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Key Takeaways
Best data science degree programs: Cornell, Columbia University in th..., Stony Brook
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $4,800 to $66,622/year
CUNY Borough of Manhattan... offers the most affordable option at $4,800/yr
Data Science degree programs available: 32 associate's, 28 master's, 11 doctoral in New York
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
29 online data science degree programs in New York
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
New York community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
32 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Google, Amazon, IBM, JPMorgan
Tech hubs in New York City and Albany
Hakia Research 2026
Data Science degree programs near 153+ cities across New York
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked New York Data Science programs
We rank 120 accredited data science programs in New York 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 York Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Data Science Degree Rankings in New York
Compare the top-ranked Data Science programs in New York by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Bachelor's Data Science Programs in New York
Program Landscape
New York ranks among the nation's top destinations for data science education, with 49 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 21 public and 28 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are Cornell, Columbia University in th..., Stony Brook, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from New York data science programs earn a median salary of $111,104, 13% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the New York City, Albany, Rochester metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Google, Amazon, IBM.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $6,930 to $66,622 annually, with an average of $30,172/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 86%, with the highest reaching 100%. 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 York's leading technology employers. For students seeking data science degrees in New York, these top-ranked data science schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Columbia University in the City of New York
Show all 6 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Canisius University | Buffalo, NY | Private nonprofit | $32,200 | 66% | 70.7 |
Best Master's Data Science Programs in New York
Program Landscape
New York offers 28 master's degree programs in data science, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, Columbia University in th..., Cornell, Stony Brook, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in New York earn a median salary of $130,710, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in New York City, Albany, Rochester creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Google, Amazon, IBM 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 $30,692/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 York's data science schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York University
Show all 6 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Utica University | Utica, NY | Private nonprofit | $25,830 | 56% | 59.9 |
Best Doctoral Data Science Programs in New York
Program Landscape
New York is home to 11 doctoral programs in data science, preparing students for research positions, faculty appointments, and executive technical roles. Leading programs at Columbia University in th..., Cornell, Stony Brook are recognized for cutting-edge research, strong faculty publications, and competitive funding packages.
Career Outcomes
Doctoral graduates command premium salaries, with New York PhD holders earning a median of $163,388, reflecting the advanced expertise required for research and executive positions. The New York City, Albany, Rochester region's research universities and corporate R&D centers provide extensive collaboration opportunities with industry leaders like Google, Amazon, IBM.
Costs & Value
PhD programs typically require 4-6 years of full-time study, including coursework, qualifying examinations, and original dissertation research. Many programs offer full funding through teaching or research assistantships, covering tuition and providing stipends of $25,000–$40,000 annually.
Curriculum & Specializations
Research strengths across New York programs include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, systems, and theoretical computer science. For aspiring researchers pursuing data science degrees in New York, graduates go on to careers as university faculty, industry research scientists, or technical executives, contributing to advances in technology that impact millions of users worldwide.
Data Science Degree Costs & Tuition in New York
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $21,334/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $53,335/year |
| Community college tuition | $5,334/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $128,004 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $32,000 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid for New York Data Science Students
Verdict: New York data science students benefit from the strong NY state aid stack (TAP, Excelsior, STEM Incentive Program for top-10% HS grads in STEM at SUNY/CUNY) plus substantial institutional aid at the standout DS programs, NYU's Center for Data Science (CDS) and Columbia's Data Science Institute (DSI) are among the most prominent US DS programs and both have meaningful institutional aid for admitted students with demonstrated need. The combination of strong public-system aid plus top private-school no-loan financial aid policies makes NY DS education accessible across the income spectrum.
Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides up to $5,665/year for NY residents at qualifying NY institutions. The Excelsior Scholarship covers SUNY and CUNY tuition for NY residents with family income up to $125,000. The STEM Incentive Program is particularly relevant for DS-bound students: top 10% NY HS graduating class members entering STEM at SUNY/CUNY receive full SUNY/CUNY tuition coverage in exchange for a 5-year STEM employment commitment in New York post-graduation.
NYU's Center for Data Science (CDS) and Columbia's Data Science Institute (DSI) are the two standout NYC DS programs. Both private universities maintain substantial institutional aid policies, Columbia's no-loan policy and NYU's substantial DS-specific scholarships can produce zero-loan paths for admitted DS students with demonstrated need. For high-achieving DS-bound applicants from any state, these are competitive on net cost despite high published tuition.
Cornell Tech (Roosevelt Island, NYC) and Cornell University Ithaca campus combined offer some of the strongest US DS graduate programs with substantial Cornell endowment-funded aid. RIT (Rochester) has growing DS programs with substantial institutional aid. Federal Pell stacks on top. Industry scholarships from NYC DS employers (Bloomberg DS, Two Sigma, Citadel data science, Goldman Sachs DS) provide additional industry-track funding most students don't pursue.
