Choosing an MBA with a Data Driven Specialization
This guide was written by the DDS Team
It’s no secret that the field of big data is booming, with more and more high-salary jobs opening as data driven technology becomes more deeply integrated into business practices. If you’re looking to jumpstart in a career that is likely to be lucrative and sustainable in the long term, it can be a boon to develop skills and knowledge related to data, as these are highly valued by businesses and seem poised to become even more prominent in companies across industries.
While many are taking advantage of this thriving industry by pursuing strict data science roles (i.e., data engineers, cybersecurity experts, and more), there are also opportunities for those whose primary aptitude is for business.
If you are more interested in developing expertise in business than hard data skills, an MBA in Data Science will prepare you to work on the business strategy side of data-related enterprises.
Employees with this background can be highly valuable to businesses, acting as intermediaries between the data science departments, who process complex findings and subject them to highly advanced statistical models, and company leadership, who often lack a rigorous grounding in data science.
What jobs are available to Data Science MBAs?
An MBA in Data Science will make you a suitable candidate for different positions than those who hold Master’s in Data Science degrees. These roles are primarily concerned with helping a company make use of the otherwise incomprehensible data they receive. Having a background in business while simultaneously possessing a depth of knowledge about how data works can help you instrumentalize data findings to make a huge impact on a business’ strategy.
One of the leading roles for a Data Science MBA is a business intelligence (BI) analyst. These are frequently high-ranking positions that play key roles in a company’s strategic decision making. Enterprising BI analysts also sometimes choose to work as freelance consultants for multiple businesses at once, which can be highly remunerative.
Indeed, since BI analysts provide such valuable insights to businesses, they are compensated accordingly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, management analysts earn a median annual salary of $93,000, significantly higher than the median for occupations overall. Within more specialized fields, the numbers are even higher: those working in the field of scientific and technical services earn a median salary of $100,170, while those working in management of companies or enterprises take home a median wage of $96,940.
If those numbers aren’t encouraging enough, take a look at the strong job outlook for BI analysts, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects to be a higher-than-average 11% job growth by 2031. This should be an indication that if you launch a career as a BI analyst, you’re likely to find work for a long time to come.
The goal of this guide is to help students who are interested in an MBA but want to gain exposure to cutting-edge big data skills in the process.
In doing our research, we decided to include a complete listing of all schools offering an MBA with a concentration, focus, or specialization in Data Science, Data Analytics, Business Analytics, Information Systems, or Business Intelligence. As of January 2021, there are 42 schools that fit these criteria. Additionally, we will cover an expansive number of topics to help you choose the school that best fits your needs.
Let’s explore this interesting field and see if an MBA in Data Science or a Data Analytics MBA would be right for you.
In this Guide
- Master’s vs. MBA
- MBA Basics
- Accreditation
- Accelerated Programs
- Comparing Different Specializations
- FAQ
- Finding a School
MS in Data Science vs. MBA with Data Science Specialization: What’s the Difference?
While the two educations share many similarities, there are distinct differences that you must understand before signing up for one or the other.
It’s also important to understand that terms like “big data,” “analytics,” and “statistical methods” are not universally defined across all academic fields, so while one area may define, teach, and apply “big data” in one way, another school may approach the term from a completely different angle. The result of this variation is that programs and curriculum, as well as learning outcomes, can be different within each discipline or each school; even when they teach the same subject, there will be slight differences.
However, there are some overarching characteristics and generalizations that help define each area of study, and we’ll do our best to explain these differences in a clear and relatable manner.
Understanding the MS in Data Science
Probably the most important distinction for a Master’s of Science (MS) in Data Science is that these degrees are taught within a college or university’s computer science, math, or engineering department. As such, these are more scientifically driven degrees that focus almost entirely on the processes of data science, with little attention to how it affects business.
Courses, which can include statistical methods, machine learning, big data, and computational statistics, are often focused on the techniques and programming of information. They can include lessons on important programming systems, such as SQL, Python, and Java, and are often more technically focused than businesses-school disciplines.
Compared to business school classes, there will also be more focus on hard mathematics and statistics, and the purposes can go beyond business goals to include public health or policy uses.
Understanding the MBA with a Data Science Specialization
An MBA is first and foremost a business degree. Whether you have a specialization in management, human resources, or data-science, it is taught within the school of business, which, in many major universities, is part of the college of liberal arts.
Business theory is the primary focus of an MBA, and data science is merely used as a tool to apply these theories and reach business-driven goals.
An MBA with a data-science concentration will focus more on the analysis and use of data in businesses, including the skills required to use this information. Turning the data into understandable graphs and charts, often called “visualization,” is an important part of data science in business, as this practice helps business professionals, who may have little science education, understand the numbers.
There are some technique-specific classes, but not nearly as many as you would find in a Master’s of Science program. While there may be as little as one course dedicated to programming language, you could have multiple classes that discuss big data as it applies to marketing or advertising.
