Data science skill sets are in tremendous demand, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which predicts a 36%increase in data science jobs from 2021 to 2031. Rather than putting your job on pause, a more flexible way into this burgeoning field is to get an online master’s degree in the space. But if you are also concerned about the potential time spent preparing for a GRE test in order to get into a data science program, Fortune has compiled a list of the best online master’s in data science programs in 2023 that do not require prospective students to submit GRE scores to apply.
Over the past decade, universities have been developing academic programs to help meet the demand for data-savvy graduates. Online master’s degree programs in data science allow prospective students access to skills that can land them a high-paying, rewarding job.
To help expedite the admissions process, many online master’s in data science programs don’t require applicants to submit GRE scores—a trend common among online MBA degree programs. Nixing GRE requirements eliminates a potential barrier to entry for applicants, but it also tasks schools with relying on other metrics and qualifications to determine a student’s readiness for the program.
But it’s not just a COVID-19 phenomenon that’s causing test policy changes. In February 2020, the University of California—Berkeley announced it was making standardized test scores optional for its data science degree programs, following a recommendation made by the School of Information’s diversity working group.
“A detailed review of relevant research indicates that standardized graduate entrance examinations are weak predictors of academic success in graduate school and that overemphasizing GRE and GMAT scores replicates and amplifies structural disadvantages to some demographic groups, particularly students from underrepresented minority and lower socioeconomic backgrounds,” according to the announcement.