Data Science Degree ROI Calculator, New York
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a data science degree in New York. 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 York metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| New York City | $144K |
| Albany | $137K |
| Rochester | $131K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Data Science Graduates in New York
Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley hire hundreds of data scientists annually for quantitative analysis, risk modeling, and algorithmic trading. These financial institutions offer starting salaries often exceeding $140,000 plus substantial bonuses. Technology companies with major New York presences include Google, Facebook (Meta), Amazon, and Microsoft, all maintaining large data science teams for product development and business intelligence.
New York's media and advertising industries employ data scientists at companies like Viacom, NBCUniversal, and major advertising agencies for audience analytics and programmatic advertising. Healthcare systems including NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center use data science for clinical research, patient outcomes analysis, and operational optimization. The NYC Comptroller's office documents the tech sector's continued growth, creating additional public sector opportunities (NYC Comptroller Tech Sector Report).
Emerging AI companies benefit from New York's regulatory leadership, with legislation creating new opportunities in AI governance and compliance (K&L Gates NY AI Legislation). Retail giants like Macy's and fashion companies use data science for inventory optimization, customer analytics, and supply chain management. Consulting firms including McKinsey, Deloitte, and Accenture maintain substantial data science practices serving clients across industries. Students may also consider opportunities in neighboring data science in pennsylvania or data science markets for broader regional prospects.
Transfer Pathways for New York Data Science Students
Verdict: New York's SUNY Transfer Path and CUNY ASAP program support DS-track transfer pathways well for in-state students. The DS-specific consideration is that standalone undergraduate Data Science degrees are still emerging at NY public universities, most DS-track students major in Statistics, Applied Math, Computer Science, or Economics with quantitative emphasis. SUNY Albany, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Stony Brook, and several CUNY campuses now offer dedicated DS bachelor's degrees, with transfer admission substantially more accessible than the equivalent CS programs.
Best New York community college DS-feeder schools: Nassau Community College, Westchester Community College, Suffolk County Community College, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC, CUNY), Queensborough Community College (CUNY), Bronx Community College (CUNY). Each has refined DS prerequisite sequences (calculus, linear algebra, statistics, intro programming) aligned to SUNY Transfer Path articulation.
The CUNY ASAP → John Jay College or CUNY Hunter Data Science pathway is particularly accessible, CUNY's ASAP program supports community-college students with intensive academic and financial aid, producing transfer-completion rates roughly 3× the national average. CUNY's growing DS programs at Hunter College and Baruch College have substantially more open transfer admission than the elite private NYC options.
Beyond CUNY: SUNY Stony Brook's Applied Math and Statistics Data Science track and SUNY Albany's Department of Computer Science (with DS emphasis) are strong public-system options with accessible transfer admission. NYU Tandon's undergraduate DS-track has transfer admission roughly comparable to NYU's broader engineering admissions. Columbia's Statistics and Computer Science undergraduate DS tracks are research-prestigious but transfer admission is genuinely competitive (under 10%). Cornell Tech is graduate-only. For NY DS-track students, the CUNY pathway is the affordable-NYC optimization; SUNY Stony Brook or Albany is the strong-public-system optimization; NYU Tandon is the NYC-private optimization with strong financial-services and AI placement; Columbia and Cornell are the research-track optimizations for the most competitive applicants.
Data Science Program Availability in New York
Source: IPEDS 2024
New York Data Science Job Market & Salary
Verdict: New York's data science job market is anchored by quantitative finance, one of the highest-paying US DS subsectors and a market structure unique to NYC at this scale. NYC's combined hedge fund / trading firm DS (Citadel, Two Sigma, D.E. Shaw, Jane Street, Hudson River Trading, Renaissance Technologies-adjacent), bank DS (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America NYC), and Bloomberg's substantial DS operation creates DS employment with senior quant DS compensation that routinely exceeds Bay Area Big Tech, $300,000-$700,000+ total comp at senior levels.
By metro: New York City averages ~$160,000-$210,000 for data scientist roles per Levels.fyi and industry compensation surveys, with substantial premiums for quant-track DS at hedge funds and trading firms. Major NYC DS employers: Citadel, Two Sigma, D.E. Shaw, Jane Street (quantitative trading DS at extreme compensation levels), Goldman Sachs (Marquee + Strats + Engineering DS), JPMorgan Chase (Quant DS + applied research), Morgan Stanley DS, Bloomberg LP (one of the largest US financial-data DS operations), AIG and MetLife insurance DS, Verizon Media DS, NYT digital DS, Spotify NYC, plus substantial NYC operations of Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft DS teams.
Healthcare data science is a distinctive NYC subsector, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mount Sinai Health System, NewYork-Presbyterian all operate substantial healthcare DS organizations leveraging unique clinical-research datasets. Compensation runs below Big Tech but the research depth and dataset access are unusual.
