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Key Takeaways
Best data science degree programs: Princeton, Stevens Institute of Tech..., Rutgers University-New Br...
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $4,440 to $59,710/year
UCNJ Union College of Uni... offers the most affordable option at $9,500/yr
Data Science degree programs available: 4 associate's, 14 master's, 3 doctoral in New Jersey
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
5 online data science degree programs in New Jersey
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
New Jersey community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
4 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Merck, Verizon
Tech hubs in Jersey City and Newark
Hakia Research 2026
Data Science degree programs near 86+ cities across New Jersey
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked New Jersey Data Science programs
We rank 32 accredited data science programs in New Jersey using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Data Science Degree Programs in New Jersey Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Data Science Degree Rankings in New Jersey
Compare the top-ranked Data Science programs in New Jersey by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Data Science Programs in New Jersey
Program Landscape
New Jersey offers 4 accredited associate's degree programs in data science, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include UCNJ Union College of Uni..., County College of Morris, Rowan College of South Je..., which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in New Jersey offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $7,674/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $67,540 in New Jersey.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with New Jersey's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Jersey City, Newark, Princeton areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Merck hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among data science schools in New Jersey, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their data science degrees in New Jersey.
Best Bachelor's Data Science Programs in New Jersey
Program Landscape
New Jersey ranks among the nation's top destinations for data science education, with 11 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 4 public and 7 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are Princeton, Stevens Institute of Tech..., Rutgers University-New Br..., recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from New Jersey data science programs earn a median salary of $104,380, 6% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Jersey City, Newark, Princeton metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Merck.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $12,996 to $59,710 annually, with an average of $33,016/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 83%, with the highest reaching 96%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to New Jersey's leading technology employers. For students seeking data science degrees in New Jersey, these top-ranked data science schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Best Master's Data Science Programs in New Jersey
Program Landscape
New Jersey offers 14 master's degree programs in data science, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, Stevens Institute of Tech..., Princeton, Rowan, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in New Jersey earn a median salary of $122,800, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Jersey City, Newark, Princeton creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Merck actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $31,671/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among New Jersey's data science schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Monmouth University
Saint Peter's University
Data Science Degree Costs & Tuition in New Jersey
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $28,367/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $70,918/year |
| Community college tuition | $7,092/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $170,204 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $42,550 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Data Science Students in New Jersey
State Aid Programs
The Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) provides substantial support for New Jersey residents pursuing data science degrees. TAG awards range from $2,176 to $14,404 per academic year based on financial need and institution type (HESAA TAG). To qualify, students must be NJ residents for at least 12 consecutive months, enroll full-time at an approved institution, and demonstrate financial need via FAFSA. Combined with federal Pell Grants of up to $7,395, qualifying students at public institutions can significantly reduce or eliminate tuition costs. TAG is a grant that doesn't require repayment, an advantage over student loans for data science students who may pursue additional graduate education.
Key Programs & Amounts
Key financial aid programs for data science students:
- Federal Pell Grant: Up to $7,395 (apply via FAFSA)
- NJ TAG: $2,176-$14,404/year based on need
- NJ STARS: Free community college tuition for top 15% of high school class. NJ STARS II extends support for four-year transfer
- NJ EOF (Educational Opportunity Fund): Grants plus academic support for disadvantaged students
- Institutional Merit Scholarships: Rutgers, NJIT, and Stevens offer significant merit-based awards. NJIT computing scholarships are particularly competitive
- Graduate Assistantships: Rutgers and NJIT offer teaching and research assistantships that cover tuition plus stipends for MS and PhD data science students
- Employer Tuition Reimbursement: Pharmaceutical companies like Merck and J&J offer $5,250-$15,000/year in tuition benefits for employees pursuing data science degrees
Institutional Scholarships
Data science students have unique funding advantages.
Many pharmaceutical and financial employers offer tuition reimbursement specifically for STEM graduate degrees, making part-time MS programs cost-effective for working professionals. NJIT's in-state graduate tuition is approximately $1,100 per credit for the MS in Data Science. Research assistantships at Rutgers's RAD Collaboratory provide stipends while building the research experience valued by top employers. The NJEDA's innovation ecosystem offers fellowships and internship stipends through Strategic Innovation Centers. Professional organizations including the American Statistical Association (ASA) provide scholarships for data science students. File FAFSA early. NJ state aid is first-come, first-served. Explore affordable data science programs for additional options.
Data Science Degree ROI Calculator, New Jersey
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a data science degree in New Jersey. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Data Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a data science degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+907%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,677,254
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$82,353
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Data Science Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in New Jersey metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Jersey City | $135K |
| Newark | $129K |
| Princeton | $123K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Data Science Graduates in New Jersey
Find data science jobs in New Jersey. These major employers across New Jersey metro areas are actively hiring data science degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Data Science Jobs in Jersey City
NJData Science Jobs in Newark
NJData Science Jobs in Princeton
NJTransfer Pathways for Data Science Degrees in New Jersey
State Transfer System
New Jersey's statewide transfer system supports data science students through its 19 community colleges. Under the State-Wide Transfer Agreement, students completing an Associate in Science (AS) degree receive guaranteed junior standing at all public four-year institutions (NJ Transfer). For data science specifically, students should pursue an AS in Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field to maximize credit transferability. The NJ Transfer course equivalency database helps students verify that specific courses, calculus sequences, statistics, programming, and linear algebra, will count toward their four-year data science or CS major.
How Transfers Work
NJIT maintains transfer agreements with all 19 community colleges, providing a clear pathway for data science students. The university accepts foundational mathematics and CS coursework from community colleges toward its data science programs. Bergen Community College, Middlesex College, and Brookdale Community College offer particularly strong mathematics and computing foundations. Students transferring to Rutgers can apply community college credits toward the CS major with data science concentration. Key courses to complete at community college: Calculus I and II, Introduction to Statistics, Linear Algebra, two semesters of programming (Python or Java), and Discrete Mathematics.
