Washington DC Data Science Degree Programs

Click to see more featured 100% online data science programs currently accepting applicants for 2024.

With nearly 10 different data science programs, there are a number of options with the District of Columbia for you to study data science and analytics.

The Masters in Data Science is a popular program in the DC metro area, with multiple options in the city, online, and in nearby states.

Click for more online data science programs that are taking applications.

Are there online data science programs in DC?

Yes. Here is the list of some of the best online data science degree programs in DC that we have found so far.

University Program Location

American University

Online MS Analytics Online

Full List of the Best DC Data Science Degrees

Here is the list of some of the best data science programs online and at campuses in DC..

University Program Location

American University Kogod School of Business

M.S. in Analytics
Washington
Technical and analytical skills applied to marketing, information technology, and health care. Average completion time of the program is one to three years depending on enrollment. Up to nine credit hours waived with a combined Bachelor's and Master's degree program.

American University College of Arts and Sciences

Master of Science in Data Science
Washington
Explores cyber security practice, business finance, environmental science, investigative journalism, and other domains. Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. College-level mathematics needed in prior academic coursework.

American University Kogod School of Business

Online MS Analytics
Washington
Concentrations available in the following subjects: Business Foundations, Financial Analytics, Cybersecurity, and Consulting. Students can complete the program in one to two years based on enrollment. There are two on-campus practicum completed during studies.

George Washington University Columbian College of Arts and Sciences

Graduate Certificate in Data Science
Washington
Requires two introductory courses in data science, data mining, or data warehousing. Two electives fulfill curriculum requirements and must be at the 6000-level or higher.

George Washington University School of Business

M.S. in Business Analytics
Washington
33 total credit hours required with availability for part-time or full-time enrollment. Core coursework includes times series forecasting, risk analysis, and data mining. Prerequisites needed in college-level calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and computer programming.

George Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science

Master of Science in Data Analytics
Washington
Focused tracks offered in Computer Science or Engineering Management and Systems Engineering. Admission into the program can take place in the fall, spring, or summer semester. Time span averages between two to three years of study depending on enrollment.

George Washington University Columbian College of Arts and Sciences

Master of Science in Data Science
Washington
Sets out to give students experience with data mining tools and applications. Analyze information from various data sets that go toward detailed reports and visualizations. Culminating capstone project looks to solve business problems using these skills. Expand on Python and R programming, and the capability to work with other team members.

Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy

Master in Data Science for Public Policy (MDSPP)
Washington
Influence and development of public policy through using data analytics tools and techniques. Graduates have gone on to work at enterprises including Capital One and Amazon.

Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

Master of Science in Analytics, Concentration in Data Sciences MSDS
Washington
Graduate program blends together data science technical capability with statistical analysis and modeling. Curriculum breakdown is even with five required courses and five elective options. Advanced Programming Topics needed without a proper background in Python or R programming.

University of the Potomac

M.S. in Data Analytics
Washington
Concentrations include Marketing Analytics, Financial Analytics, Big Data Science, and Geospatial Intelligence. Core content in foundational analytical practices, data management, and executive leadership skills.
Notice a missing or inaccurate program? Our data is hand-collected and edited. If you notice a missing data science program, please email schools at datascienceprograms.org to enter a program to be reviewed or to adjust a current listing.

Although DC is a smaller metro by area, it is highly populated. There are a number of on campus degree options, as well as options for online education.

In Depth review of Online Data Science Degrees in Washington DC

American University MS in Analytics

For those looking for an online degree in this field, the only option in Washington DC is obtaining a Master of Science in Analytics through the Kogod School of Business. It is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This is a different path than their Master of Science in Data Science, which is only available on campus. A MS in Analytics degree focuses on using data and predictive methods to improve various aspects of the business while an MSDS degree prepares students with engineering and programming to create those systems and their algorithms.

