Master’s in Data Science Programs in Idaho

Mountains and data and jobs, oh my! If you’ve been hearing good things about Boise, our guide to earning a data science degree in Idaho can help fill in the gaps. Here you’ll find info on research, scholarships, events, meetups, and careers. 

Already packed your skis? Skip ahead to our list of all the data science programs in Idaho.

Studying Data Science in Idaho

The Gem State has opportunities in tech. For example:

• The tech sector has been steadily growing for some years. In 2020, the map ofCompTIA’s Cyberstates noted that 6.7% of the state’s workforce were employed in the tech industry (#29 in the country).
• Data scientists who are seeking a better quality of life and the chance to work remotely are fleeing to Treasure Valley – Boise and Meridian are lit up with tech businesses on the Idaho Tech Council (ITC) Member Map.
• Organizations like Trailhead Boise and Idaho Innovation Center (IIC) are providing entrepreneurs with space & support.

Idaho also has investment in energy. When you start talking to universities about their data initiatives, you’re going to hear the acronyms for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) come up frequently in conversations. Managed by Battelle Energy Alliance, INL is the nation’s leading center for nuclear energy research and development.

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Idaho Universities

Boise State University (BSU), Idaho State University (ISU), and the University of Idaho (UI) were all involved in getting the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) off the ground, and each of them specializes in key research areas for CAES.

At UI, you’ll find geoscience and bioinformatics experts working in:

• The Northwest Knowledge Network (NKN), which helps in atmospheric research, climate, remote science, and geospatial science.
• The Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC), with its state-of-the-art visualization laboratory.
• The Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), which has been on the receiving end of multiple NSF and NIH grants.

ISU is known for:

• The Informatics Research Institute facilitates collaborative research between several areas, including archeological informatics, cognitive studies, and more.
• The geo-focused GIS Training and Research Center (GIS TReC) and Digital Mapping & Research Laboratory, as well as the specialist Center for Archaeology, Materials, and Applied Spectroscopy (CAMAS) and the Center for Innovative Technology In Archaeological Informatics (CITI-AI).

At BSU, it’s worth investigating:

• Research labs in the Department of Computer Science (e.g. data mining, visualization, social media mining, and information retrieval) and the Trace Analytical Laboratory in the Department of Geosciences.
• The Research Computing Support, which assists BSU researchers with high-performance computing, visualization and programming support.

Online Data Science Programs in Idaho

UI has a number of online degree programs in computer science, statistics, and engineering – but as of 2020 none of Idaho’s graduate schools had committed to data science.

Never fear! Our directories of online graduate certificates and online master’s degrees list plenty of programs offered by schools around the country.

Data Science Scholarships in Idaho

We chose to focus on university aid that directly applied to data programs in our directory. But this is just the beginning! The university’s Office of Graduate Studies will have info about non-resident tuition waivers, outside scholarships, low-interest loans, and more. Be sure to talk to them about your funding options.

Idaho State University

• MS in Geographic Information Sciences Assistantships: MS students are eligible for a variety ofteaching and research assistantships. Full-time graduate assistants are expected to work in return for a stipend.
• Professor Kenneth Trimmer Memorial Scholarship for Health Informatics: This scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a Health Informatics program in the College of Business. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Financial need is considered and preference is given to female applicants.

University of Idaho

• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) Graduate Student Fellowships: IBCB offered fellowships to a few of its graduate students. 

Data Science Events in Idaho

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Idaho

Idaho’s tech meetup scene is small but sturdy. There are at least two groups devoted entirely to data science (and one that’s really into beer).

1. Boise BI User Group: This meetup is billed as a mix of business analysts and information technology specialists who are interested in Microsoft’s business intelligence. However, all kinds of big data topics are covered.
2. Boise Data Science: Open to newcomers and experts alike, this group meets at the Boise State University Computer Science Department. There are presentations, talks, and plenty of chances to network.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Idaho

Since there aren’t a lot of dedicated analytics or data science events in Boise, we’ve included some developer conferences where you can exercise your networking skills. For major conferences like Strata Data Conference, Predictive Analytics World, IEEE Conferences and SIGKDD, you’re often going to need a plane ticket.

1. Clearwater User Conference: CUC is a free two-day event for Clearwater users & partners that’s held every September in Boise. The agenda includes hands-on workshops, one-on-one training sessions, roundtable discussions, and plenty of chances to schmooze.
2. develop.Idaho: Organized by the Idaho Technology Council, this is a half-day, industry-led event that supports the software community in Idaho. Software startups are particularly welcome!
3. DevOps Boise: Yes, it’s all about DevOps, but it’s also the place where you’ll find lots of Idaho professionals from big name companies (e.g. Micron, HP, Balihoo, etc.).

Data Science Jobs in Idaho

Idaho has a number of industries, and data experts can often find jobs at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), banks, insurance firms, healthcare institutions, agribusinesses, and even Scentsy.

• However, one of the largest employers is Micron Technology, which employs thousands of people in the state.
• Idaho has also carved a niche for itself in the field of data science and analytics. This category includes Boise companies like Clearwater Analytics and an office of zData.

We’ll mention the Idaho Tech Council (ITC) Member Map again (a great resource for finding smaller companies).

Data Scientist Salaries in Idaho

According to 2018 data from CareerOneStop, computer and information research scientists, which includes data scientists, in Idaho earn a median salary of $131,110 per year. The top 10% of jobs earn $196,870. Salary wise, Idaho is a great place to be for this profession!

Data Science Programs in Idaho

We found 3 universities in Idaho offering Masters of Data Science programs (and/or closely related programs, like MS in Analytics / Masters in Business Analytics).

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.