International study programs: Data modeling
Exploring an advanced education in data modeling lets you harness your love of mathematics, statistics, science, business and technology into a practical in-demand career.
If you’re researching popular international study programs in mathematics, learn how data modeling graduate programs work, the demand for this degree and possible job paths beyond school.
About data modeling programs
Unlike broader academic programs, like computer science or engineering, that are widely available at most institutions, not all schools offer a data modeling degree. If a U.S. university offers a data modeling program, it’s typically provided by a STEM department, like mathematics or engineering.
These are generally postgraduate-level programs, such as a master’s degree or post-baccalaureate certification. Most data modeling students take one to two years to complete their program.
Examples of courses you might encounter in a data modeling program, include:
- Ordinary differential equations and applications
- Machine learning
- Linear dynamical systems
- Decision support systems for operations
- Data mining techniques
While pursuing a data modeling education, learning outcomes you can expect include developing a grasp of data science strategy and techniques, analyzing data and developing action-based insights in support of an organization’s objectives.
Demand for data modeling degrees
In 2022, 2,223 students (71.8%) were awarded master’s degrees in data modeling, warehouse and database administration, according to Data USA. By comparison, 495 (16%) students completed a bachelor’s program in data modeling, and 217 (7.01%) students received a post-baccalaureate certificate in data modeling during the same year.
As big data continues to become more sophisticated, occupational demand for graduates with a data modeling background is expected to rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% growth rate among database administrators and architects from 2022 to 2032 which is faster than average.
Data modeling master’s degree ROI
A science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field of study offers among the highest return on investment (ROI) for graduate degree or certificate earners. The exact ROI you can expect as a data modeling student depends on many factors, like your institution and program type (e.g., master’s versus certificate program).
According to Education Data, the average cost of a master’s degree is US$59,684. By comparison, the average graduate certificate cost is notably less; for example, Cornell University’s online data science modeling certificate costs US$3,600. A master’s degree can take two years to complete, compared to a few months for a certificate.
Compare this time and cost investment to the potential earning increase with a graduate education. The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity found that the ROI of a majority of master’s degrees in computer science, mathematics and engineering had an ROI above US$1 million. By comparison, the ROI across all master’s degree programs is US$83,000.
5 jobs you can get with a data modeling degree
The occupations that are possible with a data modeling degree are vast. Although each job varies in their specific duties, they share some similarities, like having experience with language software systems and conducting data analysis in your day-to-day work.
Here are a few jobs you can get with a data modeling degree or certificate, including salary ranges updated June 6-12, 2024, according to Glassdoor.
1. Business intelligence developer
Annual base pay range: US$83,000-US$116,000
Annual average salary: US$98,014
Business intelligence (BI) developers are responsible for maintaining data systems that are used to gather, organize and analyze an organization’s business intelligence data. They must be skilled at understanding the business objectives of the organization to successfully design databases and dashboards that support its goals.
In addition to being adept at interpreting the goals of the organization, BI developers must be keenly aware of how to tell a compelling story with data visualization. Although each organization’s requirements vary, BI developers typically are experienced with different systems, like Agile, Python and SQL.
2. Data modeler
Annual base pay range: US$86,000-US$129,000
Annual average salary: US$105,177
Data modelers use various databases, like NoSQL, to design customized data models for a business’s enterprise information management system. They interpret business needs and create modeling solutions, establish internal data coding practices and optimize data systems for efficiency and reliability.
Data modelers must also have strong communication skills as the role might require communicating modeling solutions and results to internal inter-departmental stakeholders. A senior-level data modeler might act as a project lead for certain projects while also assessing data integration roadblocks and offering strategic solutions.
3. Data governance analyst
Annual base pay range: US$87,000-US$139,000
Annual average salary: US$109,570
A data governance analyst oversees how well a company maintains secure data practices. They create and evaluate the organization’s data procedures for integrity, security, accessibility and accuracy.
Data governance analysts also must ensure that the frameworks they create also adhere to compliance and regulatory requirements. For example, in the healthcare industry they’re responsible for establishing data policies that protect patients’ personal information under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
4. Quantitative risk modeling analyst
Annual base pay range: US$89,000-US$147,000
Annual average salary: US$114,119
Quantitative risk modeling analysts are a vital part of risk management within an organization. These skilled individuals apply mathematical techniques to data, analyze the results and project a business’s or project’s financial risk. This includes loss and threat event frequencies and vulnerabilities, and loss magnitude with detailed primary and secondary losses.
You’ll design data models and simulations to arrive at your results. These findings give key stakeholders insight into the best- and worst-case outcomes and the likelihood of each event occurring.
5. Enterprise data architect
Annual base pay range: US$118,000–US$177,000
Annual average salary: US$144,394
Enterprise data architects help companies scale their databases across multiple markets. They determine the employee and business needs of the organization to create and manage an expansive data network that engineers can then build on.
Additionally, they lead research and optimization techniques to enhance data flow throughout the database. These key team members must be proficient in various software programming languages and typically have past experience as a consultant.
Final thoughts: Getting a data modeling education
Completing a data modeling master’s degree or postbaccalaureate certification can support you toward a lucrative career working with data and statistics.
If you need additional financing to pursue a data modeling program, an international student loan might be a solution. Private education loan lenders tend to view STEM-related areas of study favorably.
Learn how an MPOWER Financing education loan can help.
