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MS Business Analytics Hero

Compare online master’s in business analytics programs

Drive data-informed decision making for top companies

Browse online MS in business analytics programs

Why earn a master’s in business analytics online?

Learn in-demand skills for a data-focused career

Solidly grasp the end-to-end process of making effective data-driven decisions.

Complete specialized work with real-world applications

Create competitive advantages from enterprise data for your professional portfolio.

Network with like-minded professionals

Foster relationships with professional business colleagues across the world.

Browse online MS in business analytics programs New

What is a master’s in business analytics? 

An online master’s degree in business analytics helps students learn to delve deep into data analysis to predict future trends and outcomes. Using statistical and quantitative analysis, predictive modeling, and machine learning techniques, business analyst students will learn to identify patterns and make forecasts to inform an organization’s business strategy.

Admission requirements for an online master’s degree in business analytics

Most master’s in business analytics online programs require at least an elementary college course in statistics, in addition to a bachelor’s degree. Some programs require at least three years of professional experience. Depending on the program, relevant boot camps may work as a substitute for professional experience. 

The best way to learn about the specific requirements for master’s programs is to request information from the universities in which you are interested, or visit their admissions pages to learn more.

How to apply

Visit each online master’s degree in business analytics to explore specific application instructions.

Online MS in business analytics curriculum

Online MS business analytics programs teach the application of decision sciences and information systems to real-world scenarios. It’s important to remember the curriculum for a business analytics degree may differ from data analysis and business intelligence curricula. Determine whether a business intelligence versus a business analytics degree would be more suitable for your career goals before enrolling in a program. 

Learning data analysis or learning business intelligence processes may make more sense for someone seeking a more operational-focused role. However, you’ll want to learn business analytics processes if you wish to enter a more strategy-focused role.

In most online master’s degree in business analytics programs, you will take: 

  • Business Process Analysis and Innovation

  • Big Data Management

  • Foundations of Analytics

  • Organizational Problem Solving

  • Advanced Analytics

  • Applications of Analytics

Explore a career in business analytics

Those who complete a business analytics degree have come from and continue on into industries such as: 

  • Healthcare

  • Technology

  • Commerce

  • Travel

  • Finance 

MS in business analytics salary

In a growing discipline like business technology, an MS in business analytics salary remains competitive in the evolving market but the amount depends on the field in which the person works and their experience.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial analysts, a role master’s in business analytics graduates can pursue, potentially earn as high as USD100,800 annually .Footnote 1

Career outlook for business analysts

A growing reliance on data-informed business decisions using predictive modeling drives the need for job seekers holding a business analytics degree. 

Potentially available job tracks for those with an online master’s degree in business analytics include:

  • Business intelligence director

  • Computer and information research scientist

  • Business data analyst

  • Business systems analyst

  • Financial analyst

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment of financial analysts to grow 9% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.Footnote 1

Frequently asked questions

Designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge needed to analyze data in the context of business operations and decision making, an online master’s degree in business analytics emphasizes the application of data analysis techniques to strategically solve business problems. This means the degree lends itself to a variety of analyst roles across any industry that uses a data-driven approach to strategic decision making.

The worthiness of any business analytics degree depends on your learning goals and career aspirations. Business leaders have started to run their organizations based on data-driven insights, making anyone with the ability to effectively analyze business data and glean strategic insights a valuable asset.

Program length depends on the institution at which you pursue an online MS business analytics degree, but program lengths tend to range from 12 to 18 months on average.

Business intelligence focuses on reporting and visualization of historical and current data for better short-term operations. In contrast, business analytics concentrates on using data analysis to predict future trends and optimize processes for longer-term strategic decisions. It’s worth noting that many employers or programs might use the terms interchangeably or combine aspects.

Although similar, focus accounts for the differences between an online MS business analytics degree and an MS in data analytics. While an online MS in data analytics focuses on data analysis more broadly, the MS in business analytics limits itself to data analysis through the lens of business applications.

Online MS business analytics programs vary in cost but can fall anywhere from USD40,000 to USD60,000 and above. Check each individual master’s in business analytics online program page for precise figures.

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