What is Data Science?
Data science is a relatively new field that combines technical abilities with soft skills, such as communication and business acumen. Data scientists are problem solvers and work through a nonlinear process to make sense of unstructured and structured data. They mine, process, model, and interpret large sets of data using programming languages, such as Python or R, and create powerful visualizations to communicate their findings. Data scientists have quickly become on of the most sought after professionals over the past 10 years.
The data science field is comprised of three main areas of study: mathematics, statistics, and programming. Universities offer these majors separately, but in recent years some have rolled out new data science bachelor’s programs that focus on all three topics. We found 60 schools offering data science as a major, minor, or both. But is it worth getting a data science bachelor’s degree?
The demand for data scientists is high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will be 5,200 new computer and information research scientists in the workforce by 2028, which includes data scientists, programmers and professionals working in robotics. The average salary is over twice the average national salary at $118,370 per year. Companies have difficulty filling these highly skilled roles and the BLS anticipates plenty of job opportunities for budding and experienced data scientists over the next 10 years.
Bachelor’s degrees in data science are cropping up to prepare students for in demand jobs in data science. Some include specializations in emerging fields such as geographic information systems and artificial intelligence. Most degrees have core courses that introduce students to the tools, theories, and applications in data science, such as working with big datasets and data visualization techniques.
Most data science bachelor degree programs are interdisciplinary, offering courses to develop skills data scientists need for a successful career, such as communications, economics, and healthcare courses.
Similar to master’s programs in data science, many bachelor’s programs are project-based, which reinforces learning and helps students build out portfolios to show to future employers. Some programs partner with local organizations so that students gain real-world experience working through the data science process laid out here:
- Define the problem
- Gather the data
- Clean the data
- Explore the data
- Model the data
- Interpret the results
Choosing the Best Bachelor of Data Science for You
While looking for the best data science bachelor’s program, you may be considering a few factors, including your interests, study environment, cost, and career counseling. Are there any specializations you’d like to pursue, such as big data, marketing analytics, deep learning, or software development? How much are you willing to pay for the course? Are there less expensive online bachelor degrees in data science? Does the school offer career support after graduation?
Use this list of programs to help narrow down the best bachelor of data science for you.
Admissions Requirements for Data Science Bachelor Degrees
It’s important to look through each university’s admissions requirements to make sure the program is a good fit. Here are a few important questions to ask the school and yourself as you begin your search:
- Does the school have a minimum SAT/ACT score requirement?
- Have you taken classes in high school in specific topics to learn object-oriented programming, linear algebra, or game theory?
- What’s your background? Are you strong in math, science and communication?
- Do you have any relevant professional experience?
Differences Between a Data Science Major and Minor
Should you choose a data science major or minor? Well, it depends! If you’re still unsure about a major, make sure the university has both options. You may choose to start with a minor in data science to become better acquainted with the field, then switch to the major. A minor requires less coursework than a major – 15-25 credits versus over 40 credits.
It’s also important to consider meaningful electives regardless of whether you decide to pursue a major or minor in data science. Electives may help you narrow down a specialization and allow you to apply your fresh data science skills on a topic you’re most interested in.
