Best Data Science Schools Near Columbus, IN (2026)

Columbus, Indiana has 5 accredited schools offering data science programs, with tuition ranging from $38,710 to $67,684 per year for indexed programs. Columbus has a population of about 51,970. In Indiana, the top-earning data science-related role is Database Architects at a median $132,830 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Data Science Schools to Columbus

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer data science programs near Columbus, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Columbus city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Columbus. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Franklin College

Franklin, IN 19.9 miles from Columbus
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
43.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 70%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,376
Avg net price $22,855/yr
Tuition
In‑state$38,710
Out‑of‑state$38,710
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Butler University

Indianapolis, IN 45.5 miles from Columbus
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $77,235
Avg net price $36,041/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 83

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Earlham College

Richmond, IN 68.5 miles from Columbus
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
59.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 73%
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,797
Avg net price $24,714/yr
Tuition
In‑state$53,930
Out‑of‑state$53,930
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute, IN 77.5 miles from Columbus
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
76.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $101,253
Avg net price $42,513/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 26

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN 138.8 miles from Columbus
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
40.6 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 84%
Graduation rate 34%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,872
Avg net price $13,171/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,532
Out‑of‑state$22,887
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 73

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN 166.6 miles from Columbus
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
71.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,191
Avg net price $18,578/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 81

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Saint Mary's College

Notre Dame, IN 173.6 miles from Columbus
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,354
Avg net price $25,292/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Indiana schools on the Indiana data science page.


Data Science Wages Near Columbus

Columbus is part of the Columbus, IN metro area (BLS area code 18020). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Indiana statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Data Scientists $94,700 Columbus, IN $101,828
Statisticians $109,300 IN statewide $117,527
Operations Research Analysts $85,280 IN statewide $91,699
Software Developers $104,880 Columbus, IN $112,774
Actuaries $100,690 IN statewide $108,269
Database Architects $132,830 IN statewide $142,828
Computer Systems Analysts $103,800 Columbus, IN $111,613
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $66,390 Columbus, IN $71,387

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Columbus at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 93.0 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Columbus-Area Cities With Data Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited data science schools are near Columbus, IN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering data science programs near Columbus. The closest is Franklin College in Franklin, IN (19.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (77.5 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying data science roles near Columbus?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying data science-related roles near Columbus are: Database Architects ($132,830), Statisticians ($109,300), Software Developers ($104,880). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Indiana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Seymour instead of Columbus?

Seymour, IN is 18.0 miles from Columbus and has its own set of local data science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Data Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Columbus

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Columbus:

Data verified: September 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.