IIT Madras BS Data Science Placement 2026: Highest Salary, Median Salary & Higher Education Opportunities

IIT Madras BS Data Science Placement 2026 - Key Highlights

The following table highlights the overview of IIT Madras BS Data Science Placement 2026.

IIT Madras BS Data Science Placement 2026 Overview

Also Read: IIT Madras BS Data Science: A Comprehensive Analysis of Enrollment & Success Trends

IIT Madras BS Data Science Placement 2026: Internships & Jobs

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme witnessed students securing internships and jobs not only through IITM’s placement cell but also on their own.

Self-Secured Internships and Job Placements 2026

The data shows a strong growth in self-secured internships over time, especially in September 2025 where 1,609 students secured internships on their own. On the other hand, 473 students secured jobs in January 2025, showing a higher number of jobs compared to later periods.

Self-Secured Internships: Level-wise

The data shows that most internships were secured by Diploma students (2,479), followed by Foundation students (1,599) from January 2025 to January 2026. The number of self-secured internships saw a continuous increase from 864 in January 2025 to 1,609 in September 2025. However, in January 2026, there was a slight decline to 1,115 students.

This indicates strong growth from January 2025 to September 2025, with a significant drop in early 2026.

Stipend Insights

• When it comes to compensation, most students (1,008) secured internships with a stipend ranging from Rs 10,001 to Rs 30,000 per month.

• 218 students got internship opportunities within the Rs 30,001 to Rs 50,000 per month stipend range, while 147 students secured internships at more than Rs 50,000 per month.

• There are also a large number of students (701) secured internships with a stipend of less than Rs 10,000 per month.

Self-Secured Jobs: Level-wise

The data above highlights that 1,637 students secured jobs on their own across all three levels: Foundation, Diploma, and Degree, over four sessions. Here also, most jobs were secured by diploma students (958), reflecting more students getting placed after the diploma level of IIT Madras BS Data Science and Applications.

In January 2026, 300 Diploma students self-secured jobs in comparison to 211 in January 2026. At the Degree level, the numbers of jobs secured remained consistent throughout the sessions.

Salary Insights

The salary for self-secured jobs ranges from Rs 5 LPA to Rs 20 LPA, with 691 students falling within this salary range. There are also a few students (129) who got placed with a salary of more than Rs 20 LPA. Moreover, many students (602) received placements at less than Rs 5 LPA.

The overall salary data shows a strong performance across all salary ranges.

Must Read: IIT Madras BS in Data Science And Applications: Worth Pursuing or Just Hype?

Internships Through IITM’s Placement Cell (IIC)

Many students secured internship opportunities through IITM’s BS placement cell. The data shows that out of 312 students applied, 198 students received internships across different terms, reflecting a 63.46 per cent of acceptance rate. In the placement drive, 224 companies offered 622 internship opportunities.

Stipend Insights

The median stipend stood at Rs 20,000, which means half of the students earn below this amount and the other half earn above it. The maximum stipend goes up to Rs 83,333 per month, showing high-paying roles for students after IITM BS data science. The average stipend recorded was Rs 22,000 per month.

Jobs Through IITM’s Placement Cell (IIC)

The data above shows that 159 companies offered 616 job positions where 125 students applied for at least one job. Of which, 83 students secured jobs across five terms: May 2024 (5 jobs secured), September 2024 (3 placed), January 2025 (8 got placement), May 2025 (18 jobs secured), and September 2025 (49 jobs secured).

The best performance was recorded in September 2025, with a high participation of 58 students, where 49 students got placed.

Salary Insights

The highest salary for IIT Madras BS Data Science and Applications programme stood at Rs 20,00,000 per annum. The IIT Madras placement 2026 for BS Data Science programme recorded the median package of Rs 6,00,000 p.a., with an average package of Rs 7,50,000 p.a.. This indicates a decent career potential in this field.

Also Read: In Their 60s and Still Learning: The IIT Madras BS Data Science Story

Career Progression: Higher Education opportunities

After completing the IIT Madras BS Data Science programme, many students applied for higher education such as masters and PhD programs within and outside India. As the programme has dual degree and standalone students, the following table highlights the number of students who opted for higher education opportunities in IITs, IISc, IISER, IIITs, and IIMs, Abroad, and other Indian institutes.

Students Applied for Admissions Abroad

The data highlights that 334 students applied for admissions abroad after IIT Madras Online BS in Data Science and Applications programme. Among all levels of the programme, students with Diploma made the highest number of applicants (230) for study abroad.

If we look at session-wise trends, September 2025 recorded the highest overall students applied for (100 students) admissions outside India, followed by May 2025 (92 students). January 2025 had 73 students, while January 2026 had the lowest number with 69 students.

The overall data reflects that students with BS in Data Science and Applications are making study abroad a popular choice.

Students Applied for Admissions to IITs/ IISERs/ IIMs

After completing the BS Data Science and Applications programme, many students chose top institutes like IITs, IISERs, and IIMs for higher education. The data shows that 400 students applied for admissions to IITs, IISERs, and IIMs across four terms: January 2025 (83 students), May 2025 (142 students), September 2025 (62 students), and January 2026 (113 students).

If we consider level-wise trends, Diploma students make up the largest share of applicants (236). This shows strong interest from diploma students for admissions to top institutes.

Students Applied for Admissions to Other Indian Universities

Most students also chose other universities to pursue higher education in India. The data shows that 1,395 students applied for admissions to Indian universities, with the highest number of applicants (413) in May 2025, followed by 402 students in January 2026.

The data further shows that Diploma programmes are the most preferred choice among students for higher education in comparison to Foundation and Degree levels.

Also Read: IIT Madras BS Data Science Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, Minimum Marks, Age Limit

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme has emerged as a pathway for students aiming for an IIT without JEE. This flexible, online BS programme enables students to build careers in data science without going through the JEE exam.

The IIT Madras placement 2026 for BS Data Science and Applications highlights consistent growth in both internships and job opportunities, with students securing roles through the institute’s placement cell as well as independently.

While the IIT Madras highest salary for BS degree of Rs 20 LPA reflects strong earning potential, the median package of Rs 6 LPA showcases stable career outcomes for most students.

Not only placements, but the IIT Madras BS Data Science and Applications programme also opens a pathway for higher education in India and abroad. This makes the programme a rewarding option for students seeking data science and technology careers.