Best Universities for Data Science 2025 – Global Rankings, Fees & Programs

If you want to build a career in Data Science, choosing the right university is very important. Data science jobs are growing fast in tech, healthcare, finance, and many other fields. So, more students now want to study in the best universities for data science that offer quality education, skill-based learning, and strong job support.

Some top names like MIT, Carnegie Mellon, University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and Harvard are known all over the world for their data programs. But there are also some affordable universities in countries like Germany, Poland, and Sweden that offer good courses at a low cost. In this article, we have listed the top 15 universities for data science and also shared some cheapest options for international students.

Looking for the best Data Science courses abroad?
Here are top programs from globally recognized universities:

• MSc in Business Intelligence & Data Science – ISM, Germany
• MSc in Data Science with Work Placement – University of Roehampton, UK
• MS in Data Science – UMass Dartmouth, USA

Top 15 Best Universities for Data Science

Here is a list of the Top 15 Best Universities for Data Science based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. These universities are globally known for strong research, hands-on learning, and excellent job outcomes in data-related fields.

Top 15 Universities	QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
MIT Solan	1
Carnegie Mellon University	2
University of Oxford	3
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	4
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore)	5
Harvard University	6
National University of Singapore (NUS)	7
ETH Zurich	8
Yale University	9
University of Toronto	10
EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne	11
Imperial College London	12
New York University (NYU)	=13
University of Washington	=13
Cornell University	=15

1. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology combines top-tier math, coding, and machine learning work. Students dive into real AI tools that big tech uses. Employers love hiring MIT graduates for data roles.

• Founded: 1861
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 4% undergraduates; approximately 8–10% graduates
• Data Science Programs:
  • MS in Statistics & Data Science
  • Data Science focus within EECS
• Tuition Fees: Approximately $57,000/year (₹47 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: Google, Amazon, Facebook, top salaries in AI/data

2. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)

Carnegie Mellon University is famous for AI, data mining, and robots. It’s hands-on, so students build real systems. Graduates go straight to tech and finance roles.

• Founded: 1900
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 7–15%, specifically for data science
• Data Science Programs:
  • MS Applied Data Science
  • MS Computational Data Science
  • BS Statistics & Data Science
• Tuition Fees: Approximately $48,000/year (₹39.5 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: ML engineer, data scientist—avg $120K/year

3. University of Oxford

Oxford University mixes strong stats theory with AI ethics and social use. You'll work on global problems using data. Graduates move into research, finance, and tech.

• Founded: approximately 1167
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 15%
• Data Science Programs:
  • MSc Social Data Science
  • MSc Data Science & Statistics
• Tuition Fees: Approximately £27,000–£30,000/year (₹27–₹30 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: Research roles, analysts, govt and NGO positions

4. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

Berkeley is near Silicon Valley, so industry links are strong. The MIDS program is top‑rated for big data skills. Graduates land high-paying jobs in tech.

• Founded: 1868
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 15–20% for MIDS
• Data Science Programs:
  • MIDS (Master of Information & Data Science)
  • BA in Data Science
  • DS focus in CS & Stats
• Tuition Fees: Approximately $55,000/year (₹45.3 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: Facebook, Oracle, Oracle, Salesforce

5. Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

Nanyang Technological University is a rising star in Asia for data and AI. Research comes with strong real-world use and regional employers. Graduates get jobs across Asia in tech and finance.

• Founded: 1955
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 10–20%
• Data Science Programs:
  • MSc Data Science
  • BSc Data Science & AI
• Tuition Fees: S$17,650 (INR 10 lakhs)
• Job Opportunities: Google APAC, DBS, tech start-ups

6. Harvard University

Harvard University blends data science with health and public policy. Expect work in labs, policy groups, and consulting. Graduates land roles in biotech, finance, or tech.

• Founded: 1636
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 5% undergraduates; approximately 9% graduates
• Data Science Programs:
  • MS/PhD in Biostatistics with DS option
  • Computational Science training
• Tuition Fees: Approximately $60,000/year (₹49.3 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: Consultant, data analyst, researcher

7. National University of Singapore (NUS)

The National University of Singapore offers data science close to fast-growing tech markets. Research often pairs with finance and AI labs. Graduates land in fintech, engineering, or government roles.

• Founded: 1905
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 10–20%
• Data Science Programs:
  • MSc Data Science & Machine Learning
  • BSc Data Science & Analytics
• Tuition Fees: Approximately SGD 38,000–SGD 45,000/year (₹23–₹27 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: Analytics roles, data engineer, consulting

8. ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is top in Europe for tech and engineering with strong data systems. You will work on finance, robotics, and modeling. Graduates are hired by Swiss giants and startups.

