Best institutions to study Data Visualization
A program that prepares individuals to organize and derive meaning from data by using visual presentation tools and techniques.
4 U.S. institutions graduated 148 Data Visualization students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 30.7103, a specialization of Data Analytics (CIP 30.71), and leads most directly to the Data Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 15-2051).
About Data Visualization programs
A program that prepares individuals to organize and derive meaning from data by using visual presentation tools and techniques. Includes instruction in cognitive science, computer programming, data management, data visualization theory, graphic design, infographics, perceptual psychology, statistics, and visual design.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Data Visualization program, a part of the broader Data Analytics field, focuses on preparing individuals to effectively organize and interpret data through visual presentation tools and techniques. This program is ideal for students interested in combining data analysis with graphic design to communicate insights clearly and effectively. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of cognitive science, computer programming, and visual design, making this program suitable for those looking to enhance their skills in data-driven storytelling and information presentation.
Core coursework includes instruction in data visualization theory, graphic design, statistics, and perceptual psychology. Students will learn to analyze and manipulate large datasets, apply statistical software, and create infographics that convey complex information in an accessible manner.
Credentials awarded
What Data Visualization graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year97 graduates / yr · 1 institution66%
- Bachelor's degree38 graduates / yr · 1 institution26%
- Master's degree12 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
Graduates over time
Data Visualization completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 62 |
| 2025 | 148 |
CIP 30.7103 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 4 institutions for Data Visualization, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 97 | 79% | — |
| 2 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WAPublicBachelor's | 38 | 65% | — |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 94% | $23,803 |
| 4 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 73% | — |
Offered in 4 states
Where Data Visualization graduates come from. Each state links to all Data Analytics programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 1 | 97 | University of South Carolina - Columbia97 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 38 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus38 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 12 | Carnegie Mellon University12 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1 | New Jersey Institute of Technology1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2051, Data Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Data Visualization program can pursue careers as Data Scientists, Management Analysts, and more. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 33.5% and approximately 23,400 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $112,590, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 30.7103
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Data Scientistsprimary SOC 15-2051 | $120,230 | +33.5% Much faster than average | ~23,400 | Bachelor's degree |
Management Analysts SOC 13-1111 | $101,860 | +8.8% Much faster than average | ~98,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Computer Programmers SOC 15-1251 | $100,390 | -6.0% Decline | ~5,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Data Visualization programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
- Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest, such as sales, attrition, and healthcare use.
- Apply sampling techniques to determine groups to be surveyed or use complete enumeration methods.
- Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.
- Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.
- Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.
Tools and technology used
Other Data Analytics specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Data Analytics (CIP 30.71).
Common questions
What is the duration of the Data Visualization program?+
The program typically awards credentials for at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What types of careers can I pursue with this degree?+
Graduates can work as Data Scientists, Management Analysts, and in various other roles.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
Currently, there are 4 colleges in the U.S. offering the Data Visualization program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will learn to analyze data, apply statistical software, and create effective visual presentations.
What is the CIP code for Data Visualization?+
Data Visualization is CIP 30.7103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Data Analytics (CIP 30.71). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to organize and derive meaning from data by using visual presentation tools and techniques. Includes instruction in cognitive science, computer programming, data management, data visualization theory, graphic design, infographics, perceptual psychology, statistics, and visual design.
How many institutions offer Data Visualization programs?+
4 U.S. institutions reported Data Visualization graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 148 credentials in the year. That is 0.9% of all Data Analytics graduates.
How much do Data Visualization graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Data Scientists occupation, which Data Visualization most directly leads to, pays a median of $120,230 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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