Two distinctive NYC DS dynamics: (1) Quant finance DS compensation exceeds Bay Area Big Tech for senior practitioners, for DS graduates with strong math and CS backgrounds and tolerance for finance industry culture, NYC quant is the highest-compensation US DS career path. (2) NYC's combined financial services + media + healthcare DS markets are structurally counter-cyclical to consumer-tech downturns, when Bay Area Big Tech consumer DS hiring slows, NYC financial-services DS hiring continues. For NY DS-track graduates, the structural employment-stability advantage of NYC over the Bay Area in volatile macro environments is real. See AI/ML Engineer Career Guide and Data Analyst Career Guide.
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 York
Online Programs
29 available in New York
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Data Science Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 84
- Median Tuition
- $36,800
- Total Programs
- 32
- Median Tuition
- $32,900
- Total Programs
- 19
- Median Tuition
- $44,100
- Total Programs
- 71
- Median Tuition
- $47,600
- Total Programs
- 11
- Median Tuition
- $46,900
- Total Programs
- 180
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
- Total Programs
- 43
- Median Tuition
- $11,000
- Total Programs
- 77
- Median Tuition
- $8,700
New York Tech Industry & Infrastructure
New York's tech economy is anchored by financial services, media, ad-tech, and a growing AI/fintech startup ecosystem. The state ranks behind only California in tech-sector GDP contribution and is unique in the country for the depth of its financial-services tech employer base (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bloomberg, Two Sigma, Citadel) alongside major consumer-tech offices for Google, Meta, and Amazon.
New York City
Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens
Dominant US fintech hub. Engineering hiring concentrated at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Bloomberg, Citadel, Two Sigma, Jane Street, plus major NYC offices for Google, Meta, Amazon, Spotify. NYU and Columbia are the principal feeders.
Albany / Capital Region
Albany metro
Anchored by GlobalFoundries' chip fabrication and SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Growing semiconductor and AI-research footprint; state-government IT employs heavily.
Excelsior Jobs Program offers tax credits to qualifying tech employers. State income tax is high relative to other tech-heavy states.
New York Regulation Affecting Data Science Graduates
New York has one of the strictest US regulatory environments for tech, particularly in financial services. The state's cybersecurity rules for financial institutions are widely considered the US baseline, and NY has been an early mover on biometric, AI, and algorithmic-hiring legislation.
NY SHIELD Act (Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security)
Requires reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for private information of NY residents. Expanded breach-notification requirements.
Every consumer-facing tech company serving NY users must maintain a documented security program; this drives security-engineer hiring at NY-resident employers.
Read moreNY DFS Cybersecurity Regulation (23 NYCRR 500)
Cybersecurity requirements for banks, insurance companies, and other DFS-regulated financial institutions operating in NY.
The US baseline for financial-services security engineering. Engineers at NY-based banks/insurers operate under this framework daily; the regulation is a major driver of security-team hiring.
Read moreNYC Local Law 144 (Automated Employment Decision Tools)
NYC employers using automated hiring tools must complete a bias audit and disclose use to candidates. Applies to any employer hiring for NYC-based positions.
ML/AI engineers building hiring/HR-tech products serving NYC employers must implement bias-audit logging and candidate-notification flows.
Read moreNY Privacy Act (proposed) and biometric notice requirements
NY has not yet passed a comprehensive consumer privacy law, but biometric-notice and facial-recognition disclosure rules apply in specific contexts (schools, commercial establishments).
Engineers building biometric features for NY users must implement consent and notice flows; broader NY privacy legislation is an active area to watch.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in New York
New York does not currently offer a separate Professional Engineer license in software engineering. ABET accreditation is still recognized for federal and consulting work that requires engineering credentials, but PE licensure is not a practical consideration for most NY software engineers.
New York licensing boardNew York Financial Aid Programs
NY Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
State grantUp to $5,665/yr
NY residents attending NY colleges/universities with financial need
Excelsior Scholarship
State scholarshipCovers tuition after other aid (up to ~$6,470/yr at SUNY)
NY residents attending SUNY/CUNY with family income up to $125,000
Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA)
State awardUp to $3,000/yr
NY residents attending private (non-SUNY/CUNY) NY colleges with family income up to $125,000
STEM Incentive Program
State scholarship (STEM-specific)Full SUNY/CUNY tuition coverage
Top 10% of NY high-school graduating class entering STEM at SUNY/CUNY; service obligation: work in STEM in NY for 5 years post-grad
Data Science Degree Programs in New York: FAQ
What are the best data science degree programs in New York?
How much do data science degree programs cost in New York?
What salary can data science degree graduates earn in New York?
Are there online data science degree programs in New York?
What companies hire data science degree graduates in New York?
Is a data science degree program worth it in New York?
How long do data science degree programs take in New York?
What financial aid is available for data science degree students in New York?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
New York 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.