Wondering where to go to pursue a master’s in data science? You may be drawn to Texas. In the Lone Star State, you will find a variety of data science graduate programs. From Austin to San Antonio, Denton to Houston, there are options for long-time industry professionals as well as those who’ve just earned their undergraduate in a similar discipline.

It can be challenging to determine which program will work for you—from curriculum to class structure to scholarship opportunities available to you. But with thorough research, you can select a master’s program that aligns with your professional goals. Here is a small selection of sponsored master’s in data science degree programs offering GRE/GMAT waivers to eligible students:

Texas is home to more than 29,000 technology firms and the number continues to grow. On top of that, millennials from all over the country—many with an interest in the budding tech industry—are moving to the Lone Star State. Dallas, the third largest city in Texas, welcomed some 24,000 millennials in 2019, according to SmartAsset, a finance tech company. Southwest of Dallas is Austin, which is often cited as one of the country’s major tech hubs.

Texas also has a number of prestigious universities, many with rigorous data science graduate programs. Here are some highlights:

An online master’s degree in data science may put you on a pathway to a career in information technology and beyond. That being said, choosing a program isn’t always easy. You’ll need to assess what school offers the best curriculum, access to faculty and mentors, and figure out what resources will be available to you if you choose to enroll, before even applying.

If you’re looking for options for distance learning in Texas, it will all depend on the school. You may want to assess how flexible a program will be—part of the appeal of online learning is to be able to fit in your studies with work and personal commitments. You may also want to research internship, research or employment opportunities and any counseling the school may provide.

We compiled a list of online master’s in data science programs with a general checklist on what to look for in an online program to help you as you gather options. For those of you hoping to zero in on online data science programs in Texas, below, you’ll find a few factors to keep in mind.

For those who are looking for an alternative to getting an online master’s in data science, a graduate-level certificate program may be a good choice for you. Generally, an online graduate certificate program in data science costs less than a master’s degree and takes less time to complete as well. Completing an online graduate certificate program may give you the chance to get a sense of the field and improve your knowledge and experience before making the commitment to a master’s program.

Unlike California and Illinois, which have a number of online graduate certificate programs in data science, Texas overall has fewer options than these states. One example is Texas A&M University, which offers an online Applied Statistics Certificate

If you prefer to pursue an online data science master’s at a Texas school rather than a certificate, there are some rigorous options. Texas A&M University’s Online Master of Science in Applied Statistics is one of them. There is also Southern Methodist University’s Online Master’s in Data Science which has been available since 2015.

Learn more about these two schools and the programs they offer:

Texas A&M University – College Station: Lectures, assignments, exams and grading requirements in the online Master of Science in Applied Statistics program are the same as those within the on-campus program.

If you live in Texas and are interested in pursuing a career in data science but are unable to earn your master’s in data science, you may want to consider completing a local data science and data analytics bootcamp instead. Data science and data analytics bootcamps in Texas are relatively short, intensive educational programs meant to quickly prepare students for the field of data compared to a master’s degree. While some bootcamps in Texas are dedicated solely to data science, the study of how knowledge is pulled from raw data, or data analytics, the processes by which certain insights are arrived at, other bootcamps cover both data science and data analytics. See our guides to learn more about data science bootcamps or data analytics bootcamps.

Check out our guides to data science data analytics bootcamps in Texas:

As with online bootcamps, those not wishing to jump into a full-on graduate program might consider online data science courses. Data science online courses may be suitable for professionals working in sectors that increasingly rely on collecting data, like telecommunications, medicine and financial services. Courses will vary depending on the institution, but for those looking to hone their data science skills in Texas, consider looking at the institutions that offer online master’s programs like the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M university for single course offerings.

Are you concerned about what kind of financial assistance is available to data science graduate students at Texas universities? Once you decide to pursue a graduate program in data science, you can begin looking into funding options.

There are scholarships and fellowships across the board from programs in Texas—large and small—and they’re available to students at different graduate levels.

