What is MastersinDataScience.org?

Updated

MastersinDataScience.org is a guide to data science graduate programs and upskilling options, including master's degrees, boot camps, and short courses. It is owned by 2U, LLC, the parent company of edX, and its stated goal is to help learners make confident, informed decisions about their education and career. The site is most useful if you are comparing data science master's programs or shorter training paths and want a starting point for research — but you should read it knowing that some listed programs are sponsored or paid placements.

What the site covers

According to its own description, the site focuses on:

  • Graduate programs — primarily Master of Science in data science programs and related degrees, such as a Master of Information and Data Science.
  • Upskilling options — boot camps and short courses for people who want targeted skills rather than a full degree.
  • Career and decision guides — content aimed at both prospective students evaluating programs and recent graduates looking for a new job.

The homepage is organized around a guide titled "Master's in data science: Your guide to data science graduate programs," with sections on what data science is, the types of programs and related degrees available, and how to choose a program.

Who runs it and how programs are listed

MastersinDataScience.org is owned by 2U, LLC, which is also the parent company of edX. This ownership matters when you interpret what you see on the site:

  • Some programs are offered by universities that partner with 2U, which provides marketing and operational support and receives compensation.
  • Other programs may be paid advertisements from third parties.
  • Both types are labeled with "AD" or "Advertisement."

In other words, the site is not a neutral directory. Listings can be influenced by commercial relationships, so treat it as one input among several rather than a ranking you can take at face value.

Examples of programs listed

The sponsored section on the homepage includes programs such as:

Program Institution Details noted on the site
Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) UC Berkeley School of Information Online, live class sessions, multidisciplinary approach across the data life cycle; complete in as few as 12 months; no GRE required
Master of Applied Data Science UNC-Chapel Hill Online, covers the data life cycle, advanced programming, and machine learning; complete in as few as 16 months full time; no GRE required

These details come from the site's own program descriptions and are labeled as advertisements. They are a sample of what the site lists, not a complete catalog.

How to use it when choosing a program

Because the site mixes editorial guides with sponsored listings, a practical approach is:

  1. Use the guides for framing — the sections on program types and selection criteria can help you build a list of questions (format, length, prerequisites, focus areas).
  2. Check the label on every program — if a listing says "AD" or "Advertisement," factor that into how much weight you give it.
  3. Verify details at the source — confirm cost, admissions requirements, and timelines directly with the university, since the site's summaries are marketing-oriented and may not cover everything.
  4. Compare across sources — cross-check against other program directories or the universities' own pages before deciding.

The site is a reasonable first stop for orientation, especially if you are early in your search and want to see the range of degree and non-degree options. It is less suited as a final decision tool, given the sponsored nature of many listings.