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MDS@RICE FAQs

What does the online Master of Data Science program cost?

Students in the Online Master of Data Science program will pay the standard Rice University part-time rate of $1,666.70 per credit hour. The program requires a minimum of 31 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.

Start your application to join Rice's Summer 2025 cohort today!

Are scholarships, discounts or financial aid available?

Yes, applicants who submit their completed applications by the early deadlines will be eligible for $10K merit-based scholarship consideration by the Admissions Committee. Start your application today.

Rice Alumni admitted to the program will receive 10% off the cost of tuition for the Online Master of Data Science. Visit the Rice Alumni financial offers page for further details, or start your application now.

Rice Engineering is also proud to provide financial aid and support to veterans and active military members. Learn more below.

Because the Master of Data Science (MDS) is a non-thesis (non-research) degree, Rice University does not offer tuition waivers, stipends, fellowships, or assistantships for this program. Students are also encouraged to visit the Rice Office of Student Financial Services for more information about loans and outside sources of aid.

 How does Rice MDS support veterans and active military members?

Veteran education benefits are available to qualified full or part-time Rice students who are active duty or reserve military personnel, veterans, or in some cases, the dependents of deceased or disabled veterans whose death or disability is a direct result of their military service. There are a variety of options to help you pay for your education at Rice.

Please select one option that applies to you to learn more about veterans education benefits.

I am a Veteran

I am a Dependent of a Veteran

Is Rice University’s Online Master of Data Science an accredited program?

Yes, Rice University's Online Master of Data Science degree program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Can I work while pursuing an online Master of Data Science at Rice University?

Yes! High-quality online graduate education is a great option for working professionals who need convenience and flexibility.

Working students may complete their degrees part-time in approximately 2.5 - 3 years, while maintaining full-time jobs. Students also have the option to complete the program full-time in approximately 18-24 months for students taking a hiatus from work (pending strength of prerequisites at time of admission).

Learn more about Rice University’s unique online student experience for graduate students.

How many courses or credit hours should I take per term (or semester)?

Since Rice's Master of Data Science (Online) program is tailored to be a part-time program for working professionals, most students take 1 or 2 courses part-time per term, or about 3-6 credit hours per term.

Upon acceptance into the program, you’ll be assigned a Student Success Advisor who can counsel you on course load and sequencing relative to your educational background, experience, and work-life balance.

How long does it take to complete the online Master of Data Science program at Rice University?

Since Rice's Master of Data Science (Online) program is tailored to be a part-time program for working professionals, most students take 1 or 2 courses per term. At this pace, students can expect to finish in approximately 2.5 - 3 years.  Students have up to 5 years to complete their degrees.

Students who are not working will be welcome to attend the program full-time, which would allow them to complete the program in 18-24 months (pending strength of prerequisites at time of admission).

Upon acceptance into the program, you’ll be assigned a Student Success Advisor who can counsel you on course load and sequencing relative to your educational background, experience, and work-life balance.

When does the online Master of Data Science program at Rice University start?

The online Master of Data Science program offers three start dates per year: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

To learn more about applying to our program, please visit the Admissions page.

Is the program designed for students to work at their own pace?

Yes, Rice University’s online Master of Data Science curriculum is designed so you can work 100% online at your own pace, but with some structure. You will find that the course lecture material and content is available for you to work through on your own schedule. However, there are weekly live sessions, as well as due dates for all assignments and graded work. Content is released on a specific schedule so that you will move through the course with your cohort.

Rice considers the deep faculty-student and student-to-student interactions to be crucial components to effective graduate learning and overall student success. For this reason, students should be prepared to engage with faculty and with each other throughout the program.

What topics will be covered as part of the course curriculum?

The curriculum for the online Master of Data Science program is a rigorous blend of courses in Python programming, machine learning algorithms, big data, data visualization, statistical analysis, data security and privacy, and more.

You will be able to complement your core courses with a specialization in Machine Learning or Business Analytics. More specializations, such as Quantitative Finance, are planned for future terms. You can further customize your data science master’s curriculum by selecting from course electives in software systems, cybersecurity, project management, and more.

Learn more about the Rice online master’s in data science program curriculum now.

What is the difference between data science and data analytics?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are important differences between data science and data analytics. Data analysts focus on analyzing vast amounts of data to discern patterns that can be used in effective business decision-making. Data scientists know how to develop and apply analytical tools and build automation systems and frameworks to structure data, mine it, explain it and offer insight into how the data informs business decisions.

Should I apply if I don’t have a STEM undergrad/graduate background?

Yes! Rice’s online Master of Data Science applicants do not need have to have a computational (computer science) background, since the goal of the degree is to quickly cover foundational topics in computer science and programming, mathematics, and statistics.

The program is interdisciplinary by design so that it has direct application for students across industries.

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for the online Master of Data Science program?

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The program has three intakes per year, so you are able to choose the start date that works best for you (Fall, Spring or Summer).

Application requirements include:

• Two letters of recommendation from people who are familiar with your professional experience, and technical and communication abilities
• CV or resume
• Statement of purpose
• Undergraduate transcripts
• 3.0+ GPA (for exceptions criteria, see Admissions)
• Application fee of $85
• Optional: GRE scores with 3.0+ GPA
• Optional: TOEFL/IELTS score if your native language is not English

To learn more about our application process, visit our Admissions page.

Applications must be submitted through our online submission portal.

Is the GRE required?

The GRE is recommended for all applicants, but is not required. If you meet or exceed the 3.0 GPA requirement, have strong math skills and relative work experience as indicated by the resume and letters of recommendation, the GRE is not required.

Visit our Admissions page to learn more about application requirements.

How do I decide between Rice's Master of Data Science and the Master of Computer Science?

Data scientists are part statisticians, part mathematicians, and part computer scientists, but above all, they love the idea of leveraging data to form hypotheses and uncover answers, solve big problems, and make strategic recommendations to improve their organizations and society

If, however, you prefer the prospect of engineering and building technologies like machine learning to create advanced software systems and digital innovations (for example, machine learning algorithms, autonomous vehicles), the Master of Computer Science may be right for you. Prospective students for the MCS program should have programming experience, although a CS background is not required with sufficient prerequisites.

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