If you’re interested in developing competitive data science skills to solve complex challenges in business or elsewhere, you might be considering a master’s in data science. It’s important to consider learning in a region — like California — that boasts innovation, where you will have access to people and places that are involved in the field of data science. California offers a wide range of quality programs that are conveniently located and can help you develop the skills you need to pursue your career goals.

From developing an AI system to identify pneumonia to leveraging machine learning to predict the spread of COVID-19, leaders, researchers and scholars in California are harnessing the power of data science to make the world a better place. But data science isn’t only valuable in the health care sector.

“Data science and artificial intelligence are playing an increasingly important and expansive role in the world today, including the rapid advancement in key research fields, like health care, agriculture, environment and bioengineering,” Thomas Strohmer, professor in the UC Davis Department of Mathematics, told EurekAlert!, a service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Data science is necessary for the success of organizations across all industries, too, especially business. In June 2020, Citibank launched a strategic advisory group for its clients focused solely on data science. Their goal is “to make data science a stronger part of its corporate finance advice” to further “empower Citi’s bankers to use their judgement with the help of data analytics,” reported the Institutional Investor.

Here’s everything you need to know about schools, job prospects, online alternatives, graduate scholarships, and networking opportunities. Read through for a comprehensive list of all the data science programs in California.

California, home to Apple, Google, Facebook, Cisco and countless startups, is considered a tech hub in the United States, an epicenter of data science innovation. This makes California an appealing region to study and earn a master’s in data science.

These companies have graduates from California schools, like Stanford, Caltech and the University of California (UC) system, among others. Some highlights:

Earning a master’s in data science can set you up for success by preparing you to analyze and leverage data to solve complex challenges. With a new set of analytical, critical thinking and communication skills, you’ll be armed with advanced knowledge to pursue careers in data science.

While the skills and tools you’ll learn in a data science master’s program might be complex, the learning experience doesn’t have to be. Online degree programs are growing in popularity and an online master’s in data science may allow you to earn your degree without compromising your career or other obligations.

Getting an online data science master’s degree means you can earn your degree at your own pace, while still having access to dedicated faculty, mentors and career development resources. Choosing the right program is key. Consider factors like the length of the program, the online experience, and faculty.

More than 30 universities across the United States offer online master’s degrees in data science. California offers several, including the University of California system, which offers some of the top data science programs.

Learn more about what to look for in an online data science program by visiting our Online Data Science Masters Degrees page.

Thanks to the UC system, California boasts a wide range of online master’s in data science programs. This selection, present across the board at UC schools statewide, is something of a recent phenomenon.

In 2017, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that, due to global demand for data science degrees, more schools in the UC system had started adding online programs in the field. It signaled a growing desire for flexible and accessible online master’s in data science — one highlight includes UC Riverside’s data science specialization, added to its online Master of Science in Engineering in 2016.

University of California, Riverside’s online specialization in data science was supported by MUREP’s Fellowships and Internships in Extremely Large Data Sets (FIELDS) grant and jointly developed by UCR faculty and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory science staff. The program launched in 2016. Those behind the program specifically chose to focus on technical skills rather than research.

As always, we recommend looking at a range of opinions to decide whether an online master’s in data science is the right choice for you.

Another way to develop your skills in data science is to earn an online graduate certificate in data science, which can be a more flexible, cost-effective option. In California, you can find short, skills-focused certificate programs through various academic institutions. Stanford feels comfortable with online certificates, which is good news if you want a California name to burnish your résumé.

The programs are often focused on data analysts, new data scientists or mid-level professionals aiming to add needed specializations to their careers. It could help you land that first job, get the promotion you’ve been looking for, or eventually have the skills needed to pursue more rigorous master’s programs. These certificates also give you the chance to collaborate across disciplines. This is especially true in California, with schools and faculty drawn from a talented pool of entrepreneurs, researchers, and marketers. For example, San Jose State offers its online Certificate in Business Analytics through its business school. Look for your options to increase as distance learning becomes more popular.

If you are in California and interested in breaking into the field of data science or data analytics, consider registering for a bootcamp. A bootcamp is a short-term, intensive introduction that may quickly equip you with the basics of data science, the study of how knowledge can be gleaned from various forms of information, or data analysis, a more practice-minded approach to drawing conclusions from information. Some bootcamps in California focus on data science and others on data analytics, and yet others cover both. Learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps in California.

Check out our guide to data science and analytics bootcamps in LA. Our guide to Bay Area bootcamps is coming soon!

Individual online data science courses, outside of full-scale degree programs, are another great way for professionals to gain skills and knowledge needed to succeed. They are offered to students at all levels — beginner, intermediate, and advanced — and generally require you to dedicate at least 80 total hours. You might also find courses tied to certificates that could be available to you for an additional fee. Topics could range from ETL (extract, transform, load) to programming languages like R and Python. There are countless courses available from major, reputable California programs. Check out the websites of schools in the UC system as well as other institutions, like Stanford, for more information on what online data science courses are available.

We chose to focus on university funding that covers data science degrees, but don’t take this as an exhaustive list of information. Your school’s Graduate Studies Office will have information on general scholarships and fellowships and info on financial options. Here’s an overview of scholarship assistance as you look to pursue your online data science degree:

Last updated: May 2020.

California offers a range of events for networking, mentorship and community building opportunities. If you’re a data scientist who has just earned your master’s degree or someone brand new to the field, it might make sense for you to check out these events. There is a wide range — large to small — from informal meetups to larger gatherings, like the Data Science Innovation Summit and the Women in Data Science (WiDS) event at Stanford.

*Due to changes brought about by COVID-19, many 2020 events have been cancelled or postponed to later dates. Check out each event’s website to see their updates.

California has a data science meetup for every group (e.g. Metis) and interest you can think of. In a changing world with fewer in-person meetings, many of these groups have listed virtual, online events on their Meetup pages. Beyond this, Facebook and social media have provided plenty of digital hubs for community and connection. Here are a few to check out:

Major data science conferences abound in California. (Think events like Strata Data Conference, Predictive Analytics World, IEEE Conferences, SIGKDD, The Machine Learning Conference, among others). They tend to migrate around the world, but plenty are based in Silicon Valley or Los Angeles. Here are a few of the major events for data scientists in California:

You’re in a prime position for job hunting with a degree in data science from a California school. The skills of a data scientist are in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California has the highest employment level and top pay for computer and information research scientists, which include data scientists. You could be helping to solve business problems, use analytical methods and machine learning to make needed business predictions for a company, or enter academia and work on your own research as you next generation. Earning an advanced degree or certifications in data science can help you upskill and prepare for further opportunities in your career.

According to data from the O*NET OnLine in 2020, data scientists made an average $127,310 per year in California.

Below is a comprehensive list of master’s of data science programs in the state of California (along with closely related programs such as an MS in Analytics and a Master’s 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.

Last updated: April 2022

If you’re looking for information on career paths that involve STEM, see our guides below:

Data Science and Analytics Careers:

Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Information Careers:

Marketing and User Research Careers:

Compare Careers and STEM Fields:

We found 25 universities in California offering Masters of Data Science programs (and/or closely related programs, like MS in Analytics / Masters in Business Analytics). The university’s website will have the most up to date information on specific programs.

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.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.