Full list of Bachelor’s Degrees in Data Science
| University | Degree Type | Delivery | Program Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Edison University | B.S. in Data Science and Analytics | Online/Campus | 120 credits |
| DeVry University | Bachelor’s Degree in Software Development with Big Data and Analytics Specialization | Online | 129 credits |
| Maryville University | B.S. in Data Science | Online | 128 credit hours |
| California Polytechnic State University | Minor in Data Science | Campus | 80 credits |
| University Of San Francisco | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 56 units |
| Yale University | Undergraduate Degree in Statistics and Data Science | Campus | B.A.: 11 credits B.S.: 14 credits |
| Florida Polytechnic Unversity | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 132 credits |
| Florida Polytechnic Unversity | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 132 credits |
| Chaminade University | B.S. in Data Science, Analytics and Visualization | Campus | N/A |
| Luther College | Data Science Major Data Science Minor |
Campus | Major: 10 credits Minor: 8 credits |
| Brigham Young University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | N/A |
| Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 120 credits |
| University of Evansville | Major in Statistics and Data Science | Campus | 89 credits |
| Valparaiso University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 40 credits |
| Northern Kentucky University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 82-85 credits |
| Smith College | Major or Minor in Statistical & Data Sciences | Campus | Major: 10 credits Minor: 6 credits |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 57 credits |
| University of Michigan | Data Science Major | Campus | 128 credits |
| Winona State University | B.S. In Data Science Minor in Data Science |
Campus | Major: 60 credits Minor: 25 |
| University of New Hampshire | B.S. in Analytics and Data Science | Campus | 129 credits |
| Fei Tian College | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 125 credits |
| University of Rochester | B.A. and B.S. Data Science Degree | Campus | 17-19 courses |
| Case Western Reserve University | B.S. in Data Science and Analytics | Campus | 128 credits |
| Pennsylvania State University | Data Sciences – Intercollege Undergraduate Major | Campus | 40-59 credits |
| College of Charleston | “B.S. in Data Science Minor in Data Science” |
Campus | Major: 65+ credits Minor: 19+ credits |
| Augustana University | Data Science Major Data Science Minor |
Campus | Major: 43 credits Minor: 18-19 credits |
| Westminster College | Data Science Minor | Campus | 16 credit hours |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | Bachelor Degree in Data Science and Predictive Analytics | Campus | 63 credits |
| Bethel Unversity | B.S. in Mathematics and Data Science | Campus | 123 credits |
| Bowling Green State University | Data Science Specialization | Campus | 14 courses |
| Bryant University | Major in Data Science | Campus | 122 credits |
| California University of Pennsylvania | B.S. in Statistics and Data Science | Hybrid | 120 credits |
| Calvin College | Data Science Major | Campus | 46-49 hours |
| Chatham University | Data Science Major Data Science Minor |
Campus | Major: 51 credits Minor: 18 credits |
| Colorado State University | Data Science Major | Campus | 120 credits |
| Columbia University | B.A. in Data Science | Campus | 18 courses |
| DePaul University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 192 credit hours |
| Drexel University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 187 credits |
| Eastern Michigan University | B.S. in Data Science and Analytics | Campus | 124 credits |
| Houghton College | B.S or B.A. in Data Science | Campus | BA: 31-32 credits B.S.: 61-64 credits |
| Iowa State University | Data Science Major | Campus | 48 credits |
| Iowa State University | Data Science Major Data Science Minor |
Campus | Major: 48 credits Minor: 15 credits |
| John Carroll University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 46 credits hours |
| Lebanon Valley College | Computer and Data Science Major | Campus | 46 credits |
| Loyola University of Maryland | Computer and Data Science Major | Campus | 15 courses |
| Marist College | Data Science Major Data Science Minor |
Campus | Major: 120 credits Minor: 18 Credits |
| Marquette University | Data Science Major | Campus | 120 credits |
| Mills College | B.A. in Data Science | Campus | 53 credits |
| Montana Tech | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 120 credits |
| Northeastern University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 132 credits |
| Purdue University | Data Science Major | Campus | 120 credits |
| Purdue University | Data Science Major | Campus | 120 credits |
| Saint Mary’s University | Computer Science Major: Data Analytics Track | Campus | 122 credits |
| Saint Michael’s College | Data Science Major Data Science Minor |
Campus | Major: 46 credits Minor: 24 credits |
| Salem University | BS Computer Science – Data Science | Campus | 15 courses |
| Siena College | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 47-54 credits |
| Simmons University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 63–67 credits |
| Temple University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 123 credits |
| Tufts University | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 38 courses |
| University of California Irvine | B.S. in Data Science | Campus | 135 credits |