100 Best colleges for Data Science in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Data Science. A graph of 16.6M citations received by 334K academic papers made by 498 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Data Science

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Data Science

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

3. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Data Science

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Data Science

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Data Science

#5 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Data Science

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Data Science

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Data Science

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Data Science

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Data Science

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

11. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Data Science

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Data Science

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

13. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Data Science

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

14. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Data Science

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

15. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Data Science

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

16. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Data Science

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Data Science

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

18. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Data Science

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

19. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Data Science

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

20. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Data Science

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Data Science

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

22. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Data Science

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

23. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Data Science

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

24. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Data Science

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

25. University of Texas at Austin

For Data Science

#28 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

26. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Data Science

#29 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

27. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Data Science

#30 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

28. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Data Science

#31 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Data Science

#32 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

30. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Data Science

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

31. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Data Science

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

32. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Data Science

#37 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

33. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Data Science

#38 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

34. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Data Science

#39 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

35. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Data Science

#40 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Data Science

#41 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

37. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Data Science

#43 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

38. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Data Science

#44 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

39. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Data Science

#46 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

40. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Data Science

#47 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

41. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Data Science

#48 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Data Science

#49 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

43. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Data Science

#51 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

44. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Data Science

#52 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Data Science

#53 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

46. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Data Science

#55 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

47. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Data Science

#56 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

48. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Data Science

#57 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

49. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Data Science

#58 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

50. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Data Science

#59 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

51. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Data Science

#60 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

52. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Data Science

#61 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

53. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Data Science

#63 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

54. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Data Science

#64 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

55. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Data Science

#66 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

56. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Data Science

#67 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

57. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Data Science

#68 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

58. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Data Science

#70 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

59. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Data Science

#71 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

60. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Data Science

#72 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

61. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Data Science

#73 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

62. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Data Science

#74 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

63. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Data Science

#75 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

64. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Data Science

#76 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

65. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Data Science

#77 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

66. Florida Atlantic University

Florida | Boca Raton

For Data Science

#78 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

67. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Data Science

#79 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

68. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Data Science

#80 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

69. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Data Science

#81 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

70. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Data Science

#82 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

71. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Data Science

#83 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

72. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Data Science

#84 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

73. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Data Science

#85 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

74. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Data Science

#86 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

75. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Data Science

#87 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

76. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Data Science

#88 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

77. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Data Science

#90 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

78. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Data Science

#91 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

79. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Data Science

#92 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

80. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Data Science

#93 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

81. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Data Science

#94 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

82. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Data Science

#96 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

83. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Data Science

#98 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

84. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Data Science

#99 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

85. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Data Science

#101 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

86. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Data Science

#102 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

87. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Data Science

#103 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $36,948

88. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Data Science

#104 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

89. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Data Science

#105 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

90. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Data Science

#106 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

91. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Data Science

#107 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

92. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Data Science

#108 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

93. Stevens Institute of Technology

New Jersey | Hoboken

For Data Science

#109 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,165

94. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Data Science

#110 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

95. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Data Science

#111 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

96. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Data Science

#113 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

97. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Data Science

#114 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

98. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Data Science

#115 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

99. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Data Science

#116 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

100. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Data Science

#117 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

The best cities to study Data Science in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Cambridge, Champaign, and Ann Arbor.