Last updated: October 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson. This comparison is based on each framework’s official documentation and release notes, the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey and developer discussions, all read in October 2026. See our review methodology.
The largest data science scholarships open right now are the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, worth a $37,000 stipend plus $16,000 toward tuition for each of three years, with deadlines on October 20 and 23, 2026, and the SMART Scholarship, which pays full tuition and a $30,000 to $46,000 stipend and is open until December 4, 2026.
We checked every scholarship on the 2022 version of this page on 14 October 2026, and none of them could be confirmed as still running: several program pages return “page not found”, and others no longer mention the award. This page now lists only funding we could verify on the funder’s own site that day. The list of what we removed, and why, is further down.
Quick answer
- Biggest award: the Hertz Fellowship, up to $250,000 over five years for PhD students.
- Deadline this month: NSF GRFP, October 20, 2026 for computer and information science and October 23 for mathematical sciences.
- Pays tuition and guarantees a job: the SMART Scholarship, in exchange for working for the Department of War after you graduate.
- For a master’s abroad: Chevening funds a one-year master’s in the UK for emerging leaders.
- Cheapest route to a degree without a scholarship: an online master’s under $16,000, paid partly by your employer.
Who is a Data Scientist?
Before you sign up for another data science course, read this.
I've taken DataCamp, Dataquest, Coursera ML, and the Udacity nanodegrees. Get my Tuesday picks — plus reader-only codes when they drop.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
A data scientist collects, cleans and models data to answer business or research questions, then explains the answer to people who make decisions. The job combines statistics, programming (usually Python or R and SQL) and machine learning with enough domain knowledge to ask the right question.
That mix matters for scholarships. Most of the awards below are written for “STEM” or “computational science” students, not for “data science” by name, so read eligibility lists for statistics, computer science, mathematics and engineering as well.
How much do you earn as a Data Scientist?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median data scientist salary of $120,230 (May 2025) and projects 35% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, far faster than the roughly 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
The 2022 version of this page quoted entry-level, mid-level and senior salaries from a 2016 survey and a BLS link to a page that no longer exists. Those numbers are a decade old, so we removed them.
Why is the demand for Data Scientists growing constantly?
Two forces keep demand high. Organizations collect more data than they can use, and the spread of machine learning and generative AI has made people who can build and evaluate models more valuable. Employers are also asking for more education: 365 Data Science found that 31.4% of data scientist job postings mentioned a master’s and 34.7% a PhD in 2026, up from 29.6% and 24.1% in 2025 (365 Data Science).
That shift toward graduate degrees is exactly why funding matters. A fellowship can turn a master’s or PhD from a debt into a paid job.
The Best Online Data Science Scholarships
What are data science scholarships?
Data science scholarships are grants, fellowships and tuition awards that pay part or all of the cost of studying data science or a related field. They come from four kinds of funders, and each works differently:
- Government fellowships (NSF GRFP, DOE CSGF, SMART) are large, competitive and usually limited to U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents.
- Private foundations (Hertz) fund a small number of PhD students very generously.
- Companies (Google, DataCamp) fund PhD research or donate access to learning platforms.
- Universities fund their own students. Program-specific awards such as UVA’s Bourne scholarship are often the least competitive, because only that program’s students can apply.
Why are data science scholarships popular?
Graduate programs are expensive, and the best-funded awards in this field cover tuition and pay a living stipend, so a PhD can be paid rather than borrowed. They also carry weight on a resume: an NSF or Hertz fellowship is a recognized signal of research quality.
Which are the best Data Science scholarships available online?
Every award at a glance, then the detail. Amounts and dates are from each funder’s site on 14 October 2026.