Transfer Planning Tips
Transfer planning strategies for data science students:
- 1Focus on quantitative foundations: Complete the full calculus sequence and linear algebra, these are prerequisites for virtually all data science programs
- 2Take statistics early: Probability and Statistics courses at community college transfer well and are central to data science
- 3Learn Python: Most data science programs use Python as the primary language. Complete at least one Python programming course
- 4Earn the AS degree: Guarantees junior standing and maximizes credit transfer at NJ public universities
- 5Verify equivalencies: Use njtransfer.org to confirm each course counts toward your target major
- 6Maintain 3.0+ GPA: Target this minimum for competitive admission to Rutgers and NJIT programs Community college tuition averaging $7,618/year versus $19,974 at NJIT means the transfer pathway saves approximately $24,000 over two years while building essential quantitative skills. NJ STARS covers full community college tuition for top 15% graduates.
Why Pursue a Data Science Degree in New Jersey?
Industry & Workforce
New Jersey sits at the intersection of America's largest data-producing industries, making it one of the strongest states for data science careers. The pharmaceutical corridor, home to more company headquarters than any other state, including Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk, generates massive volumes of clinical trial data, genomics datasets, and drug discovery information requiring skilled data scientists. The financial services sector, anchored by Goldman Sachs, Prudential, and Audible in the Jersey City-Newark corridor, drives demand for quantitative analysts and machine learning engineers. Rutgers University launched the Rutgers Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (RAD) Collaboratory as a cross-disciplinary hub connecting data science researchers and students (Rutgers RAD).
Salary Outlook
The salary outlook for data scientists in New Jersey is exceptional.
Data scientists earn a median salary of approximately $125,000-$140,000 per year, with senior roles at pharmaceutical and financial firms commanding $160,000-$200,000 (Glassdoor, BLS OEWS May 2024). The BLS projects 36% job growth for data scientists through 2033, one of the fastest-growing occupations nationally. New Jersey's data center boom, with the state ranking as a top-5 market nationally, creates additional demand for data infrastructure engineers and cloud data architects (JLL Report).
Regional Tech Hubs
The NJ AI Hub at Princeton University further accelerates data science opportunities, with $72 million in founding partner investments from Microsoft and CoreWeave creating an ecosystem where data science meets applied AI research (Princeton NJ AI Hub). The NJEDA's 12 Strategic Innovation Centers focus on AI, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing, all data-intensive fields projected to generate $17 billion in economic output over a decade (NJEDA). Compare programs in New York or explore our national data science rankings.
Data Science Program Availability in New Jersey
Source: IPEDS 2024
Data Science Job Market & Salary Data in New Jersey
Employment Outlook
New Jersey's data science job market benefits from the world's largest metro employment base.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area is the #1 metro nationally for technology employment, and New Jersey captures a growing share of data science roles as companies seek lower-cost office space across the Hudson River (BLS OEWS May 2024). Jersey City has experienced 25% tech job growth, with data science and analytics roles among the fastest-growing segments. Pharmaceutical companies along the Route 1 corridor, from New Brunswick to Princeton, hire data scientists for clinical trial analysis, real-world evidence generation, and computational drug design.
Salaries by Metro
Salaries reflect the state's high demand and cost of living:
- Jersey City/Newark: Data scientists at financial firms average $135,000-$165,000, with quantitative analysts at Goldman Sachs and hedge funds commanding $180,000+ with bonuses. Entry-level positions start around $90,000-$110,000.
- Princeton/Route 1 corridor: Pharmaceutical data scientists at Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Novo Nordisk earn $120,000-$155,000 with excellent benefits including tuition reimbursement.
- Central/South Jersey: Growing opportunities in healthcare analytics, insurance data modeling (at Prudential, MetLife), and data center operations. Most data science roles require proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch. A master's degree is increasingly preferred for senior positions (Glassdoor).
High-Growth Sectors
High-growth data science sectors in New Jersey include: pharmaceutical analytics and bioinformatics (leveraging NJ's pharma corridor), financial risk modeling and algorithmic trading (Jersey City finance hub), healthcare data analytics (major hospital networks including RWJBarnabas and Hackensack Meridian), telecommunications data (Verizon maintains significant NJ operations), and AI/ML infrastructure (the NJ AI Hub and data center boom). The NJ FAST fintech accelerator at Stevens Institute graduated 13 companies in its latest cohort that raised $80 million collectively, many focused on data analytics and AI workflows (Stevens NJ FAST). For related career paths, explore computer science programs, AI degrees, or machine learning programs.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Data Science Programs in New Jersey
Online Programs
5 available in New Jersey
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Data Science Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 120
- Median Tuition
- $7,100
- Total Programs
- 84
- Median Tuition
- $36,800
- Total Programs
- 4
- Median Tuition
- $13,200
- Total Programs
- 180
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
- Total Programs
- 43
- Median Tuition
- $11,000
- Total Programs
- 77
- Median Tuition
- $8,700
- Total Programs
- 71
- Median Tuition
- $47,600
- Total Programs
- 33
- Median Tuition
- $11,400
Data Science Degree Programs in New Jersey: FAQ
What are the best data science degree programs in New Jersey?
How much do data science degree programs cost in New Jersey?
What salary can data science degree graduates earn in New Jersey?
Are there online data science degree programs in New Jersey?
What companies hire data science degree graduates in New Jersey?
Is a data science degree program worth it in New Jersey?
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What financial aid is available for data science degree students in New Jersey?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
New Jersey salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.