SARASOTA, Fla. — Fortune Magazine has ranked New College of Florida’s Master’s in Applied Data Science program eighth in its 2025 rankings—its highest placement since the program’s inception. This marks the third time in four years that New College has appeared on the prestigious list and the first time it has landed in the top 10.
“This recognition is a testament to our commitment to attracting top graduate students and faculty in one of the fastest-growing fields in today’s economy,” said New College President Richard Corcoran. “Being the only Florida university on Fortune’s list is an incredible honor and underscores the leadership and excellence of our data science program.”
Students in the Applied Data Science master’s program complete three semesters on campus in small, close-knit cohorts, learning from faculty with both industry and academic expertise. The program culminates in a full-time internship during the final semester, with industry partners spanning banking, insurance, consulting, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies.
“The success of our alumni and this top-10 ranking are evidence of the high-quality education students receive here at New College,” said Prof. Bernhard Klingenberg, Director of the Applied Data Science Program. “It also highlights the strong value and real-world relevance of our Applied Data Science curriculum.”
Among a list dominated by large flagship public universities and private engineering schools, New College stands out as a small institution offering one of the most affordable programs. Florida residents can complete the 21-month program for less than $18,000—making it one of the most cost-effective options on Fortune’s list, where it was also ranked 11th for affordability.
Enrollment for the Master’s in Applied Data Science program is now open for Fall 2025. To learn more about the program, visit ncf.edu/grad-applied-data-
SARASOTA, Fla., — The Master’s in Applied Data Science program at New College announced today it has received nearly $98,000 in grant funding from the Agricultural Research Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This grant will fund paid internships for students in 2025, marking the third consecutive year the USDA has sponsored the work of New College data science students. The program leverages data science and AI to address pressing challenges in agriculture, sustainability, and environmental science, while equipping students with critical skills for high-demand careers.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to apply their coursework to real-world problems identified by USDA researchers,” said Bernhard Klingenberg, Director of the Applied Data Science Program at New College. “The renewed USDA grant continues to provide students with practical experiences in critical fields such as food security, sustainability, and biodiversity. I look forward to continuing our collaboration with the USDA, training the next generation of data scientists to tackle complex problems and excel in high-growth careers.”
Second-year data science student April Ainsworth used last summer’s USDA grant to research honeybee communication through audio data. As an experienced beekeeper herself, Ainsworth continues her research this fall with the goal of mitigating honeybee population declines.
“I applied both the foundational skills and advanced technical knowledge I gained from my Master’s program at New College to my USDA internship,” Ainsworth said. “Thanks to my data science training, I was able to collaborate with USDA scientists on experiments investigating honeybee communication and hive conditions, which are critical to commercial pollination.”
Another student, Matthew Wilcox, spent his USDA-funded summer internship researching sustainable packaging materials derived from milk proteins. His work focuses on finding eco-friendly alternatives to plastic, addressing the global environmental challenge of reducing plastic waste.
Melvin Adkins, who graduated from the program in May, now works as an analyst for a financial consulting company. He completed a 14-week USDA internship last spring, analyzing over 1.6 million records on high-risk arthropods intercepted at U.S. ports of entry. His work aimed to assess the risk of a costly biological invasion that could cause damage to U.S. agricultural commodities.
Now in its 10th year, the Master’s in Applied Data Science program at New College has a proven track record of preparing graduates for data science careers that tackle local and global challenges. The program emphasizes project-based learning and hands-on experience across industries, from agriculture to finance. Graduates are working in roles that apply data science and AI-driven solutions to critical issues such as sustainable agriculture and supply chain resilience.
“The demand for data scientists who can use AI to solve real-world challenges is at an all-time high,” said New College President Richard Corcoran. “Our program equips students with the tools to make a real impact—whether they are addressing food security, climate change, or global sustainability issues. The USDA grant is a testament to the power of combining academic excellence with practical, data-driven problem-solving, preparing our students for the future.”
Taught by faculty with industry experience, the program ensures students are proficient in key technologies for data processing and predictive modeling, balancing theory with hands-on application. To learn more about the program, visit ncf.edu/grad-applied-data-science or follow it on LinkedIn.
SARASOTA, Fla. — The Applied Data Science program at New College has finalized a grant agreement totaling $97,680 from the United State Department of Agriculture that will support internships for five of its students. 2023 marks the second time the USDA has sponsored internships for New College data science students.
The funding will allow second-year graduate students to take part in semester-long paid internships next spring, working alongside USDA scientists on topics such as food safety, soil, water or crop management, climate adaptation, animal welfare or genetics. First-year data science students will complete paid internships in summer 2024.
“Applied data science at New College is a rigorous program that produces industry-ready graduates, and the caliber of internships available to our students are indicative of their readiness to contribute in the workplace,” said New College President Richard Corcoran.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our grad students to apply their data science coursework to a very specific problem in the field,” said Bernhard Klingenberg, the Director of the Applied Data Science Program and the principal investigator of the grant. “It’s a win-win for both sides. Our students learn how to work as a data scientist in a larger team, and the USDA is glad to help train the next generation of scientists proficient in AI.”
Aaron Spielman participated in an internship through the USDA during the previous grant cycle. He spent the summer with the National Soil Erosion Lab at Purdue University.
“I was able to apply many of the skills I developed in the Data Science Master’s program to a project involving the development of a deep learning model that identifies the location of subsurface tile drains from high resolution satellite imagery and environmental data,” said Spielman.
The Master’s in Applied Data Science program at New College has a 100% job placement rate within three months of graduation with a median post-graduate salary of $95,000. Fortune Magazine has ranked it among the “Best Data Science Master’s Programs” in 2022 and 2023.