• Founded: 1855
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 15–20%
• Data Science Programs:
  • MSc Data Science
  • MSc Statistics with DS modules
• Tuition Fees: 
  • Approximately CHF 1,500/year (₹1.4 lakhs) for tuition.
  • Living costs in Zurich are higher, averaging CHF 2,000–CHF 2,500/month (₹1.9–₹2.4 lakhs).
  • Scholarships like the ETH Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) are available.
• Job Opportunities: IBM, UBS, robotics firms

9. Yale University

Yale University brings together social science and data science, often working on civic tech and public health. Students find paths in NGOs, biotech, or media.

• Founded: 1701
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 6% undergraduates; approximately 10% graduate
• Data Science Programs:
  • MS/PhD via Engineering & Applied Science
• Tuition Fees: USD 64.7K a year (INR 54.8L)
• Job Opportunities: Government analyst, biotech data work

10. University of Toronto

University of Toronto is Canada’s top AI/data center with a strong tech ecosystem. The Data Science Institute supports real applications. Graduates enter finance, tech and public service.

• Founded: 1827
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 20–25%
• Data Science Programs:
  • Master of Data Science (MIDS)
  • BSc Data Science
• Tuition Fees: Approximately CAD 45,000–CAD 50,000/year (₹27–₹30 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: Google Canada, RBC, civil analytics

11. EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

EPFL is a Swiss technical university strong in applied science and data. You will work on automation, robotics, and EU data projects. Graduates go into engineering roles.

• Founded: 1853
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 40% for DS masters
• Data Science Programs:
  • MSc Data Science
  • CS master with DS modules
• Tuition Fees: 1,540 CHF
• Job Opportunities: Swiss engineering firms, research labs

12. Imperial College London

Imperial College London is best known for engineering with a strong AI/data science angle. Its London location grants access to finance and pharma. Many graduates join tech, consultancy, or healthcare companies.

• Founded: 1907
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 20–25%
• Data Science Programs:
  • MSc Stats (Data Science)
  • MSc Computing (Machine Learning)
• Tuition Fees: Approximately £30,000–£33,000/year (₹30–₹33 lakhs).
• Job Opportunities: Barclays, GSK, AI startups

13. New York University (NYU)

New York University’s data science program is at the heart of NYC’s data scene. It’s known for NLP, media analytics, and probability modeling. Graduates join banks, publishers, or tech firms.

• Founded: 1831
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 25–30% for MS in Data Science
• Data Science Programs:
  • MS in Data Science with NLP/ML options
• Tuition Fees: approximately $62,796
• Job Opportunities: Bloomberg, Amazon, JPMorgan

14. University of Washington (UW)

University of Washington is known for strong ties to Amazon and Microsoft. Its data programs focus on cloud, AI, and geospatial data. Graduates join Seattle tech firms and startups.

• Founded: 1861
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 15–20%
• Data Science Programs:
  • MS in Data Science (MSDS)
  • Minor in Data Science
• Tuition Fees: Approximately $60,000
• Job Opportunities: Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing data roles

15. Cornell University

Cornell University brings Ivy status and strong tech programs, especially in NYC-based Cornell Tech. You will work on city data, network systems, and urban planning. graduates join finance, tech, and city agencies.

• Founded: 1865
• Acceptance Rate: approximately 10–15% for graduates
• Data Science Programs:
  • MS in Data Science (Cornell Tech)
  • BS in CS with DS options
• Tuition Fees: 
  • undergraduate: $71,266 (INR 61L)
  • Graduates: $46,658 (INR 40L) to $89,536 (INR 76.6L)
• Job Opportunities: IBM, Cisco, govt analytics

Best Universities for Data Science

If you are looking to study Data Science without spending too much, these universities offer strong programs at low or no tuition costs for international students. They are well-known in Europe and beyond for combining affordability with quality education.

• Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany
• Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of Warsaw, Poland
• Lund University, Sweden
• University of Porto, Portugal
• University of Vienna, Austria
• Charles University, Czech Republic
• TU Dortmund University, Germany
• Vilnius University, Lithuania

Conclusion

The best universities for Data Science in 2025 are led by MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and UC Berkeley, with top programs blending cutting-edge research, industry partnerships, and practical training.

US institutions dominate the rankings of the best country to study data science in the world, but Asian and European universities like Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland) also excel.

Candidates can connect with upGrad experts if they want 1:1 counselling or guidance on admissions, scholarships, or program selection.