MS Data Science at GWU: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

George Washington University Master of Science in Data Science is a 30-credit, two-year full-time, classroom-based STEM degree at Foggy Bottom in Washington, D.C. Applicants need an accredited bachelor’s degree with calculus and linear algebra plus statistics, while programming proficiency is desirable rather than required. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 tuition was US$2,154 per credit (INR 2.05 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.

The curriculum connects statistical analysis, data warehousing, mining, machine learning, visualisation and a team capstone, with 15 elective credits for domain depth. It best suits quantitatively prepared applicants who want applied work across government, business or research, but its flexible electives require deliberate pathway planning.

• The required capstone converts classroom methods into a team project using a practical data science problem.
• Advisers support Data Scientist and Data Engineer pathways, helping students align electives with a defined technical direction.
• Part-time study can extend to four years, while the target full-time route normally takes two years.

Also Check: George Washington University Data Science Admission

GW Data Science MS Fees and Living Costs 2027

Fall 2027 tuition remains unpublished after checking the live programme, tuition, international-cost and application pages. Verify the target fee on the official fee page.

Prior-cycle planning context: The amounts below apply to Summer 2026, Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Data Science uses the Columbian College rate for programmes not separately listed.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.1675 as of 27 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: GW Columbian College 2026-27 tuition and mandatory-fee schedule, checked on 27 October 2026.

A prior-cycle planning illustration for four Fall or Spring semesters is US$65,350 (INR 62.19 Lakhs) before the application fee. This equals tuition plus the association, matriculation and four international student fees.

GW states that tuition is subject to annual increases of approximately 3% to 4%, so the prior-cycle total is not a Fall 2027 quote. Build a funding buffer instead of treating US$64,620 (INR 61.50 Lakhs) as the target bill.

Cost of Living in Washington, D.C. for Data Science Students

GW’s 2026-27 international cost schedule places Data Science among its remaining two-year master’s programmes. The living projection is separate from tuition and from federal visa-maintenance evidence.

Official 2026-27 planning context: Monthly figures below are calculated from GW’s annual international-student estimates, not a rent or grocery breakdown.

The international-cost schedule shows US$60,945 (INR 58.00 Lakhs) per year, including tuition, fees, living expenses, books and insurance. Multiplying that baseline by two gives a prior-cycle planning illustration of US$121,890 (INR 1.16 Crore).

That two-year illustration is an immigration-budget reference, not a university promise of equal annual charges. Housing choices, insurance pricing and the unpublished 2027-28 tuition can raise the eventual cash requirement.

Read More: Cost of Living in the USA for International Students

ROI reality: The verified prior-cycle baseline reaches US$121,890 (INR 1.16 Crore) across two years. Secure a target-cycle fee quote before comparing this degree with lower-cost options.

GW Data Science MS Admission 2027

Admission requires an accredited bachelor’s degree with specified quantitative preparation, while the GRE is optional. GW publishes no programme GPA floor or Indian percentage threshold for this Data Science M.S.

The admissions team instead evaluates academic records, two recommendations, a focused statement and evidence of data science readiness. Applicants should make their mathematics and programming preparation visible rather than relying on the degree title alone.

Fall 2027 admission context: The following requirements apply to the Data Science M.S. at Foggy Bottom in both current study modes.

For admitted students educated in India, GW requests an official attested diploma or provisional certificate and an official attested transcript. These copies should be issued and attested by the institution, rather than replacing irreplaceable originals.

A World Education Services evaluation is welcome but not normally required, and GW makes the final equivalency decision. This avoids an unnecessary evaluation expense unless the admissions checklist requests one.

English Language Proficiency

The Data Science M.S. accepts four current English routes, but its published minimums trigger an English for Academic Purposes course. That extra course adds cost and does not count toward the 30-credit degree.

Current programme policy: Scores must be no more than two years old when the application is submitted.

GW’s current TOEFL wording is “Overall Score, 4 (Old Test, 81)”, so applicants should not convert between scales themselves. Confirm the accepted score format when booking any revised TOEFL test.

• An Indian English-medium degree does not automatically satisfy GW’s country-based exemption, so verify waiver eligibility before skipping a test.
• IELTS applicants must clear the overall score and every band, making a single score below 5.0 disqualifying for the published route.
• Applicants using a published minimum should budget for the non-degree English for Academic Purposes course stated in the admission offer.

Tip for Indian students: There is no published GPA floor, but calculus, linear algebra and statistics are explicit prerequisites. Use transcripts and the statement to prove readiness for machine learning and data mining.

GW Data Science MS Application 2027

Fall 2027 applications are open, with a funding-priority deadline of 01 February 2027 and a regular deadline of 01 April 2027. The next published start is Spring 2028.

The official catalogue also lists Spring 2027, but its 01 October 2026 deadline has passed. Indian applicants should therefore build their plan around Fall 2027 rather than a case-by-case late review.

Forward-looking application schedule: GW publishes dates but no cutoff hour, timezone, interview calendar or decision date for this programme.

GW states that an application must be submitted and complete by the end of the deadline day. Because no timezone or hour is published, no reliable Indian Standard Time conversion can be shown.

Use the official GW application portal and treat its displayed timestamp as controlling. A submitted form is not review-ready until required scores, recommendations and records appear on the checklist.

Application Strategy for Indian Applicants

The strongest file links quantitative preparation to a specific pathway and capstone problem. The 250 to 500-word statement should connect prior evidence, intended electives and a credible data science objective.

• Submit by 01 February 2027 because that date combines admission review with priority fellowship consideration for Fall 2027.
• Order official English scores at least two weeks early because GW warns that receipt and checklist matching require processing time.
• Invite both recommenders before submission so their letters can arrive before the programme deadline and the file can become complete.
• Name calculus, linear algebra, statistics and programming evidence directly because the programme evaluates readiness across those connected foundations.

