Master’s in Data Science Programs in Mississippi

Wondering if tech is blooming under the magnolias? Welcome to our guide to earning a data science degree in Mississippi. Here you’ll find info on universities, online degrees, scholarships, conferences, meetups, and jobs.

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Syracuse University

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Master of Science in Applied Data Science

Syracuse University’s online Master of Science in Data Science can be completed in as few as 18 months.

  • Complete in as little as 18 months
  • No GRE scores required to apply

Southern Methodist University

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Master of Science in Data Science

Earn your MS in Data Science at SMU, where you can specialize in Machine Learning or Business Analytics, and complete in as few as 20 months.

  • No GRE required.
  • Complete in as little as 20 months.

University of California, Berkeley

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Master of Information and Data Science

Earn your Master’s in Data Science online from UC Berkeley in as few as 12 months.

  • Complete in as few as 12 months
  • No GRE required

Syracuse University

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Master of Science in Business Analytics

Looking to become a data-savvy leader? Earn your online Master of Science in Business Analytics from Syracuse University.

  • As few as 18 months to complete 
  • No GRE required to apply

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Read on to learn more about data science programs in Mississippi.

Studying Data Science in Mississippi

Mississippi may not be the first state that springs to a data scientist’s mind. Tech companies are few. In 2022, the CompTIA’s Cyberstates noted that 2.3% of the state’s workforce was in the tech industry – #50 in the country.

Local organizations are trying to get some momentum going:

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Mississippi Universities

The public university system has developed pockets of data science expertise, with Mississippi State University (MSU)’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory (HPC²) as a major player.

Over at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)’s School of Population Health, you’ll find the Department of Data Science. Founded in 2016, the department has been involved in projects like the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) and the NIH-sponsored Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC).

Meanwhile, out in rural Cleveland, Delta State University (DSU)’s Geospatial Information Technologies Center has been developing projects for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the U.S. Marine Corps. Like MSU, it’s an NGA Center of Academic Excellence in Geospatial Science.

Online Data Science Programs in Mississippi

Mississippi has few online data science degrees. If you’re trying to decide between a campus program and distance learning, check out our advice on what to look for in an online data science program.

Online Master’s Degrees in Data Science

If you’re open to a broad-based degree, MSU’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) is offered both online and on-campus. It’s not a data science program – it focuses on business and administration – but does include some exposure to subjects like data mining and analytics.

DSU offers an online Master of Applied Science in Geospatial Information Technologies. In addition to grounding you in geo-fundamentals (e.g. remote sensing, GIS, photogrammetry, etc.), this program includes coursework that draws on expertise from DSU’s Department of Biological Sciences.

Data Science Bootcamps in Mississippi

A bootcamp is another option for pursuing a career in data analytics of data science. A data science or data analytics bootcamp is a “crash course” that helps quickly introduce you to the fields. While some bootcamps in Mississippi focus solely on data science, how general knowledge is gleaned from raw data, or data analytics, how specific conclusions can be drawn from data, other bootcamps combine study of both data science and data analytics. Check out our guides to learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps in Mississippi.

Data Science Scholarships in Mississippi

For this section, we chose to focus on university aid that directly applies to the data programs in our directory. But there’s plenty more money out there!

Jackson State University (JSU) lists opportunities for assistantships, tuition waivers, and diversity scholarships. Talk to the Office of Graduate Studies (or its equivalent) about funding options.

University of Mississippi Medical Center

  • PhD in Biostatistics and Data Science Dean’s Scholarship and Stipends: This full-tuition scholarship is awarded to potential PhD students for outstanding academic achievement. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible. Stipends are distributed to students – on a competitive basis – when funds are available. As of 2020, the graduate student stipend was $24,150 per year for up to two years.

Data Science Events in Mississippi

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Mississippi

Mississippi has a numberer of tech meetups across the state, with hotspots in Jackson, the Gulf Coast area, and Oxford.

  1. Jackson Area Web and App Developers: This large tech meetup is for developers.
  2. JXNTech: JXNTech is aimed at Jackson area folks who want to start, work for, or invest in tech companies. You may also want to check out the weekly early-stage company presentations at 1 Million Cups Jackson.
  3. MS Gulf Coast Tech Meetup: Like JXNTech, this Ocean Springs group is a community of folks who are interested in all aspects of tech startups. Having said that, it includes a lot of technical talks and hands-on sessions.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Mississippi

Famous data science conferences (e.g. Strata Data Conference,Predictive Analytics WorldIEEE ConferencesSIGKDDThe Machine Learning Conference) don’t stop in Mississippi, but they sometimes make a beeline for New Orleans. In addition, Jackson and Oxford sometimes host startup weekends if they’re feeling organized.

  • Conference on Technology Innovation (COTI): Run by Innovative Mississippi, COTI attracts a lot of movers & shakers in the MS tech community. The one-day conference includes breakout sessions, a keynote presentation, and networking opportunities.

Data Science Jobs in Mississippi

Finding your dream data science job may take some creativity, but there are options. Try investigating:

Data Scientist Salaries in Mississippi

According to data from the O*NET OnLine in 2020, data scientists made an average $56,440 per year in Mississippi.

Last updated: April 2022

Interested in STEM Careers? 

If you’re looking for information on career paths that involve STEM, see our guides below:

Data Science and Analytics Careers:

Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Information Careers:

Marketing and User Research Careers:

Compare Careers and STEM Fields:

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.