Download Careers360 App
IIT Madras BS Data Science Completion vs Dropout Trends: What Numbers Tell?

IIT Madras BS Data Science Completion vs Dropout Trends: What Numbers Tell?

Edited By Vivek Kumar | Updated on Aug 18, 2025 11:45 AM IST | #IIT Madras (IITM)

To be an IIT Madras is extremely difficult - You need to qualify in JEE, be a topper in JEE advanced and get through the most difficult counselling process securing the top one percentile rankings. For 99% of students, it remains a dream. The IIT Madras BS in Data Sciences attempts to do just the opposite - make the entry easy but passing out difficult. It gives an opportunity for every student to be called an IIT Alumni.

This Story also Contains
  1. Admission Process and Enrollment Trends
  2. Term-wise Applications, Qualification, and Enrollment Rate
  3. Student Demographics
  4. Progression and Exit Rates: Active Students, Completions
  5. Diploma Level (Programming and Data Science)
  6. Retention, Completion and Dropout Trends
IIT Madras BS Data Science Completion vs Dropout Trends: What Numbers Tell?
IIT Madras BS Data Science Completion vs Dropout Trends

IIT Madras ventures into online programs with its BS in Data Science and Applications program. It is a flexible, online degree. The program follows a multi-level structure, allowing students to progress through Foundation, Diploma, BSc, and BS levels at their own pace. Since its launch in 2021, IIT Madras BS Data Science programme has received 168,740 first-time applications (rising to 1,98,245 including reapplications).

Admission Process and Enrollment Trends

Admission to IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications starts with a national-level application and qualifier examination for the Foundation level. Candidates who cleared the qualifier exam are invited to join the programme, with most completing the Foundation stage before advancing to another level.

Enrollment trends of IIT Madras BS Data Science and Applications programme show fluctuations over terms, with highest numbers in Jan 2021 (7,116 students), May 2023 (7,019 students), and May 2024 (10,309 students).

The latest term, Jan 2025, witnessed 1,381 students start the programme, marking a dip compared to earlier intakes. Currently, 38,534 students remain active, accounting for 73% of those who started the programme.

Term-wise Applications, Qualification, and Enrollment Rate

TermApplicationsQualifiedStartedQualified %Started % of Qualified

Jan 2021

30,276

8,164

7,116

26.97

87.16

May 2021

10,419

2,524

2,384

24.22

94.45

Sep 2021

13,870

2,824

2,476

20.36

87.68

Jan 2022

7,610

2,381

2,246

31.29

94.33

May 2022

7,978

2,077

1,741

26.03

83.82

Sep 2022

16,236

4,941

4,251

30.43

86.04

Jan 2023

7,892

2,788

2,537

35.33

91

May 2023

17,382

9,275

7,019

53.36

75.68

Sep 2023

8,821

4,482

3,749

50.81

83.65

Jan 2024

6,103

2,730

2,308

44.73

84.54

May 2024

24,901

13,008

10,309

52.24

79.25

Sep 2024

11,796

5,655

4,627

47.94

81.82

Jan 2025

5,456

2,294

1,381

42.05

60.2

Grand Total

168,740

63,143

52,144

37.42

82.5

What the data Shows:

  • About 37.4% or 63,143 students qualified for admission to the Foundation level,
  • About 30.9% of total applicants (52,144 students of the 168740 applicants) started the programme. This is also 82.5% enrollment from offers.
Compare Colleges
Compare top colleges in India based on your preferred course.
Click Here

Student Demographics

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme attracts a wide range of students, regardless of their gender, age, and income.

Gender Distribution

GenderPercentage

Male

72.7%

Female

27.3%

In the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme, most of the students are male, making up about 72.7% of the total, whereas female students account for 27.3%. The numbers show that while men are still in majority, the women's representation is remarkably higher when you compare it with the share in an engineering program.

