University of California, San Diego

How this program compares

At an estimated $42.9K in total tuition, the MS in ECE - ML and Data Science sits about 0% above the $42.9K average for AI master's programs in our database — placing it in the 63rd percentile on cost among the 394 we track at this level. It runs on a full-time schedule (on-campus).

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required, along with coursework in programming, linear algebra, and probability/statistics.

About This Program

This program integrates computer science and engineering to prepare students for careers in the rapidly evolving fields of machine learning and big data analytics. Most students complete it in about 1.5 years.

It is one of 65 AI-related programs we track in California, of which about 37% offer an online option. On price, it comes in cheaper than about 62% of the California programs in our data, where typical tuition runs near $63.3K.

Graduates frequently move into roles such as Data Scientist, with reported salaries around $140,000.

Design and implement supervised/unsupervised machine learning models for data analysis.

At roughly $42.9K total, University of California, San Diego's MS in ECE - ML and Data Science sits above the $42.9K average among AI master's programs we track — the 63rd percentile on price. That puts it in the mid-range on price among comparable programs.

Career Outcomes

University of California, San Diego positions this master track for Data Scientist careers — typical offers cluster around $140,000. Its focus on Machine Learning and Data Science & Analytics maps directly to how employers in engineering ai screen for specialized skills rather than generic degrees. Federal projections for this occupational area point to roughly 35% growth this decade — verify the current figure on the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook before you rely on it.

• 1. Machine Learning Engineer
• 2. Data Science Engineer
• 3. AI Systems Engineer
• 4. Research Scientist in ML

What You'll Learn

• Design and implement supervised/unsupervised machine learning models for data analysis.
• Optimize systems for large-scale ML training and LLM inference.
• Apply data mining techniques to extract insights from complex datasets.
• Build scalable engineering solutions for AI agents and data science pipelines.

Curriculum Highlights

The curriculum includes core courses in probability and stochastic processes, plus electives in deep learning, GPU programming, and sensing for robotics.

Top Employers

Top employers include tech companies like Google, Meta, NVIDIA, and research institutions such as national labs and AI startups.

Admissions

Admission to University of California, San Diego's MS in ECE - ML and Data Science generally expects a bachelor's degree. The GRE is optional here — a growing norm among AI programs — so applicants can often lead with coursework, projects and recommendations instead. Deadlines, testing policies and funding change year to year, so confirm the current requirements on the official program page before applying.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Frequently Asked Questions