Data science: graduate earnings, debt, and careers
Programs in Data Science (CIP 30.70), a newer CIP family, so fewer programs report outcomes.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 46 | 420 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | $5,500 1 programs |
| Associate's degree | 24 | 52 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bachelor's degree | 198 | 2,486 | $76,968 | Data unavailable | $22,034 18 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 135 | 4,328 | $105,284 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 11 | 31 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 65 | 399 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public · 18 graduates measured | $92,985 | Data unavailable | $22,548 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public · 27 graduates measured | $87,360 | Data unavailable | $18,686 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public · 115 graduates measured | $87,322 | Data unavailable | $20,485 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public · 52 graduates measured | $122,063 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse WI · Public · 18 graduates measured | $122,027 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis MO · Private, nonprofit · 49 graduates measured | $93,719 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Bellevue University NE · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $86,893 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Data Science
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and information systems managers | $175,140 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural sciences managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer and information research scientists | $140,300 | +21.8% | Master's degree |
| Database architects | $139,500 | +9.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Software developers | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Statisticians | $105,650 | +11.0% | Master's degree |
| Data scientists | $120,230 | +34.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $77,640 | +2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (2)
- 30.7001 Data Science, General
- 30.7099 Data Science, Other
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