by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Data Visualization explores 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. Examples: [Infographics And Data Visualization Design]. Continue reading for the essential details every data visualization major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering data visualization programs.
Nationwide, data visualization is a widely-pursued major, with 67 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Data Visualization Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for data visualization students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of data visualization programs later in this article.
Programs in Data Visualization emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations data visualization graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a data visualization program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a data visualization major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several data visualization degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 30 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 37 |
People currently working in careers related to data visualization tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 74.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in data visualization careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying data visualization opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to data visualization.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to data visualization.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Computer Programmers | 666,800 | 11.7% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
Salaries for data visualization graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers data visualization grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Computer Programmers | $109,892 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
| Clinical Data Managers | $99,475 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Management Analysts | $51,034 |
With 4 different data visualization programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased data visualization school rankings to help you.
Those considering data visualization, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Analytics | 9,273 |
| Data Analytics, General | 1,675 |
| Financial Analytics | 1,644 |
| Data Analytics, Other | 232 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