The programme publishes no interview requirement or promised decision interval, so avoid scheduling visa work around an assumed response date. Monitor the portal and reserve document time after admission for attested Indian credentials.

Application tip: Aim for 01 February 2027, not merely 01 April 2027. The earlier complete file preserves fellowship consideration and leaves more time for funding and F-1 documentation.

GW Data Science MS Scholarships 2027

The main broadly available entry award is the Dean’s Award, while assistantships are limited and the programme prize supports enrolled students. No target-cycle award guarantees a fixed cash reduction.

Incoming applicants request school-based funding by selecting “yes” in the application, without a separate CCAS award form. The 01 February 2027 priority deadline therefore matters more than the later regular deadline.

Current published funding routes: Percentages and award mechanics are reproduced without converting them against the unpublished Fall 2027 tuition.

The Dean’s Award percentage cannot be converted into dollars or rupees before GW publishes Fall 2027 tuition. Any admission offer should be checked for the covered credits, duration and whether the percentage applies once.

The programme states that its instructional assistantships are limited and typically support continuing students. They should therefore be treated as later competitive income, not as guaranteed first-semester financing.

The official CCAS funding page explains that most entry awards arrive with admission. Compare the offer against gross tuition because fellowships generally apply only to tuition charges.

• Submit a complete Fall 2027 file by 01 February and select school-based funding consideration in the application.
• Do not subtract a 20% to 25% Dean’s Award until the admission letter confirms the actual percentage and covered tuition.
• Prepare first-year funding without an assistantship because the Data Science route usually becomes available only after enrolment.

Read More: Scholarships for Indian Students in the USA

Scholarship reality: The Dean’s Award may cover 20% to 25% of tuition, but Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished. Apply by 01 February and budget without an assumed award.

GW Data Science MS Salary and ROI 2027

GW publishes recent Data Science alumni employers but no course-cohort salary, offer rate or placement rate. Career return must therefore be judged from qualitative programme evidence and separately labelled labour-market benchmarks.

The alumni list includes Amazon, Microsoft, Deloitte, Capital One, the World Bank and several United States agencies. Their presence proves reported employment destinations, not recurring recruitment or sponsorship.

Evidence scope: The table separates a university-wide Class of 2025 proxy from national data scientist wages published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: GW Class of 2025 post-baccalaureate profile and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data Scientists outlook, May 2025 wage edition.

The Class of 2025 profile had a 90% knowledge rate across 2,332 graduates, but it does not isolate Data Science M.S. respondents. Its salary distribution is therefore a university proxy rather than repayment evidence.

By contrast, US$120,230 (INR 1.14 Crore) is a national occupational median across experience levels and employers. It is not a GW starting salary and should not be matched directly against tuition.

Return on Investment for Indian Applicants

The verified cost anchor is the US$121,890 (INR 1.16 Crore) prior-cycle two-year planning illustration. Since Fall 2027 tuition and course salary outcomes are unavailable, a forecast payback period would be unsupported.

• The prior-cycle budget exceeds INR 1 Crore, so obtain the target fee and confirmed award before committing education-loan collateral.
• No course-specific offer rate supports a guaranteed return, so evaluate capstone access, elective depth and alumni roles against your intended job family.
• The US$120,230 (INR 1.14 Crore) benchmark is gross national pay, so compare actual location-specific offers rather than using it as starting salary.
• STEM status can support up to 36 months of eligible practical training, so confirm the Form I-20 code and employer conditions before modelling repayment.
• United States wage evidence cannot price an India return, so collect local offers for comparable data engineering or modelling roles before borrowing.

Take-home pay changes with tax status, location and benefits. Eligible workers can use the official IRS withholding estimator after receiving pay details.

Check Out: George Washington University Programs and Fees

ROI reality: The curriculum and employer list show credible career access, but published course-level salary evidence is absent. Finance the degree using confirmed costs and conservative job assumptions.

USA Visa for GW Data Science MS Students 2027

International students normally use F-1 status after receiving GW’s Form I-20 and proving funds. The visa fee is US$185 (INR 17,606), while the SEVIS I-901 fee is US$350 (INR 33,309). Combined government charges are US$535 (INR 50,915), separate from GW’s living-cost projection.

• Standard Optional Practical Training allows 12 months, while eligible Data Science graduates can seek a further 24-month STEM extension under programme, job and employer rules.
• H-1B employment must meet the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage, so there is no single national salary threshold for this degree.
• An F-2 spouse or unmarried child under 21 may accompany the student, but F-2 dependants cannot accept employment.
• F-1 study and practical training create no automatic permanent-residence timeline, so sponsorship planning remains separate from programme completion.

Read More: Post-Study Work in the USA through OPT

Visa reality: GW confirms that this Data Science M.S. is STEM eligible, creating a possible 36-month training window. Verify the I-20 classification and each employer condition before relying on it.

GW Data Science MS Ranking 2027

Times Higher Education places George Washington University in the 301 to 400 global band for Computer Science in its 2026 subject ranking. This is institutional subject evidence, not a standalone Data Science M.S. position.

The subject scope includes software, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity and related computing research. Applicants should therefore use it as context beside the exact curriculum, cost and outcome evidence.

Current relevant subject ranking: The 2026 edition is the latest verified ranking aligned with the programme’s computing content.

The ranking does not measure the Data Science capstone, elective advising or graduate placement separately. Those programme-level features provide more direct fit evidence for an applicant choosing between analytics routes.

Check Out: George Washington University Rankings

Honest take: The 301 to 400 Computer Science band supports broad subject context, not a programme rank. Prioritise the 30-credit curriculum, capstone model and verified funding offer.