Data Science students collaborate
Data scientists are well-paid and in demand.

Data is growing—impacting our lives and economy. Are you ready to manage critical data sets? Choose a domain and Michigan Technological University's interdisciplinary Master of Science in Data Science provides you with training, skills, and opportunities to become a specialist.

A Growing, High-Impact Field

The field of data science has emerged in response to the increased data abundance in industry, science, and engineering—a result of richer content and high-speed communication networks. The total amount of data created, captured, copied, and consumed globally is forecast to increase rapidly, reaching 64.2 zettabytes in 2020. Through 2025, global data creation is projected to grow to more than 180 zettabytes.

Accordingly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 36 percent growth in employment for data scientists from 2021 to 2031. The median annual wage for data scientists was $100,910 in May 2021.

Who Are Data Scientists?

Data scientists occupy a unique niche in a variety of industries, from retail to finance to healthcare. They fill diverse roles, from data prognosticating to communicating complex, technical information to broad audiences. This skill set is in very high demand.

Because our data-collecting abilities have far outpaced techniques to manage these data, the world is in dire need of scientists who can expertly analyze and interpret massive data sets. The current lack of these trained professionals limits the amount of data that can be effectively mined to less than five percent of available data.

Big Producers of Data

  • Twitter and Facebook, which both generate more than 7 terabytes of data each day
  • e-Health networks
  • Telemetry devices and sensors
  • Environmental agencies
  • Commercial entities
  • Information security agencies

I chose Michigan Tech for its coursework, which is aimed at providing practical knowledge in computing with well-designed courses in programming, statistics, and data analysis. The professors are easy to connect with and always make time to assist students.

Shalaka Gaidhani
Shalaka Gaid Dipti Poudelte
Graduate Student, Data Science MS