Rice University

How this program compares

Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: A bachelor's degree in a quantitative field such as computer science, statistics, or engineering is required, along with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and programming experience in Python or R; relevant work experience is preferred but not mandatory.[1][4

About This Program

This online program offers a graduate-level understanding of computational and statistical foundations of data science with a specialization in machine learning.

Career Outcomes

Excel as Data Scientist in Cross-Industry AI with machine learning expertise

• 1. Machine Learning Engineer
• 2. Data Scientist
• 3. AI Specialist
• 4. Predictive Analytics Manager

What You'll Learn

• Build and evaluate machine learning models for predictive analytics.
• Apply deep learning techniques to complex datasets.
• Perform data mining and preprocessing for large-scale analysis.
• Develop capstone projects solving real-world data science problems.

Curriculum Highlights

The 31-35 credit curriculum includes core requirements in statistics and programming, plus specialized machine learning electives such as deep learning.

Top Employers

Top employers include tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and industry leaders in finance and healthcare such as JPMorgan Chase and Pfizer.[1

Admissions

A bachelor's degree in a quantitative field such as computer science, statistics, or engineering is required, along with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and programming experience in Python or R; relevant work experience is preferred but not mandatory.[1][4

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 2–3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's degree
• GRE/GMAT: Not Required
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international students (TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.5+)