OCR The 50 Best Masters in Data Science, BI – critical review

OnlineCourseReport provides ranking of 50 Best Masters in Data Science according to Affordability, Flexibility, and Requirements. We find the ranking controversial, but the information useful.



I received email from OnlineCourseReport, an interesting site which provides rankings for online courses in over 100 subjects, from Accounting and Aerospace Engineering to Women's Studies and Writing, with options for learner skill and how much you are willing to pay.

They also have have a recent post 50 Best Masters in Data Science50 Best Masters in Data Science, which ranks MA or MBA in Data Science using following 3 criteria

  • Affordability (.3): the overall cost of the program and/or credit hour.
  • Flexibility (.3): the number of credit hours and/or the length of time it takes to obtain the degree
  • Requirements (.3): the variety of admissions requirements and/or prerequisite classes needed to qualify for the program.

 
Those criteria seem very fuzzy and they do not explain how much a school gets in each dimension. Further, there is a problem with basic arithmetic, since 3x0.3=0.9, so where is the remaining 0.1 of the ranking?

However, apart from questionable ordering (Deakin University and La Salle as top 2 choices - really ??), this list provides somewhat useful information. You still have to search for the direct page for the program, since they only provide the university homepage.

See top entries below. See also KDnuggets pages for
 
Here are the top 7 entries according to OnlineCourseReport. Note - they also include programs in Health informatics and Business Intelligence

1. Deakin University, Australia
Offered fully online through the Faculty of Law and Business, students can earn a Master of Business Analytics in just 1.5 years, attending online classes as a full-time or part-time student. The degree is composed of eight core classes and a business project elective. To be considered, applicants must have a bachelor's degree or three years of work experience in business. Overall tuition cost is $24,150.

2. La Salle University, USA
For those wanting a Masters in Analytics, the College of Professional & Continuing Studies at La Salle University allows students to earn a degree with just 10 courses, including data mining, data visualization and modeling and simulation of data analytics. Tuition is $850 per credit.

3. Northwestern University, USA
The School of Professional Studies at Northwestern University currently offers a Master of Science in Information Systems with a Concentration in Business and Analytics. This online program is composed of 10 courses and offers seven areas of specialization, including database and Internet technologies, information system security, project management, information systems management, medical informatics, information systems, and analytics and business intelligence. Students also have the unique opportunity to utilize IBM resources during the tenure as graduate student. Overall cost for the degree is $49,962.

4. Union Graduate College, USA
The School of Management at Union Graduate College offers a Master of Science in Healthcare Data Analytics. Students can complete the degree in just a year. The coursework is composed of 12 courses, covering healthcare operations research, data analytics and business intelligence. Tuition is $2,995 per course.

5. Emporia State College, USA
The School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State College offers a Master of Science in Informations. Students can earn their degree over the course of two years taking as little as two courses per semester. The program is made up of 36 sequenced credits. Tuition is $227 per credit hour.

6. Dakota State University, USA
For those wanting a Masters of Science in Analytics, Dakota State University offer a robust degree, with three different tracks to choose from, including general studies, information systems, or healthcare analytics. The degree is made up of 24 credit hours. Tuition is $431.25 per credit hour.

7. Philadelphia University, USA
The Kanbar College of Design, Engineering, and Commerce offers a Masters of Science in Modeling, Simulation and Data Analytics. Over the course of 30 credits, students will focus on systems modeling and simulation, as well as data visualization and decision support. Graduate students must present a capstone project as their final course. Tuition is $1,050 per credit.

Other schools mentioned are
  1. Pennsylvania State University
  2. Oakland University
  3. John Hopkins University
  4. Elmhurst College
  5. Indiana University Bloomington
  6. Georgia Southern
  7. University of California-Berkeley
  8. Saint Joseph's University
  9. University of Alabama
  10. University of Arkansas
  11. University of Michigan-Dearborn
  12. University of Colorado Denver
  13. University of South Carolina-Columbia
  14. Villanova University
  15. Illinois Institute of Technology
  16. Northeastern University
  17. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
  18. Quinnipiac University
  19. Tennessee Technological University
  20. CUNY Graduate School and University Center
  21. Medical University of South Carolina
  22. University of Maryland-Baltimore County
  23. Lewis University
  24. University of Cincinnati
  25. University of Central Florida
  26. University of Texas-Dallas
  27. Saint Louis University
  28. Texas A&M University-Union Station
  29. Southern New Hampshire University
  30. Saint Mary's College
  31. Full Sail University
  32. Misericordia University
  33. University of California-San Diego
  34. Thomas Edison State College
  35. Rutgers University
  36. The College of Saint Scholastica
  37. their list is missing n 44 ??
  38. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
  39. University of Illinois at Chicago
  40. Drexel University
  41. Depaul University
  42. University of Phoenix
  43. Institute of Technology at Blanchardstown


Which schools/options would you add and how would you rank them?