Age Group Distribution

Age GroupStudents

15–20 yrs

18,143

21–25 yrs

15,312

26–30 yrs

2,045

31–40 yrs

1,879

41–50 yrs

874

50–60 yrs

247

>60 yrs

34

As we can see, most students in the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme are 15–20 years (18,143 students). The data also shows the programme is not only popular among school graduates and early-career learners but also among people aged 50-60 years (247 students). The most astonishing data is the 34 learners who are aged 60+ but have decided to pursue a degree program even at that age proving that learning truly has no age limit.

Family Income Distribution

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme is open to all students, regardless of their family profile.

Income BandStudents

> ₹5 LPA

22,498

₹1–5 LPA

5,876

< ₹1 LPA

10,160

Family Income Distribution - IIT Madras BS Program

The figure above shows income distribution and students’ count, corresponding to the 38,534 active students in the programme, where 26.4% students come from below Rs 1 lakh family income background.

Student Enrollment Distribution

Students from different backgrounds enrol in the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications.

  • Dual Degree Students – Those who enrolled in another college degree while pursuing the IITM Data Science programme.
  • Standalone Students – Those who enrolled only in this programme.
  • Working Professionals – Learners who are employed and enrolled in this programme to upgrade their skills.
  • Others – Career changers or other learners.

Student Types by Programme Level

LevelDual DegreeStandaloneWorking ProfessionalsOthersTotal

Foundation

12,561

7,980

2,025

2,050

24,616

Diploma

5,382

2,282

3,091

2,026

12,781

Degree

118

221

454

344

1,137

Total

18,061

10,483

5,570

4,420

38,534

With 38,534 active learners in the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications, the funnel narrows down as you move at each level. Foundation Level had 24,616, followed by diploma stage at 12,781 students and degree level being just 1137 students.

Of all the students, those seeking dual degrees were the maximum at 18061, which is 47% of all candidates. The students pursuing the program on a stand alone basis are 10,483 which is 27% of the total cohort. Working professionals at 5570 comprised 14.45% of the cohort size.

Working Professionals

The programme also has a healthy participation from working professionals (5,570) at the Foundation, Diploma and Degree levels.

1755491645748

Progression and Exit Rates: Active Students, Completions

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications has four levels and each level provides a different depth of study, with varying completion and exit rates.

Completions and Exits by Program Level

LevelActive StudentsCompletionsExits

Foundation

24,616

14,900

N/A

Diploma

12,781

2,094

321

BSc Degree

752

507

165

BS Degree

385

197

130

Foundation Level

The Foundation level is the entry point for the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme. This level has witnessed the highest number of students (24,616) entering the programme, with 14,900 students completing this level.

  • Exit: Learners can exit with a Foundation Certificate from Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE), IIT Madras.

Diploma Level (Programming and Data Science)

At the Diploma level, there are 12,781 active students, with 2,094 students completing this level – Diploma in Programming (DP): 440 students completed; Diploma in Data Science (DDS): 831 students completed; Both Diplomas: 823 students completed.

1755491646021

  • Exit: 321 students awarded with original certificates who have chosen to exit after completing the Diploma level and not to continue to the BSc or BS levels.

Degree Level (BSc and BS)

The graph shows the progression and dropout trends at the BSc and BS levels:

1755491646612

BSc Degree Level

The BSc Degree level is the third level in the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme. This is the level where students can either exit with a BSc degree or proceed to the BS Degree level. With 752 active students, 507 students completed the BSc degree, representing around 67% completion rate.

  • Exit: 165 students chose to exit with the BSc Degree after completing both the Foundation and Diploma levels.

BS Degree Level

This is the final level where students exit with a BS Degree in Data Science and Applications from IIT Madras after completing 142 credits. With 385 active students, 197 students completed this level and earned their BS degree, representing 51% completion rate.

  • Exit: 130 students awarded with original certificates after completing the BS Degree level.

Retention, Completion and Dropout Trends

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications has a 73% retention rate, with largest exits and attrition occurring between the Foundation and Diploma levels. Approximately 27% of students have chosen to exit before completing all levels, either to pursue jobs, higher studies, or switching to other academic programmes.

