Data Science Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Data Science degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$69K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$105K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.2 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Data Science in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Data Science programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. Data Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Python and Machine Learning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $68,880, growing to $105,000 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Data Science Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Data Science salary: $82,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $155,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Data Science ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Data Science degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$39,480
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
2.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$835,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($924,000) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Data Science in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Data Science
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Data Science in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Data Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Data Science Job Titles
Data Science in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$77K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$80K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$66K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$70K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$78K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$72K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$74K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$68K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Columbia
Prompt Engineering
$42K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$71K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$74K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$67K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Applied Mathematics
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Data Science Degree in Columbia — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Data Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Columbia.