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Cheapest Data Science Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Florida Polytechnic University stands out dramatically in the affordable data science education space, charging just $9,899 net for a degree that could land graduates in tech roles throughout the Southeast's growing analytics sector. The $11,000 price gap between Florida Poly and the next cheapest option highlights how strategic school selection can dramatically impact student debt loads. Companies like Disney, Lockheed Martin, and numerous Orlando-area tech firms actively recruit data scientists from Florida institutions, creating strong regional job pipelines. While graduation rates vary significantly across these programs, from University of Houston-Downtown's 33.8% to Arizona State's 67.8%, the financial accessibility remains consistent. Most of these affordable options are public institutions where in-state students can often cut costs even further, though private schools like William Jewell College prove that lower-cost data science education exists beyond state university systems.
50
Programs
$9,899 – $29,562
Net Price Range
64.1%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Data Science Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $9,899 $4,940 53.0% 56.0%
2 $11,513 $9,254 32.5% 80.7%
3 $13,670 $12,051 67.8% 89.8%
4 $14,623 $7,708 33.8% 88.4%
5 $14,714 $8,606 60.9% 84.5%
6 $16,353 $15,956 61.2% 69.8%
7 $16,456 $10,638 67.4% 91.1%
8 $16,602 $19,890 61.6% 41.0%
9 $17,084 $15,510 45.5% 83.2%
10 $18,285 $27,868 50.2% 95.2%
11 $18,680 $9,286 65.5% 92.7%
12 $18,701 $15,298 57.8% 84.6%
13 $18,990 $8,522 37.5% 69.9%
14 $19,181 $9,780 38.4% 81.7%
15 $20,332 $12,896 66.9% 90.8%
16 $20,860 $18,890 78.6% 59.8%
17 $20,877 $12,828 47.8% 82.9%
18 $20,913 $19,430 39.3% 91.5%
19 $20,979 $35,214 51.5% 48.5%
20 $21,398 $10,964 73.1% 86.0%
21 $21,497 $50,550 85.3% 62.9%
22 $21,539 $37,940 60.3% 57.8%
23 $21,563 $49,758 65.1% 92.5%
24 $21,782 $15,669 71.5% 86.3%
25 $22,529 $25,040 91.0% 33.5%
26 $22,670 $31,000 55.9% 59.8%
27 $23,587 $47,180 67.7% 87.8%
28 $23,663 $48,268 72.7% 80.6%
29 $23,790 $15,478 86.3% 57.0%
30 $24,516 $51,840 67.9% 73.2%
31 $24,783 $38,670 77.4% 74.2%
32 $24,813 $36,500 60.5% 81.8%
33 $24,875 $55,587 67.5% 73.3%
34 $24,987 $47,240 58.0% 79.6%
35 $25,383 $35,960 65.3% 87.7%
36 $25,766 $59,550 73.6% 56.3%
37 $25,885 $37,420 56.0% 63.2%
38 $26,047 $27,166 71.5% 87.8%
39 $26,135 $24,298 43.5% 71.0%
40 $26,181 $61,568 89.7% 22.9%
41 $27,341 $49,530 65.2% 88.7%
42 $27,663 $56,402 68.9% 76.2%
43 $27,786 $36,774 65.9% 79.8%
44 $28,439 $42,930 75.2% 72.5%
45 $28,617 $49,100 76.5% 82.4%
46 $28,619 $65,739 96.0% 6.4%
47 $28,714 $37,300 46.1% 85.5%
48 $29,141 $44,460 70.0% 70.2%
49 $29,237 $48,700 80.1% 87.2%
50 $29,562 $64,142 85.0% 39.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Florida Polytechnic University so much cheaper than other data science programs?

Florida Polytechnic charges just $9,899 net compared to $11,513 at the next cheapest school, Purdue Fort Wayne. As a specialized STEM-focused public university, Florida Poly benefits from targeted state funding and lower overhead costs. The school's 56% acceptance rate indicates selective but accessible admission standards. Their focused curriculum and industry partnerships help keep program costs down while maintaining job placement rates.

How do graduation rates compare across these affordable data science programs?

Graduation rates span a wide 35-percentage-point range, from University of Houston-Downtown at 33.8% to Arizona State at 67.8%. Salisbury University and Colorado State Fort Collins both achieve 67% graduation rates while maintaining affordable tuition. Schools like Western Washington (65.5%) and Winthrop (61.2%) fall in the middle range. These variations often reflect different student populations and support systems rather than program quality alone.

Is attending a private school worth the extra cost for data science?

Private schools like William Jewell College ($16,602 net) and Xavier University of Louisiana ($18,285 net) cost significantly more than public alternatives. However, William Jewell's 40.99% acceptance rate suggests more selective admission standards compared to public schools averaging 80%+ acceptance rates. Xavier serves a unique market as a historically black university with strong industry connections. For most students, public options provide better value given the quantitative nature of data science skills.

Does in-state residency make a significant difference in data science program costs?

In-state tuition creates massive savings at several schools. University of Houston-Downtown in-state students pay just $7,708 versus $14,623 net price. University of Central Oklahoma offers similar savings at $8,522 in-state versus $18,990 net. Western Washington provides the biggest spread, with in-state costs of $9,286 compared to $18,680 net. These gaps of $7,000-$10,000 annually make residency status important for cost-conscious students.

Where can students find the best combination of affordability and graduation success?

Arizona State's Campus Immersion program offers the sweet spot with 67.8% graduation rates at $13,670 net cost. Salisbury University provides similar graduation success (67.4%) for just $2,800 more annually. Colorado State Fort Collins delivers 66.9% graduation rates at $20,332, still within the affordable range. These three schools demonstrate that students don't need to sacrifice completion rates for affordability in data science programs.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.