- 1.Data Scientists earn a median salary of $108,020 with 35% projected job growth through 2032 (BLS OES 2024)
- 2.Top-ranked graduate Data Science programs include University of California-Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology based on graduation rates, program strength, and career outcomes for doctoral candidates
- 3.Best value: University of California-Berkeley offers graduate education at $11,834/year with 96% graduation rate
- 4.50 accredited graduate Data Science doctoral programs analyzed using IPEDS 2023 completion data
Best Data Science Programs - Top 10 Graduate (Doctoral)
University of California-Berkeley
52 data science graduates annually
Why Ranked #1
Ranked #1 for Data Science based on 96% graduation rate, 52 graduates, and overall score of 96.5/100. Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
Program Strengths
- 96% graduation rate
- 52 data science graduates annually
- Accredited institution
Carnegie Mellon University
34 data science graduates annually
Why Ranked #2
Ranked #2 for Data Science based on 98% graduation rate, 34 graduates, and overall score of 91.3/100. Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
Program Strengths
- 98% graduation rate
- 34 data science graduates annually
- Accredited institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
68 data science graduates annually
Why Ranked #3
Ranked #3 for Data Science based on 68 graduates, and overall score of 88.4/100. Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
Program Strengths
- 68 data science graduates annually
- Accredited institution
University of Southern California
USC houses the Information Sciences Institute (ISI), a world-renowned research center that pioneered ARPAnet technologies and continues to lead breakthroughs in AI and data science, while the program's unique 'lived in the data' philosophy ensures students graduate with real-world experience through extensive hands-on projects and professional practicums.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Illinois created one of the first fully online Master of Computer Science in Data Science programs with courses taught by faculty who have produced seminal research in data sciences, while offering unprecedented flexibility through cross-school collaboration between Statistics, Computer Science, and Information Sciences.
Stanford University
64 data science graduates annually
Cornell University
33 data science graduates annually
Princeton University
30 data science graduates annually
Purdue University-Main Campus
54 data science graduates annually
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
11 data science graduates annually
Best Data Science Programs - Compare Top 5 Graduate
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Public | $11,834 | 96% | 96.5/100 |
| #2 Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | 91.3/100 |
| #3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | Private | $59,750 | N/A | 88.4/100 |
| #4 University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private | $66,640 | 92% | 85.7/100 |
| #5 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | Public | $14,768 | 90% | 85.6/100 |
Top 25 PhD Programs in Data Science 2026
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Public | — | — | — | 96.5 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | — | — | — | 91.3 |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | Private | — | — | — | 88.4 |
| 4 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private | — | — | — | 85.7 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | Public | — | — | — | 85.6 |
| 6 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA | Private | — | — | — | 84.6 |
| 7 | Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | Private | — | — | — | 83.4 |
| 8 | Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | Private | — | — | — | 82.6 |
| 9 | Purdue University-Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN | Public | — | — | — | 81.6 |
| 10 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | Public | — | — | — | 80.8 |
| 11 | University of California-San Diego | La Jolla, CA | Public | — | — | — | 79.2 |
| 12 | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Public | — | — | — | 77.6 |
| 13 | Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY | Private | — | — | — | 77.6 |
| 14 | University of Maryland-College Park | College Park, MD | Public | — | — | — | 75.9 |
| 15 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Public | — | — | — | 75.5 |
| 16 | University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | Public | — | — | — | 74.9 |
| 17 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Private | — | — | — | 74.9 |
| 18 | University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | Public | — | — | — | 73.9 |
| 19 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | Public | — | — | — | 71.5 |
| 20 | Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | Public | — | — | — | 71.4 |
| 21 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA | Public | — | — | — | 70.6 |
| 22 | University of California-Davis | Davis, CA | Public | — | — | — | 70.2 |
| 23 | Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | Private | — | — | — | 69.5 |
| 24 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | Public | — | — | — | 69.3 |
| 25 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | Private | — | — | — | 69.1 |
Showing 1–25 of 50
PhD in Data Science: Program Overview and Career Impact
A PhD in Data Science represents the highest level of education in one of technology's fastest-growing fields. These doctoral programs combine advanced mathematics, computer science, and domain expertise to train the next generation of research leaders and industry innovators. With data science job growth projected at 35% through 2032 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, PhD graduates are positioned for exceptional career opportunities across academia, industry, and government.
