Data Science Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Data Science major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Sciences, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$117,196

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$170,170

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$210,025

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 2.1%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$3,989,804

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Database Architects
SOC: 15-1243
Occupation: Database Architects
$135,980
64,770
N/A
N/A
Data Scientists
SOC: 15-2051
Occupation: Data Scientists
$112,590
233,440
N/A
N/A
Natural Sciences Managers
SOC: 11-9121
Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers
$161,180
100,870
N/A
N/A
Statisticians
SOC: 15-2041
Occupation: Statisticians
$103,300
29,800
N/A
N/A
Computer and Information Systems Managers
SOC: 11-3021
Occupation: Computer and Information Systems Managers
$171,200
645,970
N/A
N/A
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
SOC: 25-1199
Occupation: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
$78,490
151,530
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Database Architects

10.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$135,98064,770
2023$134,70059,920
2022$134,87062,470
2021$123,43050,440

Data Scientists

11.6%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$112,590233,440
2023$108,020192,710
2022$103,500159,630
2021$100,910105,980

Natural Sciences Managers

16.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$161,180100,870
2023$157,74096,520
2022$144,44082,570
2021$137,90074,760
2020$137,94075,870

Statisticians

12.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$103,30029,800
2023$104,11029,950
2022$98,92030,780
2021$95,57031,370
2020$92,27038,860

Computer and Information Systems Managers

13.3%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$171,200645,970
2023$169,510592,600
2022$164,070533,220
2021$159,010485,190
2020$151,150457,290

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

9.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$78,490151,530
2023$79,870166,980
2022$76,920214,520
2021$78,160199,020
2020$71,950194,740

Computer and Information Research Scientists

11.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$140,91038,480
2023$145,08035,210
2022$136,62033,780
2021$131,49030,840
2020$126,83030,220

Software Developers

10.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$133,0801,654,440
2023$132,2701,656,880
2022$127,2601,534,790
2021$120,7301,364,180

Colleges offering Data Science

Michigan Technological University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$18k

Earnings

$78k

Colorado School of Mines

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$30k

Earnings

$88k

Case Western Reserve University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$76k

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$80k

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$65k