The BSc (165 credits awarded) and BS degree (130 credits awarded) completion rates indicate consistent academic progression, totaling 295 degree-level graduates so far.

In essence, the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme has shown sustained enrollment over the years, with more than 38,000 students currently active in the programme. The programme’s flexible structure and exit options accommodate different types of learners, including school graduates, dual degree pursuing students, working professionals, and career changers. It stands out as a great opportunity for those who could not crack the JEE exam system and still aspire to be an alumni of an IIT institution.

Articles

Certifications By Top Providers

Online MBA Business Analytics
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
Online MBA
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
Basic Programming using Python
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Corporate Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
PGD Indian Film Studies
Via Department of Media and Communication Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
Management of Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice
Via Tagore Dental College and Hospital, Chennai
Udemy
 3320 courses
Edx
 1992 courses
Swayam
 1936 courses
Coursera
 1661 courses
NPTEL
 1258 courses
Futurelearn
 1074 courses

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to IIT Madras (IITM)

Have a question related to IIT Madras (IITM) ?

Hello Aspirant,

When applying to BS in Medical Sciences and Engineering at IIT Madras via the IAT (IISER Aptitude Test) for the OBC-NCL Female category, the suggested ranks and marks can differ every year depending on the level of difficulty or how many took the exam. However, based on the trends from year-to-year:

  • Safe Rank: Within the overall OBC-NCL Female rank of the top 850–1000 would be classified as a competitive rank.
  • Safe Marks: With a mark of around 120–140 marks out of 180 will increase your chances very significantly.

Hello aspirant,

To get admission in the Dual Degree Aerospace Engineering (B.Tech + M.Tech) program at IIT Madras through JEE Advanced under the female quota, you should aim for a rank around 6000 to 6300 based on the previous year’s trends. In 2025, the closing rank for female supernumerary seats for this program was approximately 6279.  It’s always advisable to aim for a better rank to increase your chances of getting into this prestigious program. Keep an eye on the official JoSAA counselling schedule for updated cutoffs.

All the best for your preparation and future!

Hello,

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 to join a good coaching or online classes if possible. Believe in yourself and stay consistent. You have a good chance!

Hope it helps !

With a preparatory rank of 3935, your chances of getting a seat at IIT Madras are unlikely. While a preparatory rank can sometimes lead to admission in less competitive IITs or specific courses, 3935 is a high rank within the preparatory category, and IIT Madras is one of the most sought-after IITs.

Preparatory Courses:

IITs offer preparatory courses for SC, ST, and PwD students who didn't qualify for regular IIT programs but have a qualifying rank in JEE Advanced.

Limited Seats:

The number of seats in preparatory courses is limited, and the competition for these seats can be high, especially for the most prestigious IITs.

Rank Significance:

A rank of 3935 within the preparatory category means you're among the lower-ranked candidates within that group, and IIT Madras is highly selective even within the preparatory program.

Factors Influencing Admission:

Besides rank, other factors like category, branch preferences, and the specific IIT's admission policies can influence seat allocation.

Alternative Options:

If you don't get a seat at IIT Madras, explore other IITs with more lenient admission criteria or consider NITs or other engineering colleges where you might have better chances.

Hello Aspirant,

If you get admitted into the B.S. program at IIT Madras this year and this year happens to be your first JEE Advanced attempt, then yes, you will remain eligible to take JEE Advanced again next year if you satisfy the other eligibility norms laid down by the conducting authorities of the exam. The important thing is that the candidate gets two chances at JEE Advanced at the most, and these chances have to come within two successive years from the year when they first appeared for the test. Since you are trying for the first time, you have one chance remaining for the next year.

But once you are admitted into an IIT undergraduate course, you cannot sit for JEE Advanced again to get into the same course. But if you are interested in a different course or a double degree (such as B.Tech + M.Tech), you may want to look up the particular rules from the JEE Advanced official website or the IITs.

View All
Back to top