Our comprehensive analysis of 148 accredited PhD programs reveals significant variation in program quality, research focus, and career outcomes. Top-tier programs like Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon offer unparalleled research opportunities with faculty conducting groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computational statistics. These programs typically provide full funding through research assistantships and fellowships, with graduates commanding in industry roles.
The best PhD programs share several key characteristics: world-class faculty with active research programs, substantial external funding from NSF and industry partnerships, strong industry connections for internships and job placement, and comprehensive training in both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Students should carefully evaluate program fit based on research interests, as specialization areas range from deep learning and natural language processing to biostatistics and computational social science.
Career Paths
Principal Data Scientist
SOC 15-2051Lead technical teams, design data science strategies, and drive business impact through advanced analytics and machine learning solutions at technology companies.
Research Scientist - AI/ML
SOC 15-1221Conduct cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence and machine learning at technology companies, national labs, or research institutions.
Assistant Professor
SOC 25-1022Teach and conduct research at universities, building academic programs and mentoring the next generation of data scientists.
Quantitative Researcher
SOC 15-2031Develop mathematical models and algorithms for financial trading, risk management, and investment strategies at hedge funds and investment banks.
Data Science Consultant
SOC 13-1111Provide specialized expertise to organizations across industries, solving complex analytical challenges and implementing data-driven solutions.
Biostatistician/Health Data Scientist
SOC 15-2041Apply statistical and machine learning methods to healthcare data, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies to improve patient outcomes.
Program Spotlights: Deep Dive into Top PhD Programs
The following detailed profiles examine the top 5 PhD programs in data science, highlighting their unique strengths, research focus areas, faculty expertise, and career outcomes. Each program offers distinctive advantages for prospective doctoral students.
Comparing the Top 5 PhD Programs: Strengths and Specializations
The top 5 PhD programs in data science each offer distinct advantages and specialization areas. Stanford leads with its proximity to Silicon Valley, enabling unparalleled industry partnerships and internship opportunities. The program emphasizes machine learning and AI applications, with faculty like Andrew Ng and Fei-Fei Li pioneering the field. MIT's program through CSAIL focuses on theoretical foundations while maintaining strong applied research components.
Carnegie Mellon's Machine Learning Department was the first of its kind, offering the most specialized PhD in machine learning globally. Their interdisciplinary approach combines computer science, statistics, and domain expertise. UC Berkeley provides exceptional value for a top-tier program, especially for California residents, with world-class faculty in statistics and computer science departments collaborating on data science research.
Harvard's program uniquely integrates data science with other disciplines through the Harvard Data Science Initiative, offering opportunities to work on biomedical data, social science applications, and policy research. Each program maintains excellent industry connections, with graduates routinely receiving offers from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and leading research institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions About PhD Programs in Data Science
Based on 148 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024
Degree completions (sqrt normalized, capped at 500)
6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023
State-specific salary data from BLS OES 2024
Admission rate (lower = more selective)
Institution type (R1/R2 research bonus)
CAE-CD designation, curator bonuses
Data completeness proxy
Reporting completeness
Data Sources and Methodology
Completion data for doctoral programs, institutional characteristics, and graduation rates from the 2023 survey cycle
Comprehensive data on doctoral recipients including time-to-degree, career plans, and demographic characteristics from 2024 survey
Occupational employment and wage statistics for data scientists, research scientists, and related positions from May 2024 survey
Peer assessment data for doctoral program quality and faculty research productivity
Taylor Rupe
Full-Stack Developer (B.S. Computer Science, B.A. Psychology)
Taylor combines formal training in computer science with a background in human behavior to evaluate complex search, AI, and data-driven topics. His technical review ensures each article reflects current best practices in semantic search, AI systems, and web technology.