We’ve put together a list of scholarships and fellowships that specifically cover data science degrees offered in the state. Even if you are unsure if you would qualify for some of the more competitive scholarship programs, contact your desired school’s graduate studies office about your financing options. There are additional ways to seek out funding to help you complete your online data science master’s beyond scholarships and fellowships, including grants. Always do the due diligence of researching all of the funding options available to you.

Andrew Ladd Memorial Excellence in Computer Science Fellowship: This fellowship is given to a well-qualified graduate student in Rice’s Department of Computer Science. Preference will be given to candidates who have already started their thesis research.

Ken Kennedy-Cray Inc. Fellowship: Supported by an endowment from supercomputer manufacturer Cray Inc., this fellowship is intended to support graduate students at Rice’s Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology. Special consideration is given to applicants whose research focuses on high performance computing.

Ken Kennedy Institute Computational Science & Engineering (CS&E) Fellowships: These fellowships are given to qualified undergraduate computational science and engineering students who want to further their studies at Rice University, by earning a graduate degree in computational science and engineering, data analytics and related fields. Those who qualify will receive a $15,000 stipend paid in monthly installments over four years.

Rawls College of Business Scholarships: The Rawls COB, which offers an MS in Data Science, lists all of its scholarship opportunities on one page. There are scholarships for undergraduates, graduates, and Ph.D. students. Applicants are reviewed by a scholarship committee.

G. Brint Ryan College of Business (COB) Scholarships: UNT’s COB, which offers an MS in Business Analytics, has both general scholarships and departmental scholarships available. The school’s detailed list of current scholarships includes financial awards for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students.

STEM Tuition Fellowship: The STEM program is open to full-time engineering and science graduate students who are seeking a doctoral degree. It includes a monthly stipend, 75 percent tuition coverage, a graduate assistantship, and in-state tuition rate. New students in either a doctoral or doctoral-bound program may hold the fellowship for up to five years.

Department of Computer Science Scholarships: UT Austin provides an extensive list of computer science scholarships—some are only for UT Austin students.

Cyber Security Scholarship: UTD’s scholarship is open to undergraduate students and graduate students (MS or Ph.D.) in the Computer Science Department. The scholarship is part of UTD’s efforts as an NSA/DHS Center for Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research.

Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science Fellowships: UTD has many fellowships open to MS students and Ph.D. students at the Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science.

Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM) Graduate Scholarships: A number of data science degrees at UT Dallas (e.g. business analytics) are offered through JSOM, and you’ll find all kinds of donor-funded scholarships and fellowships on its website.

College of Business (COB) Scholarships: UTSA’s COB, which includes the Department of Information Systems and Cyber Security and the Department of Management Science and Statistics (the department that offers the MS in Data Analytics and the MS in Applied Statistics), has all kinds of scholarships, including the UTSA Presidential Graduate Scholarship.

Scholarship list updated: June 2020

The Lone Star State boasts a burgeoning tech industry community. If you’re looking for data science events to gain knowledge or build your network, there are gatherings large and small—from intimate meetups to major events like SXSW. Here’s an overview of what you can expect:

Texas plays host to a large number of data science meetups, with interests ranging from data visualizations to machine learning algorithms. Social media has also brought what used to be in-person communities online, through Facebook groups and more.

Small meetups are one way to engage with like-minded professionals. But you may also want to consider the large data science events Texas has to offer. These events bring tech industry workers of all levels and specialties, from all over the state and the country. Here are a few of them:

Note: Most 2020 events have been rescheduled or canceled due to COVID-19. Visit the websites for each event for updates on the status of their gatherings.

From its data science graduate programs to its growing tech work force—including data scientists—Texas may be the place where you choose to kickstart your career in data analytics, data science or a related field.

Some major tech firms have a large presence in the state. Here is an overview of the local tech industry:

According to data from the O*NET OnLine in 2020, data scientists made an average $101,410 per year in Tennessee.

We found that the following universities in Texas offer Master of Data Science programs (or closely related programs, like MS in Analytics or Master of Business Analytics).

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 12 universities in Texas 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.