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  1. 1. University of Southern California

    Los Angeles, CA
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    University of Southern California applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission to its online data science master’s program, however, international students must submit a TOEFL score. Accepted students, on average, have a 3.8 undergraduate GPA. Letters of recommendation are optional to apply. The acceptance rate to the program was 13% for the 2021-2022 year.
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    University of Southern California applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission to its online data science master’s program, however, international students must submit a TOEFL score...

  2. 2. University of California—Berkeley

    Berkeley, CA
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    University of California—Berkeley applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission into its master of information and data science program. For the 2021-2022 year, accepted students to this program, on average, had a 734 GMAT score and 3.5 undergraduate GPA. The acceptance rate for the program was 36% for the 2021-2022 year. The UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires that international applicants submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Two letters of recommendation are required for the program.
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    University of California—Berkeley applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission into its master of information and data science program...

  3. 3. Bay Path University

    Longmeadow, MA
    Courtesy of Bay Path University
    Bay Path University doesn’t require applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores to qualify for admission to its online master of science in applied data science program. For the 2021-2022 year, accepted students, on average, had a 3.5 undergraduate GPA and three years of work experience. International applicants aren’t required to submit TOEFL scores. The acceptance rate for the program was 49% for the 2021-2022 year. Two letters of recommendation are required to apply to Bay Path’s online master’s degree program in applied data science.
    Courtesy of Bay Path University
    Bay Path University doesn’t require applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores to qualify for admission to its online master of science in applied data science program...

  4. 4. Illinois Institute of Technology

    Chicago, IL 
    Courtesy of Illinois Institute of Technology
    Illinois Institute of Technology doesn’t require applicants to its online master in data science program to submit GMAT or GRE scores, but it will accept them as part of an application. However, international students must submit TOEFL scores of at least 90 to be considered for admission. Accepted students, on average, have an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 and a 303 GRE score. In 2021-2022, the acceptance rate to the program was 66%.
    Courtesy of Illinois Institute of Technology
    Illinois Institute of Technology doesn’t require applicants to its online master in data science program to submit GMAT or GRE scores, but it will accept them as part of an application...

  5. 5. Texas Tech University

    Lubbock, TX
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    Texas Tech University applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission into its online master of science in data science program. For the 2021-2022 year, accepted students to this program, on average, had a 3.27 undergraduate GPA. International applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores. The acceptance rate for the program was 81% for the 2021-2022 year. One letter of recommendation is required to apply.
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    Texas Tech University applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission into its online master of science in data science program...

  6. 6. University of Missouri—Columbia

    Columbia, MO
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    University of Missouri—Columbia applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission to its online data science and analytics master’s programs. For the 2021-2022 year, accepted students to this program, on average, had a 3.33 undergraduate GPA. International applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores of at least 80 to be considered for admission. The acceptance rate for the program was 69.6% for the 2021-2022 year. No letters of recommendation are required.
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    University of Missouri—Columbia applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission to its online data science and analytics master’s programs...

  7. 7. DePaul University

    Chicago, IL
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    DePaul University doesn’t require applicants to its online master of data science program to submit GRE or GMAT scores to be considered for admission. Accepted students to the program have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.51 and a 630 GMAT score. During the 2021-2022 school year, the acceptance rate to the program was 79.1%. International students must submit TOEFL scores of at least 80 to be considered for admission. Prospective students can submit optional letters of recommendation during the application process to DePaul.
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    DePaul University doesn’t require applicants to its online master of data science program to submit GRE or GMAT scores to be considered for admission...

  8. 8. University of California–Riverside

    Riverside, CA
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    University of California—Riverside applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission to its online master of science in applied data science program, but international students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 to be considered for the program. Admitted students, on average, have an undergraduate GPA of 3.7 and a GRE score of 309. For the 2021-2022 year, 63% of applicants were accepted to the program. Three letters of recommendation are needed to apply.
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    University of California—Riverside applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission to its online master of science in applied data science program, but international students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 to be considered for the program...

  9. 9. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

    Worcester, MA
    Courtesy Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Worcester Polytechnic Institute applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission to its online master of science in data science program. For the 2021-2022 year, accepted students to the program had an average 3.56 undergraduate GPA. The acceptance rate for the program was 82.85% for the 2021-2022 year. The TOEFL is required for all non-native English speakers. Three letters of recommendation are required to apply.
    Courtesy Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Worcester Polytechnic Institute applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission to its online master of science in data science program...

  10. 10. Lewis University

    Romeoville, IL
    Courtesy of Lewis University
    Lewis University doesn’t require applicants to its online master in data science program to submit GMAT or GRE scores, however, international applicants must submit a TOEFL score to be considered for admission. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. The acceptance rate to the program for the 2021-2022 year was higher than 98%. Admissions to Lewis University’s online master’s in data science program are made on a rolling basis.
    Courtesy of Lewis University
    Lewis University doesn’t require applicants to its online master in data science program to submit GMAT or GRE scores, however, international applicants must submit a TOEFL score to be considered for admission...

  11. 11. University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign

    Champaign, IL 
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    The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign doesn’t require applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores to qualify for admission to its online master of computer science in data science program. For the 2021-2022 year, accepted students to this program, on average, had a 3.5 undergraduate GPA. International applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores. The acceptance rate for the program was 42.7% for the 2021-2022 year. No letters of recommendation are required.
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    The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign doesn’t require applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores to qualify for admission to its online master of computer science in data science program...