The MSAn requires 33 total credit hours to complete, separated into six core courses, four electives, and two in-person practicums that are completed in Washington, DC. Those physical meetings will be real-world situations that need to be solved and the school has partnered with companies like Capital One. Tools that are used in the courses include SQL, Tableau, Hadoop, and customized versions of Microsoft Excel. Areas of focus students can select are Business Foundations, Cybersecurity, Financial Analytics, and Consulting. There are four start dates for maximum flexibility when going into the program.

An alternative program is the MSDS, which requires 30 credit hours to complete and must be completed on campus. 15 credit hours are spread out in core classes, 3 credits are for either Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Political Science or Statistical Methods, 9 credits are for the various tracks that students can select such as Business Analytics and Investigative Journalism, and a capstone project at the end. This program is open to those with a Bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

George Washington University MS in Data Science

The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences has both a Master of Science in Data Science and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science, both only offered at the campus. For certification, 12 credits must be earned, which includes two of the required courses: Introduction to Data Science, Introduction to Data Mining, and Data Warehousing, plus two electives.

These courses can be combined with the full MSDS, which offers broader look at data analysis, software tools, and improves communication skills which are imperative for a successful career in the field. 30 credits are needed to complete the Master's degree.

Scholarship Opportunities within Washington DC

George Washington University offers various scholarships and fellowships for graduate-level full-time students with awards that vary, including 18 credit hours taken off tuition, salaries, stipends, and more. This is also the case in the School of Business for those completing a Master of Science in Business Analytics.

For women that are members of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Women in Engineering for at least a year, they are eligible for a scholarship from the organization if they are enrolled in the MSAn program at American. The award is up to $7,500 toward tuition. Members of the United Methodist Church for over two years can apply for the American University graduate scholarship. This is specifically for full-time graduate students that are in an online program.

Georgetown University, who offers an on-campus Master of Science in Analytics, can apply for university scholarships based on merit and teaching assistantships. This is for both incoming and current students when available.

Data Science Careers in Washington DC

The metro area of Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, that stretches across DC, Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, holds over 293,000 jobs in the tech industry according to CompTIA.

This represents 13.1 percent of the workforce in the tech industry, with the top three occupations being in software and web development, cybersecurity, and network administration and support. The average salary is high in the Northeast, only rivaled by Seattle and San Francisco on the West Coast. Along this region, nothing matches the DC area that sits at just over $106,400 per year.

Data Science Events, Meetups, and Conferences in Washington DC

ACTIVATE Conference

ACTIVATE Conference in Washington DC ACTIVATE Conference Website
A multiple-day event that features talks from professionals in a variety of departments, which includes data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. This is one of the biggest conferences that features Apache Solr and Lucidworks Fusion, and the event centers around how to apply search and AI methods into the organization. The first two days holds training courses and the later days featuring presentations and speaker keynotes.

Typical occupations that are seen at this event include developers, data engineers, data scientists, IT managers, and chief technology and information officers. Companies that have participated in the conference keynotes include Target, StubHub, Getty Images, Salesforce, and Amazon Web Services.

Data-Driven Government

Data-Driven Government Washington DC Data-Driven Government Website
A unique government-focused event that helps professionals in this sector improve their workplace by increasing efficiency, policy-making, and mission outcomes. The one-day event has over 40 speakers that will be presenting ideas on how to make data analytics better adopted along government agencies, how these can be used to complete goals, how to build high-functioning analytic teams, and what the newest technologies are.

This is open to all levels of the government — federal, state, and local. Along with keynote speakers, there will be specialized breakout groups that will tackle specific issues related to the track selected. There are multiple workshops, such as fraud analytics and a deeper dive into data science for management, that take place on days around the event.

Data Science DC

One of the biggest meetup groups in Washington DC is Data Science DC with over 12,000 members. With meetings typically once in the middle of each month, this offers a tremendous opportunities for workers, students, and those with an interest in the field to get together and discuss various topics. This includes machine learning, AI, predictive analytics, and data visualization.

Routinely, the group will hold “Lightning Talks,” which has quick talks from various professionals that present their work and/or innovations they have experienced. Other classes in the past have dealt with employment help, preparing for data science conventions, and deep discussions on the future of the tech industry.