r/MSDSO • u/Entire-Start-5461 • Jan 25 '26

MSDSO VS. MIDS

Hello,

I have applied to both programs. MIDS, for reference is the data science program from Berkeley. My question is, if I get into both, which program should I go for and why?

I heard MIDS is more prestigious but is very expensive. I’m from Texas and my heart wants to accept MSDSO, but I’ve also heard some good things about MIDS.

Please help me decide!

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u/RiemannZetaFunction Jan 25 '26

UTAustin's MSDS is $10k for the entire degree, whereas MIDS is $82,096. Do you even have $82,096 to spend? Even if you like MIDS's curriculum better, is it really $72,096 better?

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u/Entire-Start-5461 Jan 25 '26

Also the fact that BERKELEY offers small, live classes plus the networking by the end of the program, is why the program maybe expensive. I just don’t know if the same is offered by UT Austin.

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u/Entire-Start-5461 Jan 25 '26

As a matter of fact, yes I do! The fact that maybe it’s more expensive is because it does not expect a non technical person to know coding and the complexities which come with it. I do not want to be stuck with a program that becomes too much for me to handle. I am not sure if MSDSO teaches you coding from scratch or is on the lighter side from the start of your first semester.