| Award | Value | Who it is for | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) | $37,000 stipend + $16,000 cost of education a year, 3 years of support | Early-stage graduate students and seniors (U.S.) | October 20, 2026 (computer and information science); October 23 (mathematical sciences) |
| DoW SMART Scholarship-for-Service | Full tuition + $30,000 to $46,000 stipend, internships, a civilian job after graduation | U.S. bachelor’s, master’s and PhD students in STEM | Open August 1 to the first Friday in December (December 4, 2026) |
| DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) | $45,000 stipend + full tuition and fees, up to 4 years | Senior undergraduates and first-year graduate students (PhD) | Check the CSGF site for the next cycle |
| Hertz Fellowship | Up to 5 years of funding, valued at up to $250,000 | PhD students in applied science, engineering and math | Check the Hertz site for the next cycle |
| Google PhD Fellowship | Up to US $85,000 a year in the U.S. and Canada; amounts vary by region | PhD students in computer science and related fields, by region | 2026 cycle closed April 30, 2026; watch for the 2027 cycle |
| Chevening Scholarship (UK) | A fully funded one-year master’s in the UK | Emerging leaders from eligible countries | 2026 cycle: opened August, closed in October; next cycle August 2027 |
| UVA Philip E. Bourne Memorial Innovation Scholarship | Funded by a $50,000 gift | Students in UVA’s online MS in Data Science | Through UVA’s School of Data Science |
| Fulbright U.S. Student Program | Study and research grants abroad | U.S. citizens | 2027-28 closed October 6, 2026; 2028-29 opens spring 2027 |
| DataCamp Donates | Free DataCamp access | People served by partner nonprofits, and student clubs | Organizations apply on behalf of learners |
1. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The National Science Foundation’s GRFP is a five-year award with three years of financial support: a $37,000 stipend plus $16,000 cost of education paid to your university for each year of support. It funds research-based graduate study in STEM fields, including computer and information science and engineering and the mathematical sciences, which is where most data science applicants apply. For the 2027 competition, NSF lists the application deadline as October 20, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern for computer and information science and engineering, and October 23, 2026 for mathematical sciences. Check the eligibility rules on the NSF page before you start. NSF GRFP.
2. Department of War SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program
SMART (formerly the Department of Defense SMART program) gives merit-based scholarships to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students pursuing STEM degrees. Recipients get full tuition at any accredited U.S. college or university, an annual stipend of $30,000 to $46,000 depending on degree level, summer internships, and civilian employment with the Department of War after graduation, which is the service commitment you accept. Applications are open every year from August 1 to the first Friday in December, which is December 4, 2026 for this cycle. Use the site’s “does your major qualify” check to confirm your field. SMART Scholarship.
3. DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF)
The Department of Energy’s CSGF, run by the Krell Institute, pays a $45,000 annual stipend plus full tuition and fees and a yearly professional development allowance, renewable for up to four years. It seeks senior undergraduates and first-year graduate students, and recipients must be full-time doctoral students. It suits data scientists whose work is computational: simulation, high-performance computing or applied math. DOE CSGF.
4. Hertz Fellowship
The Hertz Foundation awards up to five years of funding, valued at up to $250,000, to PhD students in the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences and mathematics, chosen through a rigorous selection process. It is one of the most selective awards on this list and comes with a lifelong fellows community. Hertz Fellowship.
5. Google PhD Fellowship
Google funds PhD students doing research in computer science and related areas, including machine learning, and pairs each fellow with a Google research mentor. Fellowships are offered in Africa, Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and the United States. Amounts differ by region: in Canada and the United States it is up to two years at US $85,000 a year toward tuition, fees, living costs, travel and equipment; in India, early-stage PhD students can receive up to US $50,000 over as many as four years; Latin America pays US $15,000 a year. The 2026 cycle opened on March 5 and closed on April 30, 2026, so plan for the 2027 cycle. Google PhD Fellowship.
6. Chevening Scholarships (UK)
Chevening, the UK government’s international scholarship, funds one-year master’s degrees in the UK for emerging leaders from eligible countries. Data science and analytics master’s courses qualify if the university is eligible. For the current cycle, applications opened in August 2026 and closed in October 2026 (the exact date depends on your country page); shortlisted applicants hear in mid-February 2027. If you missed it, prepare now for the August 2027 opening. Chevening.
7. UVA “Onward: The Philip E. Bourne Memorial Innovation Scholarship”
The University of Virginia’s School of Data Science created this award in 2026 with a $50,000 gift in memory of its founding dean. It recognizes students in UVA’s online M.S. in Data Science for academic merit and character; the first recipient was named in August 2026. It is a good example of a program-specific award: ask the admissions team of any program you apply to what internal scholarships exist. UVA School of Data Science.
8. DataCamp Donates
DataCamp partners with nonprofits around the world to give free data and AI education to the people they serve, and says it has donated over $50 million in scholarships. Legally recognized charities, student clubs affiliated with degree-granting institutions, and selected socially responsible companies can apply. Individuals cannot apply directly; ask an eligible organization you belong to, or check DataCamp Classrooms if you are a student or teacher. DataCamp Donates.
