One thing worth clarifying upfront: UMass Amherst does not offer a standalone "BS in Data Science" or "MS in Data Science" degree with that exact title. Instead, Data Science lives inside the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) as a formal concentration at two levels: a Data Science concentration within the BS in Informatics, and a Data Science concentration within the MS in Computer Science. There's also a separate, non-degree Master's Certificate in Statistical & Computational Data Science, offered jointly with the Statistics department. This structure is common at research universities that built data science expertise out of existing CS and statistics departments rather than spinning up a brand-new major, and it doesn't diminish the rigor of the training, but it does change how you should think about "acceptance rate" and "admission requirements" for the field.
This guide walks through what applying into UMass Amherst's data science pathways actually looks like: acceptance rate context, fees, admission requirements, how to get in, English-test rules, and career outcomes.
Acceptance Rate
Because Data Science at UMass Amherst is a concentration rather than a separately admitted major, there is no dedicated "Data Science acceptance rate" published anywhere, official or third-party. What applies instead:
- BS in Informatics (Data Science concentration): Admission is either direct through UMass's general undergraduate application (declaring or expressing interest in Informatics), or via an internal switch from Computer Science for enrolled students who meet grade thresholds in specific courses (a C or better in INFO 150 or equivalent math coursework, and a C or better in an introductory programming course). UMass does not publish a specific acceptance rate for Informatics as a standalone major.
- MS in Computer Science (Data Science concentration): Applicants apply through the same unified MS in Computer Science application used for the standard track, simply indicating interest in the Data Science concentration; there is no separate, harder-to-clear acceptance bar published for this track versus the general MS in CS.
- University-wide undergraduate acceptance rate (Fall 2025): approximately 59-60%, though UMass's own guidance notes CICS-affiliated majors are more competitive than the university average
- No party, official or third-party, publishes a Data-Science-specific admit rate distinct from the broader CICS figures, so avoid trusting any specific percentage you may see attached to "UMass Data Science" online; it is very likely describing the Computer Science major generally rather than this concentration specifically
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Students pursuing the Data Science concentration, whether through the BS in Informatics or the MS in Computer Science, pay the same tuition and fee structure as other CICS students at their degree level; there is no separate, higher "Data Science surcharge."
| Cost item | Amount (International, 2026-2027) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition & fees (university-wide rate, applies to BS in Informatics) | ~$43,505/year |
| Housing (on-campus) | ~$10,188/year |
| Food | ~$9,878/year |
| Supplemental health insurance | ~$2,470/year |
| Approximate total (undergraduate, on-campus) | ~$66,000/year |
| MS in Computer Science tuition & fees (non-resident, applies to the Data Science concentration) | ~$35,662/year |
For comparison, UMass Amherst's separate MS in Data Analytics and Computational Social Science, housed in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences rather than CICS, is a different program with its own cost structure, reported by third-party sources at roughly $73,000/year all-in (about $37,269 in tuition plus other program costs). This is a distinct degree from the CICS Data Science concentration and worth not confusing with it when comparing costs.
International students are not eligible for US federal financial aid. Graduate students in CICS commonly access research or teaching assistantship funding, though this is competitive and department-managed.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate (BS in Informatics, Data Science concentration)
- Completed Common Application with UMass-specific questions (for direct incoming applicants), or an internal major-change request for current UMass students already enrolled in Computer Science
- For internal transfers from Computer Science: a C or better in INFO 150 (or equivalent math coursework) and a C or better in an introductory programming course (CICS 110, 160, or 210)
- Official high school transcripts (for direct applicants), or in-progress UMass transcripts (for internal transfers)
- SAT/ACT: test-optional for direct undergraduate applicants
- English proficiency evidence (unless exempt)
- $85 application fee for direct undergraduate applicants (not waivable for international applicants)
Graduate (MS in Computer Science, Data Science concentration)
- Single, unified MS in Computer Science application (no separate application for the concentration)
- A four-year undergraduate degree in Computer Science, statistics, or a closely related quantitative field
- GRE: not required
- Coursework requirements specific to the concentration span data science theory, systems, data analysis, and statistics, on top of the standard MS core requirements
- Statement of purpose expressing interest in the Data Science concentration specifically
- English proficiency scores (unless exempt)
- Deadline: Fall entry only, typically December 15 for international applicants
How to Get Into UMass Amherst's Data Science Pathway
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Decide early whether you want Informatics (undergraduate) or Computer Science with a later Data Science focus. If you're a prospective undergraduate specifically drawn to data science, applying to Informatics directly (rather than Computer Science with a plan to switch later) can be the more straightforward path, since it avoids depending on meeting internal transfer grade thresholds.
