Master’s in Data Science Programs in Florida

Fancy a data science education in the Sunshine State? Explore our guide on useful things to know—from job growth and research opportunities, to scholarships, online degrees, and cool events. Read on to learn more about data science programs in Florida.

SPONSORED SCHOOLS

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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Studying Data Science in Florida

Florida has certainly been investing in data science. From funding efforts like The Idea Center at Miami Dade College to investing in economic development initiatives, there is a lot of focus on data science in the Sunshine State.

The result? The Miami area is exploding with energyLow corporate taxes are luring start-ups and entrepreneurs to the city. Some of these start-ups are small, but success stories like Magic Leap have attracted a lot of attention.

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Florida Universities

Florida universities are right behind these efforts. Here’s how schools are supporting growth:

Online Data Science Programs in Florida

We cover general things to look for in an online data science program elsewhere, so here we decided to concentrate on what makes programs in Florida unique.

Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science

The University of South Florida offers online graduate certificates in Business Analytics, Strategic Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Systems Engineering and Health Informatics. The University of West Florida has a graduate certificates in Data Science, Business Analytics, Geographic Information Science and Health Informatics. Florida State University also offers an online Health Information Technology, Graduate Certificate.

Online Master’s Degrees in Data Science

You’ll see that interest in health spring to life in online master’s programs. The University of Central Florida, the University of Southern Florida, and Jacksonville University all offer graduate degrees in health informatics.

If you’re not involved in healthcare, you could consider Full Sail University’s Master of Science in Business Intelligence. However, we should point out that Full Sail is a for-profit university that is partly owned by a private equity firm called TA Associates.

Data Science Bootcamps in Florida

Bootcamps are intensive education courses dedicated to quickly introducing students to new fields. Bootcamps in Florida may focus on data science, the study of how knowledge can be gleaned from sets of information; data analytics, the more practice-minded process of drawing conclusions from sets of information; or a combination of both data science and data analytics. Learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps.

Interested in bootcamps in central Florida? Check out our data science and data analytics bootcamp guide in Orlando!

Data Science Scholarships in Florida

“Okay,” we hear you say, “but can I afford it?” For this section, we chose to focus on university aid that covers data science degrees in our Florida listings, but don’t take this as the end! The Graduate Studies Office will have additional info on general scholarships and fellowships (e.g. diversity funding) and advice about alternative financial options.

Florida International University

Florida State University

  • Graduate School Funding: Graduate students from any department are eligible for a variety of types of financial assistance.
  • Nova Southeastern University Scholarship Database: Nova has a searchable scholarship database, where you can search by level (e.g. graduate) and category. If you don’t qualify for the scholarships listed above, you may wish to browse through the entries.

University of Central Florida

  • UCF Graduate Fellowships: UCF has graduate fellowships available for a variety of students, including minority and underrepresented graduate students. In addition to this list, you may also wish to investigate UCF Assistantship opportunities.

University of Miami

Data Science Events in Florida

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Florida

Florida has many data science meetups all over the state, though some are obviously more popular than others. If you’re near the Florida Institute of Technology, we also suggest a visit to Big Data Florida.

  1. Action Design Network Miami: Organized by Action Design Network and sponsored by the Knight Foundation, this intriguing group explores the intersection of data science, UI/UX, psychology, and advocacy. Topics might include memory vs. experience and behaviorally inspired political marketing.
  2. Fort Lauderdale Machine Learning: If you want to dive deeper into ML and get some hands-on experience with tools like Python and TensorFlow, this is the place to be. The group sometimes visits Florida Atlantic University.
  3. Miami Data Science (MDS): MDS is open to anyone, of any skill level, interested in data science topics (e.g. R/Python programming, data visualization, data wrangling, big data analytics, machine learning, etc.). There are regular talks from experts and “Open Mike Nights” where participants can share their projects.
  4. Orlando Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS): Orlando MLDS meets monthly for discussion and teaching opportunities in data science skills and to share member projects..
  5. Tampa Bay Data Science Group: This meetup is targeted at professional data scientists and analysts in the Tampa Bay area. There are lots of meetings, courses, and camps.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Florida

Major data science conferences (e.g. Strata Data ConferencePredictive Analytics WorldIEEE ConferencesSIGKDDThe Machine Learning Conference etc.) tend to bypass Florida for larger centers like New York City and California, but that doesn’t mean Florida is a wasteland. Along with training events and workshops at the CCS, here are a few other options to consider:

  1. Blacktech Week: Funded by the Knight Foundation and located in Miami Beach, this is a week-long cultural celebration that highlights cutting-edge technologies and entrepreneurial innovation. Events include bootcamps, start-up workshops, panels, and after-hours networking.
  2. Disney Data & Analytics Conference (DDAC): You knew there had to be one! As you might expect, the DDAC attracts companies and universities who are interested in the rich data fields of The Walt Disney Company, but this Orlando conference actually has a much wider focus on business & big data applications. As a bonus, attendees have photo ops with Mickey Mouse.
  3. eMerge Americas: Based in Miami, eMerge is a cutting edge, 2-day technology conference centered on innovation across a variety of sectors, including health, education, and finance.
  4. IoT Evolution Expo (East): Usually located in Fort Lauderdale or Miami, this conference/exhibition explores everything to do with IoT—the Internet of Things. There are talks, case studies, certification tutorials, awards, special events, and plenty of networking opportunities.

Data Science Jobs in Florida

Florida is home to many big cities, including Tampa, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Some exciting data science opportunities are found in these places, including the following examples:

  • Broward County is home to Magic Leap, the virtual reality start-up that attracted a whopping $542 million from companies like Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures, and Qualcomm. Not far away is the telehealth provider MDLIVECitrix Systems, and the Boca Raton-based Modernizing Medicine.
  • Miami has leased office space to well-known tech names such as Google, Twitter, Facebook, Uber, Lyft, and Vice Media.

Data Scientist Salaries in Florida

According to data from the O*NET OnLine in 2020, data scientists made an average $85,540 per year in Florida.

Last updated: April 2022

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.