UC San Diego undergraduates have two new options for fall 2026: a Bachelor of Science in Business Data Science and a flat-rate textbook program that caps course materials at $199 per quarter.

The Business Data Science major is the first of its kind in the University of California system, the university announced Aug. 3. The degree pairs the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute's training in programming, mathematics and machine learning with the Rady School of Management's coursework in finance, marketing, strategy and managerial decision-making. Both schools are on the La Jolla campus.

Students finish the program with a cross-listed capstone course called "Business Data Science Projects," where they work with real business data to develop practical recommendations for an organizational problem. The university said the major prepares graduates for roles including data scientist, business intelligence analyst, product analyst and marketing analyst.

"Business Data Science majors will develop world-class technical skills and use them to solve real business problems," Kenneth Wilbur, a professor of marketing and analytics at the Rady School who co-initiated the program, said when the university announced the major Aug. 3.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected data scientist as the fourth-fastest growing occupation between 2024 and 2034, according to the university's announcement. UC San Diego's existing data science undergraduate program ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 5 among public schools in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday, Sept. 22. The university has held its spot as the nation's sixth-best public university for four consecutive years in those rankings.

The application deadline for the major's first cohort was Sept. 1. The university has not released enrollment figures.

Separately, the campus-wide Triton One program gives every undergraduate access to required textbooks and coursepacks digitally through Canvas for $199 per quarter. The university said the flat rate makes textbook costs more predictable and lets students start coursework on the first day of classes without a separate purchasing step. Students are automatically enrolled but may opt out by Friday of the second week of classes. Those who opt out can still buy eligible digital materials individually through a companion program called Triton Select.

Students who want to keep Triton One do not need to take any action. Families looking for the exact opt-out calendar date should check the Triton One website as fall quarter begins.