{"id":3048,"date":"2026-06-04T10:01:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T17:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=3048"},"modified":"2026-06-04T10:01:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T17:01:20","slug":"data-science-degree-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/data-science-degree-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"What can you do with an online data science degree?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Data drives key business decisions, and it\u2019s never been easier to collect large amounts of it. In 2025, the total volume of worldwide data<\/a> reached 182 zettabytes. By 2028, that figure is expected to climb to 394 zettabytes. (To put that in perspective, if one gigabyte was a grain of sand, 394 zettabytes would be enough to cover miles of shoreline.)<\/p>\n

Earning a data science degree online<\/a> from Oregon State University prepares you to turn that overwhelming volume into clarity, cutting through the noise to help organizations understand what\u2019s happening now and what should happen next.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur program places critical emphasis on both technical skills (such as data processing, cleaning, and analyzing) and the necessary human skills of communication,\u201d said Erin Howard, senior instructor in the Department of Statistics<\/a> at Oregon State University.<\/p>\n

Why choose a career in data science?<\/h2>\n

The job outlook for data scientists is strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 34% growth in jobs<\/a> between 2024 and 2034, driven by increasing demand for data-driven decision-making across industries.<\/p>\n

That demand creates flexibility in how and where you work. You might apply your skills within your current organization, expanding your role through your ability to interpret and communicate data. Or you could pursue new opportunities with a different employer or even an entirely new industry.<\/p>\n

Compensation reflects that demand. The median annual wage<\/a> for data scientists reported by the BLS in 2024 was $112,590, with most professionals working full time and receiving benefits.<\/p>\n

What do data scientists do?<\/h2>\n

In a typical data science project<\/a>, you will collect data, analyze it and communicate your findings to leadership members who use those insights to make decisions. That might mean cleaning and organizing raw data, building models to identify patterns or creating visualizations that make complex information easier to understand.<\/p>\n

While artificial intelligence is changing some aspects of data science work, such as automating tedious tasks and reducing the need for coding, skilled professionals are still needed to help guide decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cAI cannot think critically or creatively. While AI use is becoming more commonplace in the day-to-day tasks data scientists are responsible for, it cannot, on its own, solve the problems we are training our students to encounter,\u201d Howard said.<\/p>\n

Where do data scientists work?<\/h2>\n

Data is key to success in traditional business roles<\/a>, including marketing and sales. Companies need professionals who can guide their growth and outreach tactics and ensure they make smarter decisions. In these roles, you may define how data is collected, governed and used across teams.<\/p>\n

The healthcare industry<\/a> also depends on data scientists to analyze patient demographics, treatment plans, insurance use and data from wearable devices. This information can help providers and decision-makers find ways to improve community health. In these roles, you might also be responsible for ensuring that sensitive patient data is protected and used carefully.<\/p>\n

Data scientists also play a role in the energy sector. \u201cAs data collection technology, such as environmental sensors, becomes more advanced, the availability of data and the need for scientists who are capable of wrangling and analyzing large data sets will increase,\u201d Howard said.<\/p>\n

By studying weather patterns, energy use and resource management, you could also help drive decisions that improve how renewable energy solutions work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What makes data scientists stand out?<\/h2>\n

Data scientists are in demand, but competition for good jobs can be fierce. Having a strong business sense is often considered an advantage<\/a>. If you can analyze data and connect your findings to a company\u2019s goals, you\u2019ll be more valuable than someone who only focuses on technical tasks.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo take insights from data and communicate them into business strategies takes ethics and written, verbal and presentation skills, all of which are addressed in the coursework for this program<\/a>,\u201d Howard said.<\/p>\n

Knowing how to use AI tools and check their results is also becoming more important for data scientists. Oregon State\u2019s emphasis on using AI responsibly<\/a> helps you add these tools to your workflow without compromising quality.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn all the courses our data science students will take, they will exercise logic and critical thinking skills necessary to validate models and AI output. Additionally, we have a number of courses required in the program, such as Data for Good and Data Visualization, that require students to fine-tune their communication skills and face ethical considerations that LLMs can\u2019t sufficiently handle,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Why earn an online data science degree from Oregon State?<\/h2>\n

The curriculum of Oregon State\u2019s online data science degree<\/a> combines math, statistics, computer science and social responsibility. You\u2019ll build technical data analysis, business awareness and ethical decision-making skills and choose options that fit your career goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is a great time to begin your data science journey at Oregon State. We\u2019re excited to connect with the next generation of data scientists who will transform data into meaningful insights and drive impact across diverse fields,\u201d Howard said.<\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about the data science degree online<\/a> and explore learning with nationally ranked Oregon State University.<\/em><\/p>\n

Request information<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Earning a data science degree online from Oregon State University prepares you to turn an overwhelming amount of information into clarity, cutting through the noise to help organizations understand what\u2019s happening now and what should happen next. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":3049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,672,676],"tags":[159,713],"class_list":["post-3048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-learning-experience","category-why-osu","tag-college-of-science","tag-data-science"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/data-science-careers-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-Na","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1615,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/value-college-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":3048,"position":0},"title":"How earning a degree impacts career earnings and value","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"April 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Earning a bachelor\u2019s degree is a badge of honor. 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