If a GRE requirement has been holding up your search for a data science master’s, you can stop filtering it out of your options. Eastern Connecticut State University’s M.S. in Applied Data Science does not require the GRE for admission. See the full M.S. in Applied Data Science program page
That doesn’t mean admissions is a formality. Eastern still evaluates your readiness for graduate-level coursework, just through different evidence: your academic record, your recommendations, and your own account of why you’re pursuing this degree.
Why So Many Data Science Programs Have Dropped the GRE
Eastern isn’t an outlier here. Standardized test requirements have been declining across graduate programs for years, and the shift has accelerated since 2020. Research on PhD programs at the University of Michigan found that when programs eliminated the GRE requirement, applications grew 17.5% almost immediately, since a major screening barrier disappeared for otherwise qualified applicants. AERA Open, “GRE-Optional Policies in PhD Admissions: Impacts on Student Applications, Yield, and Structural Diversity.”
The reasoning tracks with what data science programs actually care about. A GRE score tells a committee how well you take a standardized test. Your transcript, your professional statement, and your recommenders tell them whether you can handle a graduate research project, communicate technical findings, and follow through on a 30-credit curriculum. For a field built on applied, project-based work, that second set of evidence tends to matter more.
What Eastern’s Applied Data Science Program Requires Instead
Eastern’s admissions process centers on six components, and none of them is a standardized test score.
| Requirement | What It Means |
|---|---|
| GPA | Minimum 2.7 on your bachelor’s degree |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts from all non-Eastern colleges attended |
| Recommendations | Two recommendation surveys from people who can speak to your ability to do graduate-level work |
| Personal statement | A statement explaining your professional goals for the degree |
| Prerequisite coursework | One college-level statistics course |
| Application fee | $50 |
| Resume | A copy of your recent resume |
If Your GPA Is Below 2.7
A GPA under the 2.7 threshold doesn’t automatically end your application. Eastern’s admissions team considers relevant work experience alongside your academic record for applicants in this range, which matters if your undergraduate years don’t reflect where you are professionally now. If this applies to you, it’s worth reaching out directly before you submit, so an advisor can walk through what additional context would strengthen your file. Talk to a representative about your specific situation
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Does This Fit Both STEM and Non-STEM Backgrounds?
Yes, and this is where the “no GRE” policy matters most. A standardized test requirement tends to filter out capable applicants who majored in something other than math, computer science, or engineering, even when they’ve since built relevant analytical skills on the job. Eastern’s admissions criteria don’t penalize that path.
If your undergraduate degree was in business, communications, psychology, or another liberal arts field, your professional statement is where you connect that background to your data science goals. Eastern’s own curriculum reflects a similar philosophy: it’s built on a liberal arts foundation, which means the program already expects to work with students who bring communication and critical-thinking strengths alongside technical ones, not only students who arrived with a computer science degree in hand.
STEM-background applicants still apply through the same six requirements.
Realistic Timeline: Application to Enrollment
Eastern’s Applied Data Science program admits for both Fall, Spring, and Summer terms, and admissions works on a rolling basis with priority windows. For a Fall term, a priority deadline typically falls in mid-July, with a regular deadline about four weeks later; Spring term follows a similar pattern ahead of the January start.
Because review is rolling, applying closer to the priority deadline generally means a faster decision and more room to plan around a specific start date, rather than waiting on a single fixed cutoff. Check current application deadlines
Once enrolled, the program is structured around 30 total credits, and Eastern estimates a workload of roughly 12 to 16 hours per week per course. Students who stay enrolled continuously and study full-time can complete the degree in 12 months, entirely online.
The Bottom Line
Eastern’s M.S. in Applied Data Science replaces the GRE with a more holistic look at your readiness: your transcript, your recommendations, your statement of goals, and one statistics course. That structure is designed to evaluate what you can actually do, not how you perform on a single standardized test on a single day.
If a test score was the only thing keeping you from applying, that barrier is already gone. The path to your future starts at Eastern. Request info about the M.S. in Applied Data Science
FAQ
Does Eastern’s M.S. in Applied Data Science require the GRE?
No. The program does not require GRE or GMAT scores for admission at any point in the application process.
What GPA do I need to get into the program?
Eastern looks for a minimum 2.7 GPA on your bachelor’s degree. Applicants below that threshold can still be considered, with relevant work experience factored into the review.
Do I need a statistics or math background to apply?
You need to have completed one college-level statistics course before your application is considered complete. Beyond that prerequisite, a deep technical background is not required, since the curriculum is built to develop those skills.
How long does it take to hear back after applying?
Eastern reviews applications on a rolling basis with priority deadlines ahead of each Fall and Spring term. Applying near the priority deadline typically means a faster decision.
How long does the degree take to complete?
The program totals 30 credits. Students who enroll continuously and study full-time can complete it in 12 months, fully online.
