Master's in Data Science Programs in Maine

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

Studying Data Science in Maine

Maine’s tech workforce is small compared with the nation’s. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Maine had about 15,000 workers in computer and mathematical occupations, with a median annual wage of $91,340. The state’s location quotient for those occupations is 0.69, meaning they are less concentrated in Maine than in the country as a whole. For data scientists specifically, the quotient is 1.12, meaning they are somewhat more concentrated here than nationally.

The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) provides grants, loans, equity investments, and services to businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs to support Maine’s innovation economy. MTI also publishes a page of attendees and partners for its MXG partnership.

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Maine Universities

Of course, where some see weaknesses, others see opportunities. In particular, the University of Maine (UMaine) has been building its expertise in geospatial science and spatial computing – fields with clear relevance to the state’s natural resources. It’s at UMaine’s School of Computing and Information Science where you’ll find:

• The geosensor networks research of Silvia Nittel’s group, which is devoted to data management technologies for large sensor networks and real-time analytics of sensor data streams.
• The Virtual Environments and Multimodal Interaction Laboratory (VEMI Lab), which develops technologies to improve environmental awareness, spatial learning, and navigation for people with visual impairments (faculty research page). Its autonomous vehicle research group studies autonomous vehicle applications.

The University of Southern Maine (USM) also supports data-related work – its Maine Center for Business and Economic Research (MCBER) is part of the university’s research on Maine’s economic prosperity – but UMaine’s strengths lean toward the geospatial sphere.

Online Data Science Programs in Maine

Maine’s online landscape includes schools like UMaine and the University of New England (UNE).

If you’re worried about quality, you can cross-check these offerings against our bullet point list of what to look for in an online data science program.

Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science

Our directory of Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science has a long list of programs offered by respected schools throughout the nation.

Online Master’s Degrees in Data Science

UNE’s online Master of Science in Health Informatics is no longer accepting new students, according to UNE’s 2026–2027 cost page. Check UNE Online for its current offerings.

Data Science Bootcamps in Maine

A bootcamp is a relatively brief, intense educational program meant to introduce students to a new subject quickly and efficiently. Bootcamps in Maine may focus on data science, the study of how knowledge is derived from raw data, or data analytics, the more practice-oriented process of drawing specific conclusions from data, and some cover both. See our guides if you are interested in learning more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps in Maine.

Data Science Scholarships in Maine

For this section, we’ve highlighted university scholarships and funding that Maine graduate students in data-related fields may be able to use. Eligibility, amounts, and deadlines vary by program and year, so confirm details on each page. For example, UMaine’s section on Graduate Funding lists scholarships, assistantships, fellowships, and tuition waivers, and USM lists awards on its scholarships page. Check with each school’s graduate studies or financial aid office for more info. The details below were checked in September 2026.

University of Maine

• Spatial program assistantships: Accepted graduate students in UMaine’s spatial programs are automatically considered for teaching and research assistantships, which pay tuition and some health costs plus a monthly stipend. See the page for application deadlines.
• Graduate assistantships: For 2026–27, UMaine lists a minimum stipend of $21,000 for master’s students and $23,500 for doctoral students on a nine-month, 20-hour-per-week appointment. Tuition coverage includes 9 credits each in the fall and spring and 6 in the summer, and UMaine pays at least 65% of the health insurance premium for graduate assistants.

University of Southern Maine

• Graduate Studies Scholarships: These awards of up to $3,000 per academic year are open to matriculated master’s and doctoral students enrolled in at least six graduate credits per semester. First-semester applicants with a 0.0 GPA are admitted, and non-U.S. citizens are exempt from the FAFSA requirement. University of Maine System employees are excluded, except student workers and graduate assistants. The deadline is March 15, and applications for 2027–28 open November 1, 2026.
• Bank of America Scholarship: Typically $1,000 or more. Maine residents enrolled full-time in a School of Business program (six credits for graduate students) and in good academic standing may apply if their household income is at or below 80% of the county median family income. A FAFSA and an application are required. The most recent deadline listed was January 11, 2026.
• Dean John W. Bay Scholarship: Typically $1,300 for School of Business students who show leadership potential through volunteer work. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and at least six USM credits.
• Michael E. Dubyak Scholarship: For Maine residents majoring in math, information technology, computer science, cybersecurity, technology management, or statistics. The page does not state an award amount, and graduate eligibility must be confirmed with USM.
• Robert W. Berry Memorial Scholarship: Typically $1,000 for students pursuing an interest in technology and business. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better and at least six credits.

