Master’s in Data Science Programs in Vermont

Ben & Jerry’s has nothing on Burlington’s tech scene! If you’re considering life among the Green Mountains, skim through our guide to earning a VT data science degree. It has details on everything from UVM research projects & useful conferences to scholarships & job options. Just want to enroll? Skip ahead to our list of all the data science programs in Vermont.

Studying Data Science in Vermont

For a state of fewer than one million souls, Vermont does pretty well in the data department. The high tech industry accounts for 8-10% of overall employment in the private sector and a 2015 report on Vermont’s Tech Employment projected that tech jobs would grow at a 7.5% annual rate from 2014 to 2022.

The main reason for these numbers? Burlington.

• Supported by boosters like BTV Ignite and the Vermont Technology Alliance (vtTA), the city is marketing itself as a big data center with a clean & green feel. It was the first in the country to use 100% renewable energy for its residents’ electricity needs.
• Successful companies like Dealer.com (bought by Dealertrack), the University of Vermont (UVM)’s sturdy presence, and startups in co-working spaces such as the Karma Bird House have given it a reputation for digital smarts.
• And the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), which provides venture funding and mentoring, will be more than happy to tell you about their one-gigabit Internet connection and portfolio.

Don’t get us wrong – a quick glance at the map of CompTIA’s Cyberstates will tell you that Vermont is still playing catch-up to tech sectors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. But it’s surprisingly scrappy!

Data Science Research & Initiatives at Vermont Universities

UVM is your only choice for degree programs, and its College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS) has a large stake in data science:

• The Vermont Complex Systems Center is the home of a number of active labs in big data and it regularly organizes events & seminars.
• Smart Grid IGERT: Complex Systems is a partnership between UVM and Sandia National Laboratories to encourage doctoral students to advance smart grid technologies. It sponsors PhD trainees, publishes research, and hosts seminars.
• Faculty in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics are working on plenty of research topics surrounding biostatistics, statistics, and analysis.
• The Vermont Advanced Computing Core (VACC) gives UVM students access to high-powered, complex computation resources.

Online Data Science Programs in Vermont

As of 2017, UVM’s Continuing and Distance Education offers plenty of online courses & programs, but nothing in the realm of data science. Hop over to our directory of online graduate certificates and online master’s degrees for programs offered by top-name schools (e.g. Stanford) around the country.

Data Science Scholarships in Vermont

For this section, we’ve only highlighted UVM scholarships that could apply to its data science programs. However, UVM’s website on Funding Your Graduate Degree has more info on general assistantships and alternative financing options. Check it out!

University of Vermont

• CA in Technologies Fellowship: This fellowship is designed for applicants who are committed to advancing women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. It provides full tuition for UVM’s MS in Complex Systems and Data Science and gives fellows the opportunity to collaborate with CA Technologies.
• Diversity in CEMS Scholarship: This merit-based scholarship is open to graduate students from underrepresented groups who enroll in a College of Engineering and Mathematical Science program (e.g. MS in Complex Systems and Data Science). Applicants must demonstrate high levels of academic success and potential in related fields of study and can receive up to $10,000.

Data Science Events in Vermont

Data Science Meetups & Communities in Vermont

Burlington is the hotspot for data science meetups, but the NH border also offers possibilities. You’ll find more networking ideas on vtTA’s list of state resources and LaunchVT’s list of Community Resources. Both are packed with links to tech associations, funding sources, meetups, conferences, and education programs.

1. Burlington Data Scientists: Tons of members, plenty of workshops, and a slew of great speakers make for the state’s most popular meetup. It’s open to anyone who loves the field – students, statisticians, and data science professionals.
2. Burlington Python: Founded in 2014, this is an active group of local Burlington residents and remote Vermonters who get together to work on Python projects.
3. NH/VT Upper Valley Practical Machine Learning: Located at White River Junction, this group organizes talks and tutorials on all kinds of data science topics (e.g. ML, Big Data tools and practices, visualization, etc.).
4. Vermont Tableau Users Group: Meetings explore pretty much everything to do with Tableau software -visualization, mapping, data sources, predictive analytics – and all skill levels are welcome. It’s based in Burlington.
5. VT Women in Machine Learning and Data Science: Born in 2017, this is a local chapter of the national Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (WiMLDS) organization.

Data Science Conferences & Workshops in Vermont

The Green Mountain State has a number of small & friendly tech events, though nothing in the realm of Predictive Analytics World (PAW) and SIGKDD. If you want to be free of Burlington, you could consider hitting the road. There are usually great data science conferences in Montreal and Boston.

1. LaunchVT: Billed as Vermont’s oldest and largest business pitch contest, LaunchVT is powered by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. Winners receive cash awards and in-kind support.
2. UVM I2V Conference: The Invention2Venture conference is devoted to helping innovators protect, develop, and finance their ideas. Attendees are a mix of experts, academics, students, and entrepreneurs. It’s run by the University of Vermont, the Vermont Technology Council, and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies.
3. Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL) Summit: One for the health IT professionals! Held in Burlington, VITL is a two-day mix of presentations, panels, and workshops focused on the intersection of healthcare and data.
4. Vermont Tech Jam: This popular Burlington career fair/tech expo showcases the state’s most innovative tech and bioscience companies. It’s often held in conjunction with the city’s Innovation Week and Hack VT.
5. VT Web Marketing Summit: Sponsored by Curve Trends Marketing, this one-day summit covers all aspects of digital marketing (e.g. trends, strategies, challenges, etc.).

Data Science Jobs in Vermont

Vermont is not a place where one lone massive employer (e.g. GE) hogs the job boards! Instead, you’ll find a diverse range of positions from a wide range of digital firms, startups, and traditional institutions.

• Digital: Two of the biggest names are Dealer.com – which still has a sizeable presence in Burlington – and MyWebGrocer. We could also mention companies like IXIS Digital (digital strategy), Novetta (advanced analytics), New Breed Marketing (inbound marketing), Curve Trends Marketing (digital marketing), and Vermont Information Processing (beverage industry software and hardware).
• Startups: The business directory at The Karma Bird House, VCET’s portfolio, and AngelList’s list of Vermont startups will give you some idea of the territory. (Faraday Inc. is a Karma baby.) Overall, the startup scene is generally regarded as good, but still aspiring to be great.
• Traditional Sectors: If academic positions in data science at UVM don’t take your fancy, you may also find that the city government, the UVM Medical Center and Health Network, and Champlain College are in need of your skills. Tourism is a huge money-spinner for the state.

Finally, vtTA’s Career Center posts open job positions – tech and non-tech – at Vermont Technology Alliance member businesses.

Data Scientist Salaries in Vermont

According to Glassdoor, the average estimated salary for a data scientist in Burlington was $101,050 in 2018; data analysts could expect an average of $59,425.

We should caution that Glassdoor was working off a limited number of salary listings – you may wish to compare these figures to wage & salary earnings for high tech workers on the Vermont Futures Project website for a fuller picture.

It’s also useful to know that housing & utility prices push the cost of living in Burlington above the national average.

Data Science Programs in Vermont

We found 1 university in Vermont 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.