Every year thousands of students apply for IIT Madras Online BS in Data Science and Applications programme. As per the IITM’s BS in Data Science and Applications Program Report - January 2026, 45,585 students are currently active. IIT Madras BS Data Science costs between Rs 3,86,000 and Rs 4,50,000, depending on the programme level. But is the programme worth it? What does the IIT Madras Data Science placement report say?
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IIT Madras BS Degree in Data Science and Applications has witnessed 2,58,294 applications between January 2021 and January 2026. It has 71.85% of male students and 28.15% female students. The programme attracts students from every academic background, regardless of age. As per the programme report 2026, most students (29,690) are from the 20-24 age group. The IIT Madras Data Science programme also has students above 60+ (47 students).
Students after completing this four-year IIT Madras online degree programme opted for a Masters or PhD programme. Many students also choose to enter the corporate world, either securing opportunities on their own or through IITM's BS placement cell (IIC) for internships or placements.
IIT Madras data science fees vary depending on the programme level. The total fee of IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme is Rs 3,86,000 - Rs 4,50,000.
| Programme Level | Fees |
|---|---|
Foundation | Rs 48,000 |
Foundation + One Diploma | Rs 1,29,000 |
Foundation + Two Diplomas | Rs 2,10,000 |
BSc Degree | Rs 2,86,000 - Rs 3,10,000 |
BS Degree | Rs 3,86,000 - Rs 4,50,000 |
After completing the BS degree, students can also choose to pursue PG Diploma in AI & ML and MTech in AI & ML. The following table highlights the fee of IIT Madras PG Diploma in AI & ML and MTech in AI & ML:
Programme Level | Fees |
|---|---|
PG Diploma in AI & ML | Rs 4,86,000 - Rs 5,90,000 |
MTech in AI & ML | Rs 6,86,000 - Rs 7,90,000 |
Also Read: Can I Pursue PhD After IIT Madras BS Degree?
The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme offers strong placement support through its placement cell (IIC) for internships and jobs. The highest salary package for IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme is Rs 20,00,000 p.a., with a median salary of Rs 6,00,000 p.a.
The highest stipend offered for IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications stood at Rs 83,333 per month, with a median stipend of Rs 27,705.
| Particulars | Placement Statistics (2026) | Placement Statistics (2025) |
|---|---|---|
Highest Salary (per year) | Rs 20,00,000 | Rs 15,00,000 |
Median Salary (per year) | Rs 6,00,000 | Rs 8,09,230 |
Mean Salary (per year) | Rs 7,50,000 | Rs 3,60,000 |
| Particulars | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
Highest Stipend (per month) | Rs 83,333 | Rs 60,000 |
Median Stipend (per month) | Rs 20,000 | Rs 27,705 |
Mean Stipend (per month) | Rs 22,000 | Rs 10,000 |
Apart from internships and jobs through IITM’s BS Placement Cell (IIC), many students secured internships and jobs on their own, with the highest package going up to over Rs 20 LPA and the stipend reaching more than Rs 1,00,000 per month.
| Salary Per annum | January 2026 | September 2025 | May 2025 | January 2025 | Total Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Below Rs 5 LPA | 153 | 171 | 163 | 115 | 602 |
Rs 5-10 LPA | 103 | 113 | 88 | 143 | 447 |
Rs 10-20 LPA | 54 | 78 | 53 | 59 | 244 |
> Rs 20 LPA | 35 | 42 | 23 | 29 | 129 |
Total | 345 | 404 | 327 | 346 | 1,422 |
Most students (691) are falling within the Rs 5 - Rs 20 LPA salary range while 129 students have secured jobs with more than Rs 20 LPA. Moreover, many students (602) received placements at less than Rs 5 LPA.
| Stipend per month | January 2026 | September 2025 | May 2025 | January 2025 | Total Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Below Rs 10,000 | 192 | 205 | 163 | 141 | 701 |
Rs 10,001 - Rs 30,000 | 255 | 324 | 256 | 173 | 1,008 |
Rs 30,001 - Rs 50,000 | 61 | 58 | 55 | 44 | 218 |
Rs 50,001 - Rs 1,00,000+ | 34 | 48 | 40 | 25 | 147 |
Total | 542 | 635 | 514 | 383 | 2,047 |
A total of 2,047 students received internships on their own, with most students (1,008) falling within the Rs 10,001 - Rs 30,000 per month stipend range.
Must Read: In Their 60s and Still Learning: The IIT Madras BS Data Science Story
According to the IITM’s Data Science Batch of 2025, which is defined as the group of students who have completed the BSc degree (114 credits) in the BS in Data Science and Applications programme between January-December 2024 and their status as compiled in December 2025.
| Level Completed | Dual Degree/ Working | Standalone | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
BSc Completed | 186 | 22 | 208* |
BS Completed | 249 | 88 | 337 |
Grand Total | 435 | 110 | 545 |
As per the Batch 2025 summary, there are a total of 545 students, with 208 students completed BSc degree and 337 completed BS degree. Out of those 208 students, 153 exited with BSc while 55 are in BS level.
| Salary Slab | Total |
|---|---|
< Rs 5 LPA | 34 |
Rs 5-10 LPA | 110 |
Rs 10-15 LPA | 73 |
Rs 15-25 LPA | 38 |
Rs 25-50 LPA | 25 |
> Rs 50 LPA | 8 |
Not willing to share | 55 |
Grand Total | 343 |
The data shows that 343 students reported their salaries, of which 8 students surpassed Rs 50 LPA.
Also Read: IIT Madras BS Data Science: A Comprehensive Analysis of Enrollment & Success Trends
With fees of Rs 4,50,000, IIT Madras BS Data Science not only becomes one of the popular IIT online degrees, but a rewarding degree where students get over Rs 50 LPA. Since the programme caters to a diverse range of students, regardless of academic background, age, and gender, students can enter top companies like Deloitte, Accenture, PWC, Infosys, TCS, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Schneider, and Wipro.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The highest salary for IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme is Rs 20 LPA.
The average salary package of IIT Madras BS in Data Science programme in 2026 is Rs 7,50,000.
The IIT Madras online degree in Data Science and Applications is worth it for those seeking an IIT degree to enter the tech industry. With a combination of flexibility, affordability, and credibility, the programme offers great placements.
No, JEE is not required for IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications. Students can enter through the qualifier exam process.
The total fee of IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications ranges from Rs 3,86,000 to Rs 4,50,000.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
In 2025, IIT Madras JEE Advanced, closing ranks are around 171 for CSE, 306 for AI & Data Analytics, 849 for Electrical, about 1300 for Computational Engineering, around 1440 for Engineering Physics, 2468 for Mechanical, and about 6112 for Civil.
To know more access below mentioned link:
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-advanced-cutoff-for-iit-madras
Hope
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Hello aspirant,
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Yes, If you work hard and study regularly, you can definitely crack JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
IIT Madras is tough, but many students from state boards have made it with good preparation. Focus on understanding concepts well, practice lots of questions, and solve previous years’ papers.
Also, try
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