West Coast technology master’s programs often sit closer to information management, product, data and innovation than to a traditional business-school MIS template. This guide compares three current MSITM.com profiles in California and Washington.
| Program | Format | STEM | AI Exposure | Distinctive angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley – MIMS | Full-time campus | Yes | High | Information, data, product, policy, HCI/UX and ML/data-science flexibility |
| University of Washington – MSIM | Residential and online pathways | Yes | High | Information management with AI embedded in the core plus analytics, policy and leadership paths |
| Santa Clara – MSIS | Silicon Valley campus | Yes | Very High | Required NLP/AI plus generative AI, agentic AI, deep learning and cloud options |
Cost signals
- Berkeley: 2026–27 academic-year tuition/fees are published at $34,954.50 for California residents and $47,199.50 for nonresidents, including the listed student health insurance charge; MIMS is a two-year program.
- Washington: $1,177 per credit; total varies by MSIM track.
- Santa Clara: $1,436 per quarter unit; the MSIS requires at least 48 quarter units.
Career evidence
Berkeley publishes a 2024 MIMS career report with a $125,000 median salary and a disclosed 49.23% survey response rate. Washington publishes alumni employment/preparation survey evidence. Santa Clara’s public employment figure is older, so MSITM.com keeps the cohort timing visible rather than treating the three outcome signals as directly equivalent.
Head-to-head comparisons
Regional guide created September 25, 2026 from current MSITM.com program profiles.