The Master of Science (MS) in data science program at the University of Rochester provides students with a strong background in the fundamentals and applications of data science, and is accredited by New York State.

The program is designed for students with a background in any field of science, engineering, mathematics or business, and can be completed in two to three semesters of full-time study.

Students have the option of exploring data science broadly or concentrating their studies on one of the following application areas:

• Business and social science
• Computational methods
• Genomics
• Health and biomedical sciences
• Statistical methodology

Practicum Project

In lieu of a master's thesis, MS students complete a semester-long practicum project. The practicum project gives students get a taste for working in the industry - conducting real-world analytics projects using data provided by sponsoring organizations. Practicum students work in teams to understand their sponsor's business problem, clean and analyze data, and devise an appropriate solution. Students also explore ethical issues related to the use of data science.

What career opportunities are available to University of Rochester Master of Science in data science graduates? Program alumni have found rewarding careers in small and large tech, healthcare, academia, research, finance, and manufacturing and services.

Learn more about our program outcomes.

The advanced certificate in data science prepares students to apply data science techniques, including machine learning, to derive insights from large data sets in various application domains.

This program is designed for students who have a working knowledge of data science but would like to formalize their training and gain a deeper mastery of fundamental concepts in the field.

The program can be completed in two to four semesters of part-time study, and is open to matriculated University of Rochester employees and graduate students, as well as industry professionals with bachelors degrees.

There is no application fee for the advanced certificate and applications are accepted to start in fall and spring semesters.

The application fee is $70 for the master's program. The fee may be waived for University of Rochester students, employees and alumni. It may also be waived for part-time applicants.  There is no application fee for the advanced certificate.

Based on 2023-24 tuition, the Master of Science in Data Science program is $63,040 which assumes 32 ASE credits. Fees and insurance in 2023-24 are $2,206 per semester. In addition, the international student fee is $53 per semester.  Approximate estimate for living expenses in Rochester is $9,000 per semester. If required to do a summer bridging course or if spreading studies over the course of three semesters, assume additional increases to program costs.

If you are offered admission to our MS program, a non-refundable deposit of $1500 is required by April 15 (or by the offer deadline) to hold your spot in our cohort. This deposit will be applied to your financial account to reduce the amount due on your first tuition payment. The fee may be waived for University of Rochester students, employees, alumni and part-time students. There is no deposit for the advanced certificate.

Applications for Fall 2024 are now OPEN. We do not have Spring 2024 admissions for full time students. Applications for Fall 2025 will be open in September 2024.

• January 5 (FIRST ROUND): Applicants who submit by January 5 receive review for Fall admission. Reviews do not begin until January so applicants can expect to receive a decision no earlier than February 15.
• February 15 (SECOND ROUND): Applicants who submit by February 15 can expect to receive a decision by March 15.  There is no significant difference in acceptance rates between those who apply by January 5 to those who apply by February 15.
• March 15 (current PhD and part-time MS and Advanced Certificate applicants ONLY): Only current PhD candidates from the University of Rochester and part-time applicants for the masters or advanced certificate programs can submit by March 15 for fall admission. Applicants in these categories can expect a decision by April 15.
• November 15 (SPRING): Only current PhD candidates from the University of Rochester and part-time applicants for the masters or advanced certificate programs can submit by November 15 for spring admission. Applicants in these categories can expect a decision by December 15.

For more about tuition and deadlines, see the FAQ and application pages.

In the ever-expanding and evolving world of data science, the Goergen Institute aims to equip its students with real-world applied skills that are relevant to the world we live in. In addition to traditional, theoretical classes, students at the Institute benefit from a selection of pragmatic, experiential courses, such as Data Science at Scale and the practicum. These hands-on courses are created in collaboration with industry players to teach students the essential skills they'll need for their careers.

In addition, data science students at Rochester benefit from the Goergen Institute's unique position as the University's interdisciplinary data science hub. Students have access to over 70 affiliated faculty members from across campus, and frequently participate in research projects and collaborations while working towards their degrees.

Data Science students at Rochester also tailor their graduate credential to their interests and career stage. Master of Science candidates choose from a range of data science application areas depending on their interests and career goals. For the advanced certificate, students choose between three course plans, depending on their programming and statistics experience. With just over 5000 graduate students, the University of Rochester offers a top-tier, research university experience in a close-knit, community-oriented environment.