9. Fulbright U.S. Student Program
For U.S. citizens who want to study or do research abroad, including data science and statistics projects, Fulbright offers study and research grants in many countries. The 2027-2028 competition closed on October 6, 2026, with semi-finalists notified by the end of January 2027; the 2028-2029 application launches in spring 2027. Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Which scholarship fits your situation?
| You are… | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| a U.S. college senior or first-year PhD student | NSF GRFP, DOE CSGF, Hertz | The three largest research fellowships, all open to early-stage applicants |
| a U.S. student willing to work for the government | SMART | Full tuition plus a stipend, with a job waiting after graduation |
| a PhD student in machine learning | Google PhD Fellowship | Up to US $85,000 a year in the U.S. and Canada, plus a Google mentor |
| an international student wanting a UK master’s | Chevening | Funds a one-year master’s for emerging leaders |
| a U.S. citizen wanting to study abroad | Fulbright U.S. Student Program | Study and research grants in many countries |
| a working professional | Employer tuition assistance + a low-cost online master’s | Up to $5,250 a year tax-free, against degrees from about $10,000 |
| just starting out | Free courses, DataCamp Donates through a partner nonprofit | Learn the basics before paying for a degree |
Data science scholarships for women
Two of the women-focused awards on the 2022 version of this page, the ACM SIGHPC fellowship and the CA Technologies Fellowship for Women, are no longer offered (see the removed list below). Every fellowship in our list is open to women, and several universities run their own awards for women in computing; ask the admissions office of each program you apply to. WiDS Worldwide is a conference network rather than a scholarship, but its regional events are a good place to meet mentors and sponsors.
Data science scholarships for high school seniors
Most awards on this page are for graduate students. High school seniors should look at undergraduate STEM scholarships at the colleges they apply to, and at SMART, which also funds bachelor’s degrees.
Fellowship, scholarship or assistantship: what is the difference?
The words are used loosely, but the money works differently, and the difference affects what you owe in time and taxes.
- Scholarship: money toward tuition, usually with no work attached. Most scholarships for data science are program-specific awards like UVA’s.
- Fellowship: money for a graduate student, often a stipend plus tuition, given to support your study or research. NSF GRFP, CSGF, Hertz and the Google PhD Fellowship are all fellowships, and they let you choose your own research.
- Scholarship-for-service: a full ride in exchange for a work commitment afterward. SMART is the main example in this field.
- Assistantship: a teaching or research job inside your department that pays tuition and a stipend. For PhD students in statistics, computer science and data science, assistantships are the most common form of funding, so ask every program how many of its students are funded this way.
Expect a difference between degree types. PhD programs in statistics and computer science usually fund admitted students through assistantships or fellowships. Professional master’s degrees, including most online data science master’s, usually do not, so plan on employer support, savings or loans and keep the total cost low.
Stipends and fellowships can be taxable income in the U.S. even when tuition payments are not, so check how your award is reported and set money aside if nothing is withheld.
Data science scholarship deadlines calendar
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| August | SMART applications open (August 1); Chevening opens |
| October | Chevening closes; NSF GRFP deadlines (October 20 and 23 in 2026); Fulbright U.S. Student closed October 6, 2026 |
| First Friday in December | SMART closes (December 4, 2026) |
| January to February | Fulbright semi-finalists notified; Chevening shortlists in mid-February |
| March to April | Google PhD Fellowship applications (March 5 to April 30 in 2026) |
| Spring | Next Fulbright competition launches |
Dates repeat on a similar schedule each year, but funders move them. Treat this as a planning guide and confirm each date on the funder’s site.
Other ways to pay for a data science degree
Most learners will not win a national fellowship, and that is fine. These routes cover the cost for far more people:
- Employer tuition assistance. Under a qualifying educational assistance program, a U.S. employer can pay up to $5,250 a year toward your education without it counting as taxable wages (IRS Publication 15-B).
- Low-cost online degrees. UT Austin’s online MS in Data Science is about $10,000 plus fees, Georgia Tech’s analytics master’s about $12,000, and Pitt’s Master of Data Science $15,300. Compare them in our best online master’s in data science guide.
- Payment plans. Pitt, for example, offers 3 to 6 month payment plans each term for balances of $300 or more.
- Course-level financial aid. If you are starting with certificates rather than a degree, read our Coursera financial aid guide before you pay full price.
- Free courses first. Build the basics for free and pay only when you know you like the work; our data science course guide marks the free options.
See Pitt’s $15,300 online Master of Data Science →
How to win a data science scholarship
- Start early. NSF’s deadlines fall in October and SMART’s in early December, so letters of recommendation need to be requested in September.
- Match the funder’s mission. The DOE wants computational science, SMART wants future defense employees, and NSF wants research potential and broader impact. Write to that.
- Show a project. A clear account of one analysis you did, what you found and what you would do next beats a list of courses.
