Is a Master's in Data Science Worth It? Here's What You Need to Know.

If you're already working with data or considering a career pivot into this fast-growing field, you’ve likely asked yourself, is a master’s in data science worth it? Or more specifically, is a master’s in data science worth the investment?

The short answer? It can be—especially if you're aiming to move beyond entry-level roles into leadership or switch from a different discipline into a data-driven decision-making role.

Today’s organizations are navigating a massive data explosion, creating a high demand for skilled data professionals across industries—from healthcare and finance to tech and logistics. As tools and techniques evolve, the ability to simply manipulate data isn't enough. Employers are increasingly looking for experts who can lead with insight, build predictive models, design intelligent algorithms, and make sense of complex, large-scale data systems.

That’s where a master’s in data science can make a difference. More than just technical training in the tools of the trade, a quality program helps you build critical thinking skills, enhance your problem-solving ability, and prepare for leadership roles using analytics and strategy. Whether you're deepening your current skill set or starting fresh from another field, the investment in a master’s degree could be the catalyst that moves your career to the next level.

What Is a Master’s in Data Science?

Data science is a multidisciplinary field that extracts insights and knowledge from large and complex sets of data. It combines elements of statistics, mathematics, and computer science, along with domain and industry knowledge.

Can you become a data scientist without a master’s degree? Possibly. Some professionals enter the field through self-study, industry certifications, or plenty of hands-on experience. However, a master’s degree can accelerate your career by providing structured training, deeper expertise, networking with experts in the field, and access to advanced roles.

Key Benefits of Getting a Master’s in Data Science

Whether a Master’s in Data Science is worth it to you will depend on your own personal goals, stage in your career, and previous education and skills. Here are several considerations for when it makes sense.

• Data is transforming your industry and profession: Data transformation is happening in almost every industry including healthcare, banking and finance, science and education, the government and military sectors, retail, e-commerce, and nonprofits. Data and its manipulation is trickling down into multiple aspects and levels of most professions.

• Your goal is to change jobs or transition to a new career: If you've got the drive but need the training or credentials to move into the field of data-driven decision-making, machine-learning, AI, modeling, analyzing, and visualization of data, a master’s degree can help you get there.

• You want career growth potential: Skills in data science can offer the mobility to level up in your field and increase your value to employers.

Return on investment in a degree depends greatly upon the ability to get hired in your field. Data scientists and data analysts continue to be in great demand because organizations increasingly require leaders to make data-driven decisions.

Another consideration for a data science master’s program is that it can provide opportunities to specialize in areas such as ​machine learning, data visualization, game theory, large-scale data systems, and more, offering even more value for a business or organization.

Relevancy and Expertise

The Bellevue University Master’s in Data Science degree program is designed through consultation with data scientists from powerhouses like Microsoft, Kiewit, Union Pacific, and other industry partners. These data science advisors help create a program that uses the tools and techniques most used in industry today.

Today’s organizations are absolutely inundated with data. But data doesn’t have value unless businesses have skilled employees who are able to provide the kind of insights that turn that data into better decisions and business strategies. Graduates know how to analyze data, manage it at the enterprise level, and transform it into real-life actionable solutions.

– Dr. Mary Hawkins, President, Bellevue University

Skills Gained in a Data Science Degree

A Master’s in Data Science equips you with a versatile blend of technical and analytical skills that can be applied across industries. Key skills include:

• Curating, analyzing, and drawing insights from complex and varied data sets
• Solving real-world problems using data science methods and tools
• Balancing strengths in both programming and statistical analysis
• Programming in Python and R for data manipulation and modeling
• Applying both frequentist and Bayesian statistical methods
• Grouping, merging, and filtering data sets for deeper analysis
• Performing predictive analytics using techniques like data mining
• Translating complex findings into actionable insights
• Presenting and visualizing data clearly for non-technical stakeholders

These skills position graduates for data science roles that require not just technical expertise, but also strong communication and problem-solving abilities.

