June 14, 2019

The MSDS Program: 2018-2019 Year in Review

The end of the 2018-2019 academic year marks a threshold and invites a pause for reflection. It’s a great time to take stock of the year behind and look ahead.

It was an exciting year for the MSDS program! We received the largest number of applicants in our history, enrolled the biggest cohort to date, increased the percentage of women in the program, and placed alumni at leading companies. We are proud of our accomplishments, so we want to highlight everything the program achieved this year.

Admissions

First, the MSDS program received a record number of applicants. Nearly 900 students applied to join the MSDS program, reflecting an 18% increase in applicants from last year. With an acceptance rate of less than 12%, this year’s admissions cycle was the most selective ever. The MSDS program also enjoyed an unexpectedly high yield rate, with 58% of admission offers being accepted.

The incoming MSDS cohort is comprised of 62 bright students from across the country and around the world. The countries represented include Argentina, Chile, China, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

The incoming cohort also includes an increase in the number of women enrolled in the program. Fifty-eight percent of new students are women. The increase is a nod to the value the MSDS program places on diversity and inclusion.

Class of 2019

This year the MSDS program graduated its second class of alumni. The intimate ceremony was held on campus in the Intellectual House. Degrees were awarded to 41 MSDS students. Our graduates had much to celebrate. This year’s alumni have accepted job offers at leading companies, including Amazon, Boeing, eBay, Google, Facebook, Merck, Micron, Microsoft, Nordstrom, T-Mobile, Zillow, and more!

Based on a survey of this year’s alumni, the base salary range for MSDS graduates is $91,000 – $186,000, and the median base salary is $117,000. The most common job title for graduates of the full-time program is Data Scientist, while the most common job title for graduates of the part-time program is Senior Data Scientist.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019!

Summer Internships

Current MSDS students have much to celebrate, too! They secured summer internships at a record number of companies and not-for-profits throughout the Seattle area and beyond, including Allstate, Apple, Capitol One, Clobotics, Facebook, Fred Hutchinson, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Walmart, and more!

Faculty and staff look forward to hearing about students’ internship experiences when they return to campus in the fall.

Industry Advisory Board

Last, but not least, the MSDS program is excited about our new Industry Advisory Board. The board is comprised of esteemed data science experts from Amazon, Boeing, Google, HCL Technologies, Microsoft, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. They will help support program innovation and ensure that the MSDS degree remains cutting-edge and industry-relevant year after year.

Looking Ahead

As the program enters its fourth year, we look forward to achieving more milestones, and reaffirming our national reputation as a leading data science program. For a program that just finished its third year, we have built a flourishing student body and an impressive alumni community. We are committed to providing our students and alumni with the support they need to have rewarding and impactful careers in data science.