interest.
Course topics include programming, data analysis, data engineering, statistics, machine learning, natural language processing, and more.
Save Time and Money with Purdue’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science.
Purdue’s Foundations of Data Science Graduate Certificate teaches core data science related competencies in less time than a traditional master’s degree.By taking a handful of 100% online courses, you can add a valuable credential to your resume or plan of study and build foundational skills that will help you stay ahead of this revolutionary trend. Credits earned can be applied later toward the completion of the full online master’s degree.
Comprehensive Industry-Relevant Curriculum
The Master’s in Data Science program covers essential areas such as data mining, machine learning, data visualization, statistics, and more. Students will gain practical experience through collaborative projects, case studies, and data analysis tasks.
Flexible Online Learning
Study on your schedule from anywhere in the world. With 100% online courses, students enjoy the convenience of flexible learning without compromising the quality of their education.
Learn from Leading Experts
Purdue’s faculty are renowned for their real-world expertise and cutting-edge research. Students will learn from pioneers in the field who are shaping the future of data science.
For many professionals, earning a master’s degree can provide a big return-on-investment. In addition to financial benefits like salary increases and promotions, master’s degrees also help professionals learn in-demand skills, which can improve their job prospects, help them pivot to a new industry, or help them stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Many employers value the advanced skills that master’s programs teach, and research shows that job candidates with master’s degrees have average salary increases from 25% to more than 75% in select fields. Ask your enrollment counselor for details on Purdue’s online master’s programs or learn more about the benefits of earning a master’s here.
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Plan Your Path
The cost of attending Purdue varies depending on where you choose to live, enrollment in a specific program or college, food and travel expenses, and other variables. The Office of the Bursar website shows estimated costs for the current aid year for students by semester and academic year. These amounts are used in determining a student’s estimated eligibility for financial aid. You can also use our tuition calculator to estimate tuition costs.
More information on courses and faculty can be found at the program website.
The Master of Science in Data Science curriculum consists of a total of 30 credit hours. 18 credit hours can be taken from core courses and 12 credit hours can be taken from selected focus areas or electives in applied statistics, IT business analysis, managing information technologies, or spatial data science.
Required Courses (18 Credits)
- GRAD 50500 Foundations in Data Science – 3 Credit Hours
- GRAD 50600 Big Data Tools and Technologies Courses – 3 Credit Hours
- GRAD 50700 Cross Domain Data Communication and Visualization – 3 Credit hours
- GRAD 50800 – Data Analytics – 3 Credit Hours
- GRAD 50900 – Applied Machine Learning: From Foundations to Latest – 3 Credit hours
- GRAD 58900 – Capstone – 3 Credit Hours
The Master’s in Data Science program includes a capstone course that aims to provide students with an opportunity to integrate their accumulated knowledge, technical, and social skills to identify and solve a real-world data science problem, with an emphasis on the application domain. The capstone provides students with practical experience applying the collective set of skills developed through the program to complete a professional project in support of a private, public, or non-profit partner.
The admissions process selects highly qualified applicants into the Master of Science in Data Science program by considering each of the following criteria in judging the overall strength of the applicant. Typically, no single criterion is used as a sole determinant for admission. This program does not require an application fee, so you can apply for free.
General Requirements:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Professional resume
- One (1) letter of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all universities attended, including transfer credits.
- International Students only: Submit a copy of each diploma received in the original language and English translation.
Other Requirements (if applicable):
The GRE or GMAT exam is not required for admission. Applicants who have taken the GRE or GMAT exam may upload their scores into the online application system for consideration.
Career data is based on the overall pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry: Source: LightcastTM (2025). Unique job postings for July 2024-25. Projected growth for years 2019-2029.
Top Job Titles
A data science degree prepares graduates for a wide range of technical and analytical careers across modern, data-driven industries. These include Software Engineer, Data Scientist, and Machine Learning Engineer, each applying computational methods to solve complex problems. Additionally, Research Scientist, Data Analyst, and Quantitative Analyst play key roles in extracting insights, developing models, and informing strategic decisions.
Top Industries
Several major industries offer strong career pathways for graduates with a data science degree. These include Technology, Government, and Finance, each relying heavily on data-driven decision-making and advanced analytics. Additionally, Automotive, Retail, and Healthcare depend on data science expertise to improve innovation, efficiency, and customer or patient outcomes.
Purdue’s online data science master’s addresses burgeoning demand for trained data scientists
Data scientists who can make sense of today’s epic floods of data to generate actionable insights and communicate them to a variety of audiences are in demand in almost any field, from retail business and industry to health care, government, education, and more.
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