Business Analytics requires analyzing data, surmising outcomes, and then charting ahead with an informed business decision.
With the rising ubiquity of the internet and subsequent data collection, Business Analytics is becoming a more popular field of study.
Many of the nation’s top business schools, from the Sloan School of Management to the Marshall School of Business, offer Business Analytics programs to meet this demand.
Any student interested in both business and data analysis is the perfect candidate to study Business Analytics.
However, it is important to note that Business Analytics can be deployed in a variety of sectors, such as healthcare, retail, real estate, or technology.
These are the 10 best master’s in business analytics schools in the US as ranked by QS World University Rankings.
10. Boston University Questrom School of Business (Boston, MA)
A 37-credit program, the Master’s of Science in Business Analytics at the Boston University Questrom School of Business can be completed on a 12 or 16-month track.
The 16-month track is geared toward students hoping to pursue a summer internship before their final semester in the program.
In lieu of the internship program, 12-month students are required to complete a capstone project with industry partners during their final semester to showcase their acumen in the field.
In the Business Analytics program, students can expect to gain the requisite skills to excel in a real-world business analytics environment.
Throughout the course of the program, students will learn a plethora of programming languages (Python, R, Google Cloud Platform, SQL, and so forth), statistics and machine learning, and business applications.
After graduation, alumni pursue a myriad of career paths, including analytics consulting, applied data science, business intelligence, healthcare analytics, customer and marketing analytics, and so forth.
9. Texas A&M University Mays Business School (College Station, TX)
Gig ’em!
At Texas A&M University, students can pursue a Master’s of Analytics at the Mays Business School.
The Master’s of Analytics program is exceptionally flexible, with the program happening part-time in person and via live-video stream on Tuesdays and Thursdays, meaning that students do not have to relocate to Texas to enroll.
The curriculum was made with real-world application in mind. Students can expect a hands-on approach to learning regression analysis, time series, SAS, R, and Python.
At the end of the program, students compile a capstone project that utilizes real data to build a predictive model, which can then be used as a resumé booster.
In 2022, the Master’s of Analytics program was named a Bronze Recipient for the QS Reimagine Award for Best Online Program.
8. Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business (East Lansing, MI)
For over half a decade, Michigan State has been ranked as the number one school for graduate supply chain management.
The Master’s in Business Data Science and Analytics program at Michigan State is very competitive. As such, the maximum class size for each cohort of students is 48 students. Despite the selective nature of the program, students do not need to have prior work experience in business data science or analytics to be considered.
In this program, students can expect to learn about data mining, marketing technology, applied statistical approaches, and data interpretation.
Unlike programs at other business schools, the business analytics program at Michigan State follows a strict schedule that mandates students to be full-time.
7. University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management (Minneapolis, MN)
Test-optional, GMAT/GRE optional, and completed in 12 months—these are some of the biggest draws of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management’s Master’s of Science in Business Analytics program.
The Carlson School of Management takes pride in its experiential learning model. Each student in the Master’s of Business Analytics program is required to participate in the Carlson Analytics Lab as data analytics consultants.
This allows students to be critical thinkers, practice real-world applications of classroom teachings, and communicate with business stakeholders.
Unlike other programs, the Master’s of Business Analytics program at the Carlson School presents students with the opportunity to undertake several capstone projects throughout their degree program. As such, students graduate from the program with a degree and several resumé boosters.
6. Purdue University Daniels School of Business (West Lafayette, IN)
Purdue University’s Master’s of Science in Business Analytics and Information Management prepares its students for the workforce. The program takes place over the course of 11-months and is a full-time program.
Upon graduating, students will have a plethora of skills: Python, Rstudio, Excel, SQL, SAS, Minitab, Hadoop, Gurobi, and other big data technologies. Additionally, the Krannert School houses the Krenecki Center for Business Analytics & Machine Learning to combine research and data-related problem-solving.
Post-graduation, alumni of this program have amazing prospects and go into industries like supply chain analytics, investment analytics, or corporate finance analytics.
