This dataset documents and classifies academic programs in data science offered by higher education institutions in the Midwestern United States prior to widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence tools (up to 2023). Detailed program-level metadata, including program names and types, institutional types, degree levels, and state-by-state information are systematically compiled using a reproducible typology. The resource enables investigation of regional trends, curriculum benchmarking, and comparative analysis of data science education in the pre-generative-AI era. By providing a standardized and transparent overview of academic offerings, the dataset supports research, educational planning, and policy decisions related to workforce development and the evolving landscape of data science education.
Blackford et al. (2026) studied this question.