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Build a strong quantitative foundation before you apply. Both the Informatics Data Science concentration and the MS in CS Data Science concentration lean heavily on statistics and data analysis coursework, so strong grades in math, statistics, and any preliminary programming coursework meaningfully strengthen an application, direct or internal.
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For the MS route, state your concentration interest explicitly in your statement of purpose. Because there's a single unified MS in CS application, admissions committees rely on your stated interest and supporting coursework/background to route you toward the Data Science concentration rather than the general track.
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Don't confuse this pathway with UMass's separate Data Analytics and Computational Social Science MS. If your interest is specifically technical, machine learning-and-systems-oriented data science (rather than a social-science-application-focused analytics degree), the CICS-based concentration is very likely the better fit; confirm this distinction before applying, since the two programs sit in different colleges with different costs and requirements.
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Use the joint Statistics certificate as a supplement, not a substitute. The Master's Certificate in Statistical & Computational Data Science (offered jointly with the Statistics department) is a non-degree credential that can complement, but does not replace, either the BS in Informatics or MS in Computer Science pathway.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
The Data Science concentration follows UMass Amherst's university-wide English proficiency minimums; there is no separate, published threshold specific to the concentration.
Undergraduate:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no subscore below 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: 80 overall, no subscore below 20
- Duolingo English Test: 115
- PTE Academic: not accepted
Graduate:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall
- TOEFL iBT: 80 (pre-January 2026 scale); combined score of 4 on the new scale for tests from January 2026 onward
- PTE Academic: 53
- Duolingo English Test: 115
For the complete breakdown across UMass Amherst's programs, see the UMass Amherst guide.
Career Outcomes
UMass Amherst and CICS do not publish outcomes data broken out specifically for the Data Science concentration separately from Computer Science and Informatics more broadly. The closest available proxies:
- CICS BS/BA outcomes (Informatics and Computer Science combined reporting): more than 110 unique employers hired CICS graduates within six months of graduation (Class of 2023 data); about 85% of graduates reported a career outcome related to their field within six months
- MS in Computer Science outcomes (including Data Science concentration graduates): median reported salary around $135,000, per CICS's own destination-report data
- Top recruiters cited by CICS: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Cisco are frequently cited among top employers, with data-heavy roles (data science, machine learning engineering, data engineering) increasingly common among recent placements, though CICS does not publish a role-type breakdown distinct from general software engineering placements
- A precise, concentration-specific employment rate or salary figure isolated just for Data Science graduates is not published; treat the CICS-wide figures above as the closest available proxy rather than an exact match
Both the BS in Informatics and the MS in Computer Science (with the Data Science concentration) are STEM-designated degrees, qualifying international graduates for the standard 12-month OPT period plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension, for up to three years of US work authorization after graduation.
FAQ
Does UMass Amherst have a standalone Data Science degree? No. Data Science exists as a concentration within the BS in Informatics (undergraduate) and within the MS in Computer Science (graduate), both administered by CICS, plus a separate non-degree certificate offered jointly with the Statistics department.
What's the acceptance rate for UMass Amherst's Data Science concentration? Not published, at either level, because it is a concentration rather than a separately admitted major. The closest available context is the university-wide undergraduate rate (about 59-60%) and the general understanding that CICS-affiliated majors are more competitive than that average.
Is the GRE required for the MS in Computer Science Data Science concentration? No. GRE is not required for the MS in Computer Science, including for students pursuing the Data Science concentration within it.
How is this different from UMass's MS in Data Analytics and Computational Social Science? That is a separate degree housed in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, with its own admission process and a notably higher published all-in annual cost (around $73,000/year per third-party sources) compared to the CICS-based Data Science concentration.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? Undergraduate: IELTS 6.5 (no subscore below 6.0) or TOEFL 80 (no subscore below 20); PTE is not accepted. Graduate: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 80 (pre-2026 scale), or PTE 53.
Is the Data Science pathway STEM-OPT eligible? Yes. Both the BS in Informatics and the MS in Computer Science (including the Data Science concentration) are STEM-designated, qualifying graduates for the standard OPT period plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension.