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Studying Data Science in Georgia

Thanks to Atlanta, the Silicon Valley of the South is making a name for itself. Metro Atlanta has 15 Fortune 500 HQ locations and 34 Fortune 1000 HQ locations, and 70%+ of Fortune 1000 companies have operations in the region.

One exciting thing about Atlanta is its technology & innovation centers. If you haven’t visited Atlanta Tech Village, TechSquare Labs, FlatironCity, or any of the city’s other accelerators, now is the time.

Two other important names for data scientists to remember are the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), which serves as a hub of useful info (e.g. jobs, events, training, etc.), and the open-membership Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), which is a major start-up initiative.

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Georgia Universities

It’s no accident that the ATDC is a Georgia Tech project. This famous university has invested heavily in Atlanta’s Tech Square area and is deeply committed to big data.

When you’re weighing degrees, here are some related points to consider:

• Georgia Tech’s interdisciplinary Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEAS) connects academia, industry, and government to accelerate big data technology adoption. One current project is a multidisciplinary research initiative aimed at predicting and designing emergent behavior.
• Georgia State University (GSU) is located in downtown Atlanta, and its data-driven Institute for Insight at the College of Business plays host to a variety of big data related events. Interestingly, GSU is turning big data on itself, operating a Graduation and Progression Success (GPS) program to increase graduation rates.
• Kennesaw State University, approximately 20 miles from Atlanta, offers a PhD in data science. Its Center for Statistics and Analytical Research (CSAR) is closely tied to business.
• At the University of Georgia, you’ll find NSF- and NIH-funded work on metagenomics, epigenetics, geophysics, brain imaging analysis in the Big Data Analytics Lab; projects on big data, mobile and sensor systems, and cloud computing in its Data Intensive Pervasive Systems (DIPS) Lab.

Meanwhile, Georgia Southern University is standing up for small towns like Statesboro, using its Business Innovation Group (BIG) to support projects like the Innovation Incubator. The university also has research interests in health (e.g. Karl E. Peace Center for Biostatistics and Survey Research) and the cloud (e.g. Cloud Computing Solutions Research Laboratory).

Online Data Science Programs in Georgia

Distance learning is coming along in the Peach State. In 2013, Georgia Tech created a partnership with Udacity and AT&T to develop its online MS in Computer Science.

We cover general things to look for in an online data science program elsewhere, so here we focus more closely on state offerings.

Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science

When it comes to online graduate certificates, Kennesaw State is focused on the business end. Its distance learning options include online certificates in applied statistics using R or SAS®. Kennesaw State also offers online certificates in software engineering and systems engineering. If you’re trying to develop a particular set of skills, have a look at our master list of Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science. This has a list of online graduate certificates from schools across the country.

Online Master’s Degrees in Data Science

Georgia Southern has an MS in Computer Science with a specialization in Data and Knowledge Systems. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) offers an online master of science in computer science, from their partnership with AT&T and Udacity.

We also have databases of online master’s degrees in data science, business analytics, and information systems around the nation.

Data Science Bootcamps in Georgia

Do you live in Georgia? Are you interested in starting a career in data science or data analytics? If so, you may want to consider attending a data science or data analytics bootcamp. A bootcamp is a short-term, intensive course of study meant to quickly introduce students to a new field. Georgia learners can choose from programs focused on data analytics, data science, or both, often offered live online, with Atlanta-based options available. See our guides to learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps or our guide to data science and data analytics bootcamps in Atlanta for more information!

Data Science Scholarships in Georgia

We chose to focus on university awards that would cover data science degrees in our listings, but don’t take this as the end! Your school’s Graduate Studies Office will have more information on general scholarships and fellowships and info on financial options.

Georgia State University

• Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Graduate Assistantships: The MSA program has a limited number of graduate research assistantships. Assistants receive tuition waivers and a stipend.
• Robinson College of Business Graduate Scholarships: Robinson offers a healthy number of scholarships for graduate students, including those in the MSA program.

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

• College of Computing Graduate Student Awards: The College hands out modest awards to graduate students (including MS in Computer Science students) each year. Awards honor teaching assistants, research assistants, and research.

Kennesaw State University

• CarMax Auto Finance Analytics Scholarship: CarMax-funded, merit-based scholarship supporting business and statistics students, with 12 awards per year (six business, six science/math).
• Graduate Assistantships: Kennesaw’s Graduate College offers Graduate Assistantships at several levels and in different categories (e.g. teaching, research, etc.).

University of Georgia

• Terry College of Business Assistantships and Scholarships
  • Terry College of Business Graduate Assistantships: Terry administers the MS in Business Analytics and MBA programs, and it offers graduate assistantships to many of the incoming class. Assistantships include tuition waivers, a monthly stipend, and a discount on health insurance.
  • Terry College of Business MBA Leadership Scholarship: Each year, Terry awards $1,000- $2,000 in the spring semester to a current MBA student who demonstrates exceptional leadership. Students can nominate themselves.
  • Terry College of Business Scholarships: In addition to the awards mentioned, Terry also offers a variety of scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 per year to its students.

Data Science Events in Georgia

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Georgia

As you might expect, a lot of data science meetups are in Atlanta. There are groups devoted to tools (e.g. Hadoop, Python, etc.), platforms, and special interests. Here are some of the larger ones with useful networking opportunities:

1. Atlanta Big Data User Group: Open to anyone interested in big data issues, architectures, and solutions, this meetup often connects with other groups and partner organizations for events.
2. Data, Cloud, and AI in Atlanta: This tool-based meetup is intended to give members a jump start with big data tools & applications, including Hadoop scripting, visualizations, and text analytics.
3. Data Science ATL: Data Science ATL is focused more on techniques than on tools, and it frequently hosts partner events (e.g. General Assemb.ly “Meet and Hire”) and talks at venues like the Georgia Tech Business Analytics Center.
4. Data Science & Business Intelligence Society of Atlanta: This meetup has been going strong since 2010 and boasts over 6,200 members. There are training bootcamps, talks, and lots of partner events.
5. Startup Atlanta Meetups: Startup Atlanta has put together a handy list of meetups and drinks events in the metro Atlanta area. These include the popular Atlanta Startup Village and Atlanta Startup Founder 101.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Georgia

Like other mid-size Silicon centers (e.g. Miami), Atlanta only occasionally hosts major data science conferences (e.g. Strata Data Conference,Predictive Analytics World, IEEE Conferences, SIGKDD, The Machine Learning Conference, etc.). Can’t afford the flights to New York City or San Francisco? Here are some local events to consider:

1. Georgia Technology Summit: Hosted by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), this C-level summit attracts CEOs, CIOs, CTOs, and technology entrepreneurs.
2. MLconf Atlanta: This one-day conference brings together machine learning experts from various industries, research fields, and universities to discuss the latest methodologies and applications.
3. Venture Atlanta: Venture Atlanta aims to unite Georgia’s top technology innovators with top-tier investors. There are networking breakfasts, expert panels, fireside chats, company presentations, a Demo Day—the list goes on.

Bonus round: Every spring, the ATDC hosts an Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) Startup Showcase. This gives promising start-ups a chance to showcase their technologies and attract investors.

Data Science Jobs in Georgia

Georgia has real startup energy—especially in metro Atlanta—and that translates into data jobs across fintech, SaaS, logistics, and enterprise tech. Atlanta has produced notable tech companies and exits, including Kabbage (acquired by American Express), AirWatch (acquired by VMware), and Predikto (an ATDC graduate acquired by United Technologies).

But Georgia’s data-science hiring isn’t just about startups—it’s also powered by major institutions that generate massive, complex datasets and need analytics at scale. The region’s anchors include the CDC (headquarters in Atlanta), UPS (corporate headquarters in Atlanta), The Coca-Cola Company (HQ in Atlanta), and The Home Depot (Atlanta-based). Atlanta also remains a major media hub, with Warner Bros. Discovery (including CNN operations) shifting to the Techwood campus.

Finally, if you want a GE-related “big-name” signal for the market, a more current way to say it is that GE Vernova (spun out of GE) selected metro Atlanta as a strategic hub, reflecting the area’s pull for large-scale tech and engineering organizations.

Data Scientist Salaries in Georgia

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), data scientists made an average of $111,020 per year in Georgia.

Information last updated: December 2025

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:

• Computer Engineer
• Computer Scientist
• Information Security Analyst
• Computer and Information Research Scientist
• Computer Systems Analyst

Marketing and User Research Careers:

• Marketing Analyst
• Market Research Analyst
• Digital Marketer
• UX Designer

Compare Careers and STEM Fields:

• Data Analyst vs. Data Scientist
• Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering
• Cybersecurity vs. Computer Science
• Data Analytics vs. Business Analytics
• Data Science vs. Machine Learning

Related Graduate STEM Degrees

Related Undergraduate STEM Degrees

• Online Bachelor’s in Data Science
• Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science
• Sponsored: Computer Science at Simmons

If you represent a university and would like to contact us about editing any of our listings, or adding new programs, please send an email to info@mastersindatascience.org.