Data Science Events in Maine

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Maine

Maine’s data science community is small, and the main Meetup groups are based in and around Portland. If you don’t mind expanding your parameters to areas like coding and cybersecurity, TechMaine has a directory of User Groups & Meetups across the state.

1. Maine Data & AI: This Portland-based Meetup group has about 550 members as of September 2026 and focuses on data science, data systems, and AI, with talks, workshops, and socials.
2. MaineR Users Group: This Meetup group has about 400 members as of September 2026. Its topics include data engineering, analytics, statistics, machine learning, and AI.
3. Maine GIS User Group (MEGUG): MEGUG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for the geographic information science and systems community. Its 2026 Fall Conference and Annual Meeting is scheduled for October 16, 2026, at the Buchanan Alumni House at UMaine. Membership also includes professional development tracking for certification, including CEUs.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Maine

Many of the big national data science events are held outside Maine, such as Machine Learning Week (which includes Predictive Analytics World, May 5–6, 2026, in San Francisco) and the SIGKDD conference (KDD 2026, August 9–13, in Jeju, Korea). Maine does host a number of conferences with a data flavor. And you’re only a short(ish) drive from Boston and Manchester.

1. Maine Digital Government Summit: MDGS is aimed at state and local government organizations. The 2026 summit is scheduled for November 10 at the Augusta Civic Center, and the event page lists it as free and open to public-sector attendees only. Topics include AI governance, cyber resilience, data silos and data governance, modernization and cloud, and frontier AI and quantum.
2. Startup Maine Week: This Portland event ran May 18–21, 2026, with more than 40 sessions. MTI sponsored a networking event on the Tuesday of the week. Check the site for the next edition’s dates.
3. Maine Municipal Association Municipal Technology Conference: The May 13, 2026, conference at UMaine Augusta featured workshops on generative AI, data privacy, fraud prevention, deepfakes, and municipal communications, along with a Mappy Hour hosted by MEGUG.
4. NETech: The Maine Technology Users Group (MTUG) website, mtug.org, now redirects to NETech, which lists a 2026 Annual IT Summit on June 17, 2026. Its current content centers on IT, cybersecurity, and AI.
5. Maine Tech Week: This Portland event is scheduled for October 19–22, 2026, with topics that include AI.

Data Science Jobs in Maine

Although Maine is known for clothing brand L.L. Bean, it’s not just about sturdy boots. A good place to start your job hunt is NETech’s career resources page, which lists IT job postings.

Some Maine employers that work with data, software, or analytics include:

• Bioscience: IDEXX develops diagnostics and software for pet healthcare and has its corporate headquarters in Westbrook. The Jackson Laboratory, a research institute with its historic headquarters in Bar Harbor, lists data science among its capabilities and has a dedicated Portland, Maine, location.
• Finance & Insurance: Unum lists a Portland, Maine, office among its U.S. locations. In 2019, WEX announced the opening of its new global headquarters in Portland.
• Network Software: Kennebunk’s Plixer makes network observability and security software.
• Healthcare: Northern Light Health and MaineHealth are Maine-based health systems. Check their career pages for analytics roles.

Data Scientist Salaries in Maine

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 OEWS, data scientists in Maine had a median annual wage of $90,880, compared with a national median of $120,230. The median is the midpoint: half of Maine’s data scientists earned more and half earned less. The middle 80% earned between $60,280 (10th percentile) and $138,530 (90th percentile), and BLS estimated about 1,210 data scientists employed in the state.

Wages vary within Maine. May 2025 OEWS estimates for data scientists in Maine metro areas include:

• Portland-South Portland: median $97,840, with about 620 employed.
• Lewiston-Auburn: median $81,570, with about 70 employed.

BLS notes in its OEWS methodology FAQ that estimates based on small samples are less precise, so treat the smaller-area figures as rough guides.

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