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. Ready to commit? Skip ahead to our list of all the 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 2020, the CompTIA’s Cyberstates noted that 3.7% of the state’s workforce was in the tech industry – #50 in the country. It was also ranked #46 in innovation.

Local organizations are trying to get some momentum going:

• Innovate Mississippi is devoted to supporting emerging tech companies with capital and mentorship. It’s located in the Mississippi Innovation Hub in downtown Jackson, along with co-working spaces like Coalesce and Mantle.
• Oxford benefits from the presence of the North Mississippi Enterprise Initiative (NMEI), University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Insight Park, and The Edison.
• There is also Mississippi Enterprise Technology (MSET). The Gulf Coast is also home to the Innovation Center.

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.

• HPC² oversees multiple centers & institutes, including the Geosystems Research Institute (GRI), the Institute for Computational Research in Engineering and Science (ICRES), and the Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing & Biotechnology (IGBB).

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 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.
4. North Mississippi Technology Group: Presentations at NMTG cover the gamut – from robotics to artificial neural networks to game development. It meets in Oxford.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Mississippi

Famous data science conferences (e.g. Strata Data Conference,Predictive Analytics World, IEEE Conferences, SIGKDD, The 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:

• Jackson Area: On top of its startup communities, Jackson has Hudson’s Bay Company, FuseCloud, and UMMC. Ridgeland has Geocent and C Spire.
• Oxford Area: Although Ole Miss is the largest employer, FNC (real estate collateral IT) and Next Gear Solutions (restoration construction software) are also major job creators in North Mississippi.
• Gulf Coast Area: The Stennis Space Center employs data scientists and geospatial experts. What’s more, in theclient list for MSET, you’ll find useful corporate residents and affiliates, including well-known tech employers.

Data Scientist Salaries in Mississippi

In 2018, computer and information research scientists, which includes data scientists, in Mississippi averaged $95,860 in salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10% of jobs earned over $130,000 per year.

Data Science Programs in Mississippi

We found 5 universities in Mississippi 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.