- Apply to program-specific awards. They have smaller applicant pools than national fellowships.
- Read the eligibility rules first. Citizenship, enrollment status and degree stage rule out more applicants than essays do.
- Talk to the financial aid office. Students who ask directly often learn about department awards and emergency grants that are never advertised.
- Compare funding offers before you accept. Apply to several programs and weigh the funding package as heavily as the ranking.
- Track every award in one sheet. List the deadline, the materials and who is writing each letter, so one late reference does not cost you two applications.
Scholarships we removed from this page
Each of these was on the 2022 version of this page. We checked them on 14 October 2026:
| Scholarship | What we found |
|---|---|
| ACM SIGHPC Computational and Data Science Fellowship | The fellowships page on sighpc.org returns “page not found” |
| Daniel Larose Scholarship (Central Connecticut State) | The scholarship page returns “404 Page Not Found” |
| CA Technologies Fellowship for Women (University of Vermont) | The page now redirects to the Vermont Complex Systems Institute homepage |
| Acxiom Corporation Diversity Scholarship | Acxiom’s inclusion page no longer mentions a scholarship |
| GAANN Big Data Computing Fellowship (WPI) | WPI’s data science funding page no longer lists it |
| INFORMS Analytics Society Student Scholarship | Not listed among INFORMS community prizes |
| Bill Caspare, Fisher Family Fund, HIMSS Minnesota, Lilly Endowment (Saint Mary’s) | Could not be confirmed as open on an official page; removed rather than risk sending you to a dead award |
If you know one of these is still running, the funder’s own site is the place to confirm it.
The Parting Shot
Data science scholarships exist, but the big ones are research fellowships for graduate students, and they are competitive. If you are a U.S. student heading for graduate research, apply to NSF GRFP this month and SMART before December 4. If you want a professional master’s, the realistic plan is a low-cost online degree plus employer assistance. And if you are just starting, free courses and a certificate will tell you whether data science is worth paying for at all. Read whether data science is a good career if you are still deciding.
Start learning data science on DataCamp →
Start with Google’s Data Analytics Certificate →
Award amounts, deadlines and eligibility come from the official pages linked in this article, read on 14 October 2026. They change every cycle, so confirm on the linked page before you apply or pay.
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of data science scholarships?
The best awards pay tuition and a living stipend: NSF GRFP pays $37,000 a year plus $16,000 toward tuition, and the DOE CSGF pays $45,000 plus full tuition and fees. They also signal research quality to employers and universities.
How much money can a data science scholarship save?
It ranges from free platform access (DataCamp Donates) to full funding. SMART covers full tuition plus a $30,000 to $46,000 stipend, and a Hertz Fellowship is valued at up to $250,000 over five years.
Are there data science scholarships for international students?
Yes. Chevening funds one-year master’s degrees in the UK for students from eligible countries, and Google’s PhD Fellowship runs in regions from Africa and India to Latin America. Most U.S. government fellowships are limited to U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents.
Are there scholarships for an online master’s in data science?
Some programs have their own, such as UVA’s Philip E. Bourne Memorial Innovation Scholarship for its online MS in Data Science. Employer tuition assistance (up to $5,250 a year tax-free in the U.S.) is the more common way people fund online degrees.
When is the NSF GRFP deadline?
For the 2027 competition, NSF lists October 20, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern for computer and information science and engineering, and October 23, 2026 for mathematical sciences.
Can I get a free data science education?
Partly. DataCamp Donates gives free access through partner nonprofits, many courses can be audited for free, and fellowships such as SMART and CSGF cover full tuition. A fully free accredited degree usually requires a fellowship.
Are data science scholarships taxable?
In the U.S., money used for tuition and required fees is generally not taxable for degree students, but stipends for living costs often are. Check how your fellowship reports payments, and set money aside if no tax is withheld.
How do I make the most of a data science scholarship?
Finish the program on time, build a portfolio project from your coursework, and use the funder’s network: Hertz and SMART both connect fellows with employers and alumni.
Related reading
- Best online master’s in data science programs
- Coursera financial aid: rules and how to apply
- The best data science courses, compared
- Is data science a good career in 2026?
- How to become a data scientist without a degree
- Data science conferences in 2026 and 2027
- Benefits of learning data science online
- upGrad data science review
- DataCamp data science review
- BloomTech review (formerly Lambda School)
- DataCamp vs Coursera
- DataCamp vs Udacity for data science
- Udacity Programming for Data Science with Python review
- Udacity Data Scientist Nanodegree review
- IBM Data Science Professional Certificate review