What Can You Do With It? Here’s Where These Skills Can Take You

Graduates of data science master’s programs are prepared for in-demand roles in entry- or mid-level positions, depending upon experience, such as:

• Data Scientist
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Data Engineer
• Quantitative Analyst
• Analytics Consultant
• Research Scientist

These roles are found in nearly every industry including:

• Technology and Software Development
• Healthcare and Life Sciences
• Finance and Banking
• Retail and E-commerce
• Government and Public Policy
• Manufacturing and Supply Chain
• Media, Entertainment, and Sport Industries

With this degree, you’ll be ready to lead data-driven innovation in virtually any field.

Financial Considerations for a Master’s in Data Science

When considering whether an advanced degree like the Master’s in Data Science degree is worth it, you must factor in several things such as time, cost, education requirements, and personal commitment.

Weigh these costs above with the benefit of a master’s degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the current median annual salary of data scientists as $103,020 (2023). According to the BLS source, some employers require or prefer hiring those with a master’s or doctoral degree, but typically you need at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, data science, statistics, computer science, or a related field to enter the occupation.

However, earning potential with a master’s in data science varies depending on factors such as industry, location, experience, and specific job role.

Costs can vary greatly between schools and are usually measured by cost per credit. It’s important to do some research to guide your decision. Here are some of the facts:

• Cost per credit and other fees are found on the Bellevue University Tuition and Fees page.
• Graduate students are eligible for financial aid and scholarships.
• Military education funding and corporate tuition assistance are other popular ways to fund graduate courses.
• You may be able to transfer in up to 6 graduate credit hours from a previous accredited university. Contact us to learn more about how to have your credits evaluated.

Education Requirements

Beyond the financial costs, educational requirements take your time, effort, and personal commitment. Here’s what you can expect:

Most students complete a master’s degree in 2-3 years, depending on several factors, including how many credits you take per term and how many are required, and the number of academic terms per year (part-time students may take longer). A data science degree typically requires 30-36 graduate credit hours.

Bellevue University’s Master’s in Data Science is a 30-credit-hour program. If you take two 3-credit courses per term, (3 terms per year) and progress without interruption, it is possible to complete the degree in 5 terms.

How Does the Master’s in Data Science at Bellevue University Benefit Your Career?

A key part of the Bellevue University program’s applied focus is that each student will graduates with a data science portfolio. Catie Williams, Program Director, said the portfolios will feature real-life projects that demonstrate the depth and breadth of graduates’ ability to analyze data to solve problems.

“The portfolio aspect of Bellevue University’s data science program takes it to the next level. It makes sure students have exposure to the same tools and technology that businesses are using today,” explained Williams.

She said students will solve problems using Python; visualize data with R, Tableau and PowerBI; conduct data analysis using statistical models, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI); and tackle Big Data storage and management problems with solutions like Hadoop, Spark, Deep Learning, and more.

“When they graduate, students will be able to use data to tell a story,” said Williams. “They’ll be extremely familiar with the tools,” she said, “and be confident presenting to an executive team or a stakeholder group.”

Daniel Carbajal was one such student who graduated with a master’s degree in data science alongside his wife, Carrie, who earned her Ph.D. from Bellevue University in 2023.

Today, the couple lives in Fairfield, California. Daniel is employed by a company that works on lunar technology on behalf of NASA and other classified projects. His Master of Science in Data Science degree from Bellevue University directly impacts that work and boosts his skillset as a digital signal processing engineer.

As a DSP [Digital Signal Processing] engineer, having a data science background is essential because technology is advancing and turning into machine learning and adaptive systems, primarily related to data science. Nowadays, organizations are collecting large data sets, and knowing how to use this data is beneficial in many engineering applications. From engineering, data science and cybersecurity to federal contracting and human capital management, we can provide services that best optimize our talents and what we have learned from Bellevue University.

– Daniel Carbajal, MS Data Science, MS Cybersecurity, Bellevue University

The Bottom Line: Is a Master’s in Data Science Right For You?

Bellevue University believes the best way to build skills in data science and analytics is by combining real-world, hands-on learning with theory. The Master’s in Data Science program offers an engaging and flexible learning experience that fits your personal and work life.

Ready to move your career forward? Whether you're just starting out or already working in analytics or data science, this program is designed for you. If you've got the drive but need the training or credentials to take the next step, now’s the time to invest in yourself. Enroll today and gain the skills—and the degree—to open up new opportunities and accelerate your future.

Start your Master’s in Data Science at Bellevue University today.

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