100 Best colleges for Data Science in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 15.3M citations received by 320K academic papers made by 489 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: $17,998

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Data Science

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

3. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Data Science

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Data Science

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

5. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Data Science

#5 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Data Science

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Data Science

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Data Science

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
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: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Data Science

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

11. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Data Science

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Data Science

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

13. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Data Science

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

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: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

15. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Data Science

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Data Science

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Data Science

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

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: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

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: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

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: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Data Science

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

22. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Data Science

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

23. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Data Science

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

24. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Data Science

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

25. University of Texas at Austin

For Data Science

#28 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

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: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

27. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Data Science

#30 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

28. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Data Science

#31 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Data Science

#32 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

30. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Data Science

#34 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

31. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Data Science

#35 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

32. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Data Science

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

33. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Data Science

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

34. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Data Science

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

35. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Data Science

#39 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Data Science

#42 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

37. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Data Science

#43 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

38. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Data Science

#44 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

39. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Data Science

#45 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

40. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Data Science

#47 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

41. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Data Science

#48 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Data Science

#49 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

43. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Data Science

#50 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

44. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Data Science

#52 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

45. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Data Science

#53 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Data Science

#54 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

47. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Data Science

#56 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

48. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Data Science

#57 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

49. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Data Science

#58 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

50. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Data Science

#59 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Data Science

#60 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

52. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Data Science

#62 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

53. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Data Science

#63 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

54. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Data Science

#65 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

55. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Data Science

#66 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

56. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Data Science

#67 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

57. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Data Science

#68 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

58. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Data Science

#69 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

59. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Data Science

#71 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

60. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Data Science

#72 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

61. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Data Science

#73 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

62. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Data Science

#74 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

63. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Data Science

#75 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

64. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Data Science

#76 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

65. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Data Science

#77 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

66. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Data Science

#78 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

67. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Data Science

#79 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

68. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Data Science

#80 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

69. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Data Science

#81 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

70. Florida Atlantic University

Florida | Boca Raton

For Data Science

#82 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

71. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Data Science

#83 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

72. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Data Science

#84 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

73. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Data Science

#85 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

74. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Data Science

#86 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

75. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Data Science

#87 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Data Science

#89 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

77. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Data Science

#90 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

78. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Data Science

#91 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

79. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Data Science

#92 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

80. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Data Science

#93 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

81. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Data Science

#94 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

82. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Data Science

#96 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

83. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Data Science

#97 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

84. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Data Science

#99 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

85. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Data Science

#100 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

86. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Data Science

#101 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $37,103

87. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Data Science

#102 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

88. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Data Science

#103 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

89. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Data Science

#104 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

90. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Data Science

#105 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

91. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Data Science

#106 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

92. Stevens Institute of Technology

New Jersey | Hoboken

For Data Science

#107 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,665

93. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Data Science

#109 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

94. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Data Science

#110 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

95. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Data Science

#111 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

96. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Data Science

#112 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

97. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Data Science

#114 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

98. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Data Science

#115 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Data Science

#116 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

100. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Data Science

#117 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

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 Berkeley.