Master's in Data Science Programs in Oklahoma

Studying Data Science in Oklahoma

Several Oklahoma organizations support students, researchers and early-stage founders. As of September 2026, they include:

• Techlahoma, a nonprofit technology network, and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), a state agency that supports technology-based economic development.
• Startup support from nonprofits such as i2E, which offers advisory support, programming and connections to capital for early-stage founders.
• Startup communities such as Gradient (formerly 36 Degrees North), a coworking and startup hub in Tulsa.
• Biomedical research institutions such as the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, a nonprofit biomedical research institute, and the Harold Hamm Health Campus at the University of Oklahoma, OU’s health campus in Oklahoma City.

For a wider list of resources, see the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s entrepreneurship resources directory.

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Oklahoma Universities

OSU and OU both host research centers that work with data. For example, OSU’s Spears School of Business has the:

• Center for Applied Economic Research (CAER): CAER focuses on public policy analysis, regional economic development and economic forecasting.
• Center for Health Systems Innovation (CHSI): CHSI is a partnership between the Spears School of Business and the OSU Center for Health Sciences. Its focus is rural and Native American health.
• Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Riata runs programs for entrepreneurs, including the Riata Startup Experience and Pitch Friday.

At OU, the Risk-Based Systems Analytics Laboratory in the Gallogly College of Engineering studies risk-based decision making and resilient systems, including infrastructure resilience and supply chains.

If you’re considering the Master of Science in Management Information Technology (MS-MIT), OU’s Price College of Business also hosts the Center for Management Information Systems Studies (CMISS), a collaboration between industry and academia.

Online Data Science Programs in Oklahoma

We talk about general things to look for in an online data science program elsewhere, so here we’ve concentrated on what’s available in the Sooner State.

Online Graduate Certificates in Data Science

OSU’s Spears College of Business offers some 12-credit programs that have been developed in partnership with SAS®:

• Online Graduate Certificate in Business Data Mining: Suitable for working professionals with a technical background
• Online Graduate Certificate in Marketing Analytics: Suitable for working professionals with a non-technical background (e.g. BBA)

Data mining students can request a transfer of credit hours to the MS in Business Analytics. They’re also eligible to receive one of the following SAS® certificates (based on courses taken, certifications, etc.):

• SAS® and OSU Data Mining Certificate (core level)
• SAS® and OSU Predictive Analytics Certificate (advanced level)
• SAS® and OSU Marketing Data Science Certificate (expert level)

Marketing analytics students will receive the SAS® and OSU Marketing Analytics Certificate.

Online Master’s Degrees in Data Science

OSU is often in the top 40 of Best Online Graduate Business Programs (Excluding MBA) and its big data programs are offered on-campus or online. These include the:

• Online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA): This degree was developed in partnership with SAS® and it tackles many of the hands-on applications needed for business. Coursework covers everything from statistics, analytics, and Machine Learning (ML) to marketing, business, and industrial engineering. SAS® certificates are available.
• Online Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS-MIS): This is a designated STEM program that includes predictive & prescriptive analytics, data mining, warehousing, visualization, open source programming (e.g. R and Python), and the like. The focus is—naturally—on providing business solutions.

Want a hard-core data science program? OU ranks in the top 60 of Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs in 2022, and its online Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics draws on expertise from the Schools of Computer Science and Engineering. You can choose between a non-thesis practicum or a thesis-based research project.

Working in healthcare? Southern Oklahoma State University’s online Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics & Information Management may be the choice for you. The curriculum includes a research or a capstone project, as well as credit hours for professional practical experience.

Looking for more data science programs? Check out our list of online master's in data science programs.

Data Science Bootcamps in Oklahoma

If you live in Oklahoma and are interested in jump-starting a career in data science or data analytics, consider completing a bootcamp. Data science and data analytics bootcamps are intensive educational programs meant to quickly introduce students to the fields. Bootcamps in Oklahoma may focus on data science, the study of how knowledge is drawn from information; data analytics, the processes by which specific insights can be reached; or a combination of the two. See our guides to learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps in Oklahoma.

Data Science Scholarships in Oklahoma

Below are scholarship and assistantship options at the two universities. Be sure to check with each school’s graduate admissions or financial aid office for general aid and alternative financing options.

Oklahoma State University

• Graduate assistantships for business students: According to OSU’s Spears School of Business, full-time graduate business students on the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses can receive assistantships that include a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. OSU’s analytics FAQ says a few assistantships are available in a student’s first semester, and some students receive them from the second semester, based on first-semester performance and incoming credentials.

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

• Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub (CASH): OU lists academic scholarships through CASH, part of the university’s Student Financial Center. Check the CASH page for current eligibility and deadlines.

Data Science Events in Oklahoma

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Oklahoma

In addition to the group below, Techlahoma lists other user groups that hold regular recurring meetings. See its user groups page for the current list.

Big Data in Oklahoma City lists more than 1,000 members and says it meets on the first Thursday of each month. Its most recent event on Meetup was in February 2025, so check the group page for upcoming meetings.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Oklahoma

Many of the largest data science research conferences are held elsewhere. For example, SIGKDD held its 2026 conference Aug. 9 to 13 in Jeju, South Korea, after Toronto in 2025 and Barcelona in 2024. If you’re willing to travel, Austin and Dallas and Boulder and Denver are options in neighboring states. Oklahoma also hosts a few general technology conferences:

1. 200OK: A developer conference in Tulsa produced by Techlahoma. The 2026 edition took place May 15.
2. ThunderPlains: Techlahoma’s developer conference in Oklahoma City, scheduled for Oct. 21, 2026.
3. InnoTech Oklahoma: A technology conference in Oklahoma City with InterWorks as presenting sponsor, scheduled for Oct. 21, 2026.

Data Science Jobs in Oklahoma

Data science jobs in Oklahoma are centered on Oklahoma City and Tulsa. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an estimated 820 data scientists worked in the Oklahoma City area and 600 worked in the Tulsa area in May 2025, out of 1,900 statewide. In terms of fields, you might consider:

• Energy: Continental Resources is headquartered in Oklahoma City. Devon Energy and Expand Energy (formerly Chesapeake Energy) have also announced Houston headquarters in 2026 while keeping operations in Oklahoma City, according to Expand Energy (Feb. 9, 2026) and World Oil (May 7, 2026).
• Bioscience/Life Sciences: Cytovance Biologics, a biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, operates in Oklahoma City.
• Data Science: InterWorks, a global data consulting firm, lists Stillwater as its headquarters on its locations page.

Data Scientist Salaries in Oklahoma

According to BLS, data scientists in Oklahoma had a median annual wage of $86,310 in May 2025. Half of the state’s data scientists earned less than that and half earned more. The median was $91,240 in the Oklahoma City area and $86,310 in the Tulsa area, compared with $120,230 nationally. In Oklahoma, the 10th percentile wage was $58,690, and the 90th percentile wage was $145,580, meaning 10% of data scientists earned less than $58,690 and 10% earned more than $145,580.

For more on pay, see our data scientist salary guide.

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

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.