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Sinewave
Student
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What's the most affordable online Master's program for data science?
online masters degree data science
7 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
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Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Sinewave !
The cheapest online Masters Program for Data Science would be one that is offered by the University of Texas at Austin. Total cost is $10,000.00. Georgia Institute of Technology's online Master of Science in Analytics is priced at $5,346 annually (probably for two years = $10,692.00). For an online Applied Data Science Masters, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill charges $292 per credit for a 16 month program for a Masters of Applied Data Science.
You can still apply for grants and scholarships to attend an in-person, on site college that may have the resources and equipment and programs that would benefit you for your class work and Masters Thesis. Doing a Masters degree online will not be the same as doing it on site at a college campus. You may not have the supports or resources or hear ideas and opportunities that happen in person on site. Doing it in person will exercise and advance your communication and presentational skills, also. You'll need those skills to compete in the job market.
You could also consider going for a Fellowship. The National Institute for Health Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias offers a two-year Master of Professional Studies in Data Science Fellowship, which is a paid program administered in partnership with FAES and UMBC. It includes a stipend and covers tuition costs through an Intramural Research Training Award. You'd have to study in Maryland. If you are in Northern California, the Jack Larson Data for Public Good Fellowship at UC Berkeley’s MIDS program awards $8,500 annually to students committed to using data science for public good, with applicants required to be current students in the MIDS program. The Data Incubator offers a free, intensive eight-week fellowship for master’s and PhD students or recent graduates in STEM fields, preparing them for data science careers with project-based learning and employer connections. For Fellowship information in the place you live, visit the college you obtained your Bachelors Degree at and inquire about Fellowships at the Academic advisors' office, the Financial Aid Office and the on campus Career Center.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
The cheapest online Masters Program for Data Science would be one that is offered by the University of Texas at Austin. Total cost is $10,000.00. Georgia Institute of Technology's online Master of Science in Analytics is priced at $5,346 annually (probably for two years = $10,692.00). For an online Applied Data Science Masters, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill charges $292 per credit for a 16 month program for a Masters of Applied Data Science.
You can still apply for grants and scholarships to attend an in-person, on site college that may have the resources and equipment and programs that would benefit you for your class work and Masters Thesis. Doing a Masters degree online will not be the same as doing it on site at a college campus. You may not have the supports or resources or hear ideas and opportunities that happen in person on site. Doing it in person will exercise and advance your communication and presentational skills, also. You'll need those skills to compete in the job market.
You could also consider going for a Fellowship. The National Institute for Health Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias offers a two-year Master of Professional Studies in Data Science Fellowship, which is a paid program administered in partnership with FAES and UMBC. It includes a stipend and covers tuition costs through an Intramural Research Training Award. You'd have to study in Maryland. If you are in Northern California, the Jack Larson Data for Public Good Fellowship at UC Berkeley’s MIDS program awards $8,500 annually to students committed to using data science for public good, with applicants required to be current students in the MIDS program. The Data Incubator offers a free, intensive eight-week fellowship for master’s and PhD students or recent graduates in STEM fields, preparing them for data science careers with project-based learning and employer connections. For Fellowship information in the place you live, visit the college you obtained your Bachelors Degree at and inquire about Fellowships at the Academic advisors' office, the Financial Aid Office and the on campus Career Center.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Lin Jia
Data Scientist
16
Answers
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Updated
Lin’s Answer
Hi Sinewave,
This is an excellent question. While it's smart to look for an affordable program, the best way to measure a degree's real value is to consider its Return on Investment (ROI). A high-ROI program is one that combines a low total cost with a strong university reputation. This combination leads to better job prospects and a higher starting salary, allowing the degree to pay for itself very quickly. The goal isn't just to find the cheapest degree, but the one that will provide the largest return. That said, I feel like the best way is to talk about a few key factors to consider when selecting a good ROI program rather than giving specific program.
How to Evaluate Any Program
When comparing options, focus on these key factors to determine the potential ROI:
1. All-In Cost: Verify the total program cost, including tuition and all mandatory fees.
2. University Reputation: Look at university and program rankings (e.g., U.S. News & World Report). A stronger brand leads to better employer perception.
3. Career Outcomes: Search for program-specific statistics. Top programs often publish data on their graduates' average starting salaries and the companies that hire them.
4. Curriculum Relevance: Ensure the coursework covers modern, in-demand skills like MLOps, deep learning, and cloud computing platforms.
By focusing on these factors, you're not just finding an affordable degree—you're making a strategic investment in your long-term career success.
This is an excellent question. While it's smart to look for an affordable program, the best way to measure a degree's real value is to consider its Return on Investment (ROI). A high-ROI program is one that combines a low total cost with a strong university reputation. This combination leads to better job prospects and a higher starting salary, allowing the degree to pay for itself very quickly. The goal isn't just to find the cheapest degree, but the one that will provide the largest return. That said, I feel like the best way is to talk about a few key factors to consider when selecting a good ROI program rather than giving specific program.
How to Evaluate Any Program
When comparing options, focus on these key factors to determine the potential ROI:
1. All-In Cost: Verify the total program cost, including tuition and all mandatory fees.
2. University Reputation: Look at university and program rankings (e.g., U.S. News & World Report). A stronger brand leads to better employer perception.
3. Career Outcomes: Search for program-specific statistics. Top programs often publish data on their graduates' average starting salaries and the companies that hire them.
4. Curriculum Relevance: Ensure the coursework covers modern, in-demand skills like MLOps, deep learning, and cloud computing platforms.