  12. 12. CUNY School of Professional Studies

    New York, NY 
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    CUNY School of Professional Studies doesn’t accept GMAT or GRE scores for admission into its online master of science in data science program. Instead, the school requires applicants to take its assessment test. For the 2021-2022 year, the accepted students to this program, on average, had a 3.35 undergraduate GPA. International applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores of at least 577 on paper or 233 on the computer-based version of the test. The acceptance rate for the program was 88% for the 2021-2022 year. Two letters of recommendation are required to apply to CUNY’s online master’s degree program data science.
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    CUNY School of Professional Studies doesn’t accept GMAT or GRE scores for admission into its online master of science in data science program...

  13. 13. University of Michigan–Dearborn

    Dearborn, MI
    University of Michigan Dearborn
    Courtesy of University of Michigan-Dearborn
    University of Michigan—Dearborn applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission into its online data science master’s program, however, international students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 84 to be considered for admission. Two letters of recommendation are needed to apply. The acceptance rate to the program was 70.8% for the 2021-2022 year. Accepted students to the program, on average, have a 2.92 undergraduate GPA.
    University of Michigan Dearborn
    Courtesy of University of Michigan-Dearborn
    University of Michigan—Dearborn applicants don’t need to submit GMAT or GRE scores to be considered for admission into its online data science master’s program, however, international students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 84 to be considered for admission...

  14. 14. Regis University

    Denver, CO
    Courtesy Regis University
    Regis University doesn’t require GMAT or GRE scores to be submitted as part of its application process to its online master of data science, however, international students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 82 to be considered for admission. Letters of recommendation aren’t required to apply. Admissions are made on a rolling basis, and the acceptance rate to the program was 99% for the 2021-2022 year.
    Courtesy Regis University
    Regis University doesn’t require GMAT or GRE scores to be submitted as part of its application process to its online master of data science, however, international students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 82 to be considered for admission...

  15. 15. Rice University

    Houston, TX
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    Rice University doesn’t require applicants to submit a GRE score with an application to its online master’s in data science program, but doing so is strongly recommended for those applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2.9 and lower. International applicants must submit a TOEFL score of at least 90 to be considered for admission to the program. Accepted students, on average, have a 3.52 undergraduate GPA and a 314 GRE score. For the 2021-2022 year, the acceptance rate to the program was 56%.
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    Rice University doesn’t require applicants to submit a GRE score with an application to its online master’s in data science program, but doing so is strongly recommended for those applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2...

  16. 16. Eastern University

    St. Davids, PA
    Courtesy of Eastern University
    Eastern University doesn’t require applicants to its online master in data science program to submit GMAT or GRE scores, but it will accept them as supporting documentation. However, international students must submit TOEFL scores to be considered for admission. Admissions are made on a rolling basis. In 2021-2022, the acceptance rate to the program was 99%.
    Courtesy of Eastern University
    Eastern University doesn’t require applicants to its online master in data science program to submit GMAT or GRE scores, but it will accept them as supporting documentation...

  17. 17. Syracuse University

    Syracuse, NY
    Courtesy of Syracuse University
    Syracuse University applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission into its online master of science in applied data science program, but “it is recommended for applicants who feel their scores will support their application.” For the 2021-2022 year, accepted students had an average 2.83 undergraduate GPA and a 299 GRE score. International applicants are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. The acceptance rate for the program was 90% for the 2021-2022 year. Two letters of recommendation are required.
    Courtesy of Syracuse University
    Syracuse University applicants don’t need to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission into its online master of science in applied data science program, but “it is recommended for applicants who feel their scores will support their application...

  18. 18. Pace University

    New York, NY
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    Pace University doesn’t require GMAT or GRE scores to be submitted as part of its application process to its online master of data science, however, international students must submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson PTE score. Prospective students must submit two letters of recommendation with an application. Accepted students, on average, have a 3.19 undergraduate GPA. For the 2021-2022 year, 100% of applicants were accepted to the program.
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    Pace University doesn’t require GMAT or GRE scores to be submitted as part of its application process to its online master of data science, however, international students must submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson PTE score...

Why many online master’s degree programs in data science no longer require a GRE score

Over the past decade, universities have been developing academic programs to help meet the demand for data-savvy graduates. Online master’s degree programs in data science allow prospective students access to skills that can land them a high-paying, rewarding job.

To help expedite the admissions process, many online master’s in data science programs don’t require applicants to submit GRE scores—a trend common among online MBA degree programs. Nixing GRE requirements eliminates a potential barrier to entry for applicants, but it also tasks schools with relying on other metrics and qualifications to determine a student’s readiness for the program. 

But it’s not just a COVID-19 phenomenon that’s causing test policy changes. In February 2020, the University of California—Berkeley announced it was making standardized test scores optional for its data science degree programs, following a recommendation made by the School of Information’s diversity working group. 

“A detailed review of relevant research indicates that standardized graduate entrance examinations are weak predictors of academic success in graduate school and that overemphasizing GRE and GMAT scores replicates and amplifies structural disadvantages to some demographic groups, particularly students from underrepresented minority and lower socioeconomic backgrounds,” according to the announcement.