In 2021, 100% of graduates achieved job placement in leading companies, such as Amazon, Deutsche Bank, Microsoft, S&P Global, eBay, Wayfair and others. Additionally, the average salary of alumni is $121,632.
Recently, Purdue’s business school changed its named to the Daniels School of Business; it was previously the Krannert School of Management.
5. University of Washington Foster School of Business (Seattle, WA)
Housed in a top-ranked business school, the Business Analytics program at the University of Washington Foster School of Business is unparalleled.
With a class size of up to 90 students, each cohort fosters a close-knit community and individualized attention from professors.
The Business Analytics program prioritizes working around students’ schedules, offering evening and weekend classes on campus.
The curriculum combines technical skills, such as SQL and R, and business skills to allow students to hone their analytical skills and financial prowess.
Alumni of the program enjoy a starting salary that averages $92,000.
To ensure students are prepared to enter the workforce after graduation, the program offers career coaching/workshops, mock interviews, portfolio and resume review, and networking events.
Many alumni of the program go on to work at Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft, the Seattle Mariners, and more after graduation.
4. USC Marshall School of Business (Los Angeles, CA)
One of the longest-running Business Analytics programs in the world, the Master’s of Science at the USC Marshall School of Business is consistently ranked as one of the best in the world.
The program prides itself on being a STEM program with a business-oriented bent. In fact, the three pillars of the program are computer science; statistics, machine learning, and optimization; and business strategy.
Students can expect to hone their STEM skills by participating in the programs Data Con LA, which draws nearly 2000 participants from across the country.
Much of the curriculum is project-based and requires students to delve into areas of finance, marketing, supply chain, sports analytics, HR, management, and more.
The program is divided into three semesters, with an option to extend to a fourth semester. Students are encouraged to complete an internship during the summer semester.
3. University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business (Austin, TX)
Hook ’em!
Many business analytics students are “hooked” to the program available at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, and it’s easy to understand why.
The program was ranked #1 in Business Analytics in US by Eduniversal, #1 in Campus Environment by the Princeton Review, and #6 in Classroom Experience by the Princeton Review.
The program spans across ten months and is available in a full-time format for in-person students. However, those interested in a part-time program can enroll in a 23-month online option that works around the schedules of working professionals.
Due to the comprehensive nature of the Business Analytics program, students can go on to work in an array of disciplines, including applied statistics, computer science, risk management, applied mathematics, operations research, and more.
2. UCLA Anderson School of Management (Los Angeles, CA)
UCLA’s Master of Business Analytics has all the bragging rights—it’s been ranked the #2 program in the world for the past 4 years in a row.
A 15-month program, the Master of Business Analytics trains students to deftly combine tech and business to reach the forefront of both fields. However, the curriculum does not follow the typical Business Analytics format. Instead, there are unique learning opportunities, such as data storytelling and improv workshops, to have students engage extensively with learning materials.
Additionally, the program boasts a 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which allows students to have individualized attention from professors.
After graduating from the Business Analytics program, alumni go on to work in big tech, social media, software, consulting, e-commerce, fintech, biotech, transportation, and entertainment companies.
1. MIT Sloan School of Management (Cambridge, MA)
It’s no mystery why the Business Analytics at the MIT Sloan School of Management is #1.
In 2021, 100% of job-seeking graduates from the Business Analytics program accepted a job offer within six months of graduation. The average base salary of recent alumni is $127,750. Graduates are leaders at top companies, such as Accenture, Citadel, JPMorgan Chase, Uber, and Oracle.
An accelerated program, the Master’s of Business Analytics is 12 months long and delivers a doctoral-level STEM degree to its students.
This rigorous program ensures that students are fluent in machine learning, optimization methods, software technologies, analytics, and more.
Additionally, students are required to complete a capstone project that pairs them with leading companies, such as Accenture, BMW, Coca-Cola, Bumble, and more.
Outside the capstone project, students can partake in research with more than 50 MIT professors to further their understanding of business and data.
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