Best Master’s in Data Science Programs in 2023

Data science is one of the fastest growing fields—job openings have increased 480% since 2016, according to Glassdoor. And students graduating with a master’s in data science often land six figure salaries. The reason it’s a fast growing field, with high paying jobs, is because companies across all industries want data-savvy professionals in this era of digitization. Data provides companies and organizations with the resources they need to make better decisions—and in turn, they need professionals with data science skills who know how to understand and analyze data. 

The GPA you’ll need to get accepted into a master’s program for data science varies by school. The University of Minnesota, No. 3 on Fortune’s ranking of the best master’s in data science programs, listed its average GPA for its students admitted for the 2020-2021 school year as 3.68. For the same period, the University of San Francisco’s was 3.47, the University of St. Thomas’ was 3.14, and the University of Michigan’s was 2.63—although it’s a bit of an outlier.

Master’s degree programs in data science can be offered in person, online or in a hybrid format—and that might be the difference in what the “best program” for you means. Fortune ranks the top five in-person programs as: the University of Michigan, Harvard University, the University of Minnesota, the University of San Francisco, and the University of St. Thomas. Additionally, our ranking of the top five online programs include: the University of Illinois, UC Berkeley, Texas Tech University, Bay Path University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

On average, it takes about one-and-a-half to two years to complete a master’s degree program in data science—with most programs requiring roughly anywhere from 25 to 60 credits to graduate. So it does depend on each individual program and whether you choose to be a full-time or part-time student. That said, thanks to a boost in salary and expanded career options, many students find it worthwhile to obtain a master’s degree in data science—and Gen Z considers the role of data scientist to be one of the most satisfying occupations.

A master’s degree in data science will teach you how to understand and analyze data. But because it’s a recently defined career path, how it’s applied can vary significantly. As Maurizio Porfiri, a New York University professor, told Fortune: “It’s a weird thing because it’s very vague. I discovered after a while that I had become a data scientist: people just started to refer to me as such.” But sometimes the first step to finding your place in the world of data science is picking a specialization—what type of problem you want to solve by using data. And a master’s degree can either help you find that specialization, or if you’ve already got the answer, will teach you the skills to pursue it.

Fortune compiled a list of seven universities that offer free online data science courses, which offers prospective students an opportunity to learn more about this field. Each university—Harvard University, the University of Michigan, UC Irvine, John Hopkins University, Columbia University, MIT, and Duke University—offers a different course, from linear regression to data science ethics to data science in real life. However, the common goal of these free courses is to give people an inside look into the field.

In 2020, data scientists made a median salary of $164,500, according to a survey conducted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers—that’s close to an 8% increase from the previous year. Karen Panetta, dean of graduate education for the School of Engineering at Tufts University told Fortune that her “2022 grads are getting offers at $125,000 and $135,000.” And a degree from a top program might mean even more money—UC Berkeley (ranked second on Fortune’s best online data science programs) 2021 graduates with a master’s in data science, earned an average salary of $155,000, according to data provided by the university.

Where Can You Earn An Online Master’s In Real Estate In 2024?

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With the recent proliferation of shows like Selling Sunset, the world has come to perceive real estate as a glitzy, glamorous and luxurious field. The nitty-gritty of day-to-day life in the real estate industry doesn’t always match that narrative; however, real estate is still an enticing field to many, offering strong earning potential and upward mobility.

While many real estate professionals do not earn advanced degrees, an online master’s in real estate can help you stand out from your peers and qualify for managerial roles in the field. Read on to learn about two accredited, nonprofit U.S. universities offering online real estate master’s degrees, and learn how to decide if this degree path is the right fit for you.

The Forbes Advisor Education team is committed to bringing our readers unbiased rankings and trustworthy, informative articles covering higher learning institutions, individual degree programs, bootcamps, professional credentials and various career paths.

Our team sources data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We also pull information from reputable professional organizations and education providers’ direct websites. Our rankings use a strict methodology to determine the best schools, programs or bootcamps for each category.

Moreover, an expert advisory board of experienced professionals and educators reviews and verifies Forbes Advisor Education content to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown University‘s School of Continuing Studies offers an online master’s degree in real estate that many students complete in two years, although part-time learners may take up to five years to graduate.

The program strives for maximum flexibility, delivering all coursework asynchronously. As they work through the 33-credit curriculum, online students can virtually attend networking events and professional development seminars.

Applying to the program is free if students submit all materials by the priority deadline. Tuition costs $1,573 per credit.

Headquartered near Miami, Florida International University is among the largest universities in the nation—due in part to its large selection of distance learning programs, including a master of science in international real estate.

Full-time students can complete the 30-credit program in 10 to 12 months depending on whether they start in the fall or spring semester. The curriculum does not include a capstone or thesis requirement.

Applicants can receive a GMAT/GRE waiver if they earn a minimum 3.25 undergraduate GPA in a relevant field like business, architecture, engineering, economics or construction management. Total tuition costs $28,000 for in-state students and $30,000 for out-of-state learners.

Before committing to any online master’s in real estate program, it’s worth asking yourself a few key questions to find your best fit.

The two qualifying schools in our ranking of the best online master’s in real estate programs charged between approximately $28,000 and $55,000 in total tuition. For comparison, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, tuition and fees for a two-year master’s program average between approximately $22,000 and $40,000, depending on state residency status and whether a school is public or private.

To help fund your education, make sure to submit the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the first step to accessing financial aid opportunities like loans, grants, and work-study programs. You can also seek out scholarships from nonprofit organizations or your chosen school; these providers may also use FAFSA data to determine aid awards.

A few key considerations can help you determine whether an online program is the right fit for you. The first factor is your learning style. Online learning generally includes less built-in structure than on-campus learning, so it requires a good bit of discipline, organization and time management. If you like the support and consistency of a peer group and a classroom, you might prefer in-person learning.

The second factor is your schedule. If you are a parent or plan to work full time while pursuing your master’s degree, the flexibility of online learning might help you juggle responsibilities. Many online programs allow you to access coursework and lectures at your convenience, allowing you to complete assignments around your schedule.

The third factor is your budget. While some online programs require occasional campus visits, distance learning generally eliminates campus-related costs like relocation, housing and transportation. Also, many schools provide in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates to online students, regardless of where they live. As such, distance learning is often more affordable than on-campus learning.

When you research online master’s in real estate programs, institutional accreditation should be a non-negotiable factor. The U.S. Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation oversee this process, which ensures the quality of each school’s programs, services and faculty.

Enrolling at an institutionally accredited school is the only way you can qualify for federal student aid, and many employers, credentialing bodies and advanced degree programs only recognize diplomas from accredited colleges and universities.

Programmatic accreditation, which applies to specific departments and degrees, is not very prevalent in real estate. If you pursue a real estate degree within a business college, however—such as an MBA in real estate—your program or department might hold accreditation from a business-oriented accreditor like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

We scored two accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online master’s in real estate degree programs in the U.S. using 16 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes, student experience and application process.

We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites. Data is accurate as of January 2023.

We scored schools based on the following categories:

Student Outcomes:

Affordability:

Student Experience:

Credibility:

Application Process:

We listed the two schools in the U.S. that met our ranking criteria.

Find our full list of methodologies here.

A master of science in real estate, or MSRE, is a more general degree and often includes coursework in finance and asset management. A master of science in real estate development, also called an MSRED, typically focuses on the development aspect of real estate.

It depends on your career goals. If you aspire to managerial positions in real estate and want a broader background in finance, a master’s in real estate may be a good fit.

Auburn Master of Real Estate Development

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