By focusing on these factors, you're not just finding an affordable degree—you're making a strategic investment in your long-term career success.
Jisu Park
Product Manager
3
Answers
Fairfax, Virginia
Updated
Jisu’s Answer
I would plus one to Georgia Tech's online masters program being a great program with relatively affordable tuition. Especially if you are looking for holistic and structured learning, a masters program is hard to beat. However, if you are looking for more affordable and flexible options, you can also explore graduate certificates and free onlin courses.
1) Graudate certificates
- If you want to spend less time and money
- If you have a specific area of focus
- Still can get graduate-level quality learnings
2) Free online courses
- If you are focused on learning, rather than getting a certificate/degree
- If you are not sure what you want to study and want to explore various topics
1) Graudate certificates
- If you want to spend less time and money
- If you have a specific area of focus
- Still can get graduate-level quality learnings
2) Free online courses
- If you are focused on learning, rather than getting a certificate/degree
- If you are not sure what you want to study and want to explore various topics
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Sinewave!
This guide provides an in-depth look at fully funded scholarships for data science students in the USA, covering eligibility criteria, application strategies, top colleges, benefits, and tips to maximize scholarship awards. What Are Fully Funded Scholarships in Data Science?
HERE https://campuscybercafe.com/blog/post/scholarships-data-science-students-usa/
ALSO https://www.mastersindatascience.org/resources/data-science-scholarships/
Georgia Institute of Technology ranks #1 for affordability, offering a master’s in analytics for just $5,346 annually. Utica University has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Western Governors University leads in remote degree accessibility, with over 44,000 graduate students.
SEE https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-1569 ALSO https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/most-affordable-online-masters-in-data-science/ ALSO https://www.datasciencedegreeprograms.net/rankings/affordable-online-masters/ ALSO https://www.onlineu.com/most-affordable-colleges/data-science-masters-degrees
JC
This guide provides an in-depth look at fully funded scholarships for data science students in the USA, covering eligibility criteria, application strategies, top colleges, benefits, and tips to maximize scholarship awards. What Are Fully Funded Scholarships in Data Science?
HERE https://campuscybercafe.com/blog/post/scholarships-data-science-students-usa/
ALSO https://www.mastersindatascience.org/resources/data-science-scholarships/
Georgia Institute of Technology ranks #1 for affordability, offering a master’s in analytics for just $5,346 annually. Utica University has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Western Governors University leads in remote degree accessibility, with over 44,000 graduate students.
SEE https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-1569 ALSO https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/most-affordable-online-masters-in-data-science/ ALSO https://www.datasciencedegreeprograms.net/rankings/affordable-online-masters/ ALSO https://www.onlineu.com/most-affordable-colleges/data-science-masters-degrees
JC
Goodera Careervillage
63
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Goodera’s Answer
Hello!
If you're looking for an affordable way to get a master's degree in data science, Eastern University offers one of the best options. As of 2025, the total tuition is just $9,900 USD. If you're interested in learning a coding language like SQL or Python, there are plenty of free online resources available. Websites like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and Khan Academy offer great courses for both SQL and Python. Dive in, and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve! I hope we cross paths at a conference or work someday. Good luck!
If you're looking for an affordable way to get a master's degree in data science, Eastern University offers one of the best options. As of 2025, the total tuition is just $9,900 USD. If you're interested in learning a coding language like SQL or Python, there are plenty of free online resources available. Websites like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and Khan Academy offer great courses for both SQL and Python. Dive in, and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve! I hope we cross paths at a conference or work someday. Good luck!
Hetal Patel
16
Answers
Updated
Hetal’s Answer
The most affordable option for an online Master’s in Data Science is Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Analytics, which costs around $10,000 total for the entire program.
If you’re looking for a completely free option, WorldQuant University offers a tuition-free MSc in Financial Engineering (with strong data science components) and a free Applied Data Science Lab (short program, not a full degree).
So, for a low-cost degree – go with Georgia Tech. For a free but non-degree program – try WorldQuant University.
If you’re looking for a completely free option, WorldQuant University offers a tuition-free MSc in Financial Engineering (with strong data science components) and a free Applied Data Science Lab (short program, not a full degree).
So, for a low-cost degree – go with Georgia Tech. For a free but non-degree program – try WorldQuant University.
Prajwal S
25
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Prajwal’s Answer
University of West Florida (UWF)
Program: Online Master of Science in Data Science.
Cost: Approximately $7,515 for 30 credit hours.
Highlights: Offers three specialized tracks—analytics & modeling, business decision analytics, and health analytics. Accredited and extremely cost-effective.
University of Texas–Austin (UT Austin)
Program: Online Master’s in Data Science (30 credits).
Cost: Around $10,000 total tuition (about $1,000 per 3‑credit course); international students pay an extra $125 per semester.
Highlights: No letters of recommendation required; flexible GRE policy. Ranked high among online data science programs.
Program: Online Master of Science in Data Science.
Cost: Approximately $7,515 for 30 credit hours.
Highlights: Offers three specialized tracks—analytics & modeling, business decision analytics, and health analytics. Accredited and extremely cost-effective.
University of Texas–Austin (UT Austin)
Program: Online Master’s in Data Science (30 credits).
Cost: Around $10,000 total tuition (about $1,000 per 3‑credit course); international students pay an extra $125 per semester.
Highlights: No letters of recommendation required; flexible GRE policy. Ranked high among online data science programs.
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