In the end, the goal of an MBA with a specialization in data science is to train students to use numbers for the benefit of businesses. As such, courses will have titles like “data mining for business analytics,” or “trading strategies and systems.”
MBA Basics
If you have decided to complete an MBA, congratulations! You’re starting down the path to a successful career in business. Before you continue your education, however, you need to understand all the aspects on an MBA and consider the different ways that you can complete this degree.
Full Time or Part Time?
There are many factors to consider when deciding between full and part time MBAs, but it often starts with your own schedule. If you are a busy parent working a full time job, you may find it more difficult to complete a load of full time classes. While it will take longer, part time may allow you to fully dedicate yourself to each course.
Money is also a factor in part vs. full time. Depending on the college, it may be more affordable overall to sign up for full time classes, as you can have what essentially amounts to a bulk discount compared to part time. However, if you take part time classes, you may have a smaller tuition for every semester, which could help you avoid student loans.
You should also consider how quickly you want to complete the degree. If you are motivated to complete the courses quickly and advance your career as soon as possible, then attending class full time may be right.
MBA Online or On-Campus?
In today’s busy, highly-connected world, more students are finding it necessary and convenient to take online courses, which are now generally accepted by both employers and the general culture as a viable educational path.
Online courses offer greater flexibility, allowing students to take courses on their own schedule. While there are often specific meeting times and weekly schedules, students can eliminate commuting, review material at their own leisure, and access information with greater convenience.
Traditional, in-person education, however, still has advantages, even for the modern student. Online education requires a high level of discipline, and the lack of in-person communication can make learning more difficult. Quite frankly, some students find it easier to learn when they are in a classroom, facing a teacher, and communicating directly with their peers.
Accreditation
Accreditation is vastly important in the education industry, especially in the current times, when online institutions are looking to attract more and more students.
Accreditation is essentially a verification, which comes from an independent organization, that the institution is providing a high-quality education. Institutions usually have accreditation of the entire school, as well as specialized accreditations that cover specific programs.
For an MBA, there are three important accreditations you should look for:
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB): This accrediting organization provides quality assurance for business education to over 1,600 member organizations and 800 business schools.
- The Association of MBAs (AMBA): The AMBA focuses entirely on master’s degrees in the business field. They provide a global standard for education while connecting students, institutions, and businesses across the world.
- EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS): Specializing in management and business administration, this organization provides accreditation to schools across the globe, including many in the Unites States.
If you find that your institution of choice is accredited by one of these accrediting agencies, you can rest assured that you will receive a high-quality education that is recognized by business organizations and employers.
Cost
While you shouldn’t base your entire decision on the cost of education, you should understand the cost of attending your institution of choice.
Measuring the total cost of attendance should take many factors into considerations, not just baseline tuition. You have to account for the cost of materials, travel, fees, and (if you are adjusting your work schedule) the potential loss of income.
Accelerated Programs
If you are extremely motivated to complete your degree as quickly as possible, then you may consider entering an accelerated program.
Many institutions offer accelerated MBA programs, but you need to be careful that you are not just enrolling in an institution that wants to simply churn out degrees. Rather, you need a high-quality program that will still deliver a world-class education no matter how quickly the course is given.
Accelerated programs can be completed in as little as a year, while traditional program can take as long as two to three years.
The program will be more rigorous, cramming more classes into a shorter timeframe, but it can cause less disruption to your current career, because fewer months of school means less time away from your industry. In some cases, it can also be more affordable.
GMAT or No GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admissions Test, or GMAT, is a comprehensive exam used to assess a potential student’s qualifications for an MBA program. Many institutions use the GMAT to decide whether or not a student should be allowed to enter the MBA program.
However, there are schools that are willing to waive the GMAT requirement, depending on your professional experience and success rate as a student. There are also schools, including accredited online institutions that never require a GMAT from their students. If you are interested in skipping this step, make sure the school still meets all the high academic standards and accreditation that you expect from an MBA program.
Comparing the Different Specializations
An MBA, like many educational programs, can take numerous paths for specialization and concentrations. However, you will likely find that there are three broad-reaching specializations for MBA students
Data Science, Data Analytics, Business Analytics
These specializations teach you how to use data and numerical information to guide decisions in the business industry. You’ll learn to make decisions based on the information from sales, historical product performances, and changes in the market. The concentration will leverage data, but it will always be applied in a way that focuses directly on business growth and success.
Courses can take many different directions in business analytics, but you will generally find that topics include data mining in business, decisions models, econometrics, customer insights, and data visualization. These courses directly apply to business and make students better at researching and applying data to a business goal. They can also focus on developing the ability to easily communicate statistical information in a way that is clear and relatable. While this is a business degree, it can be highly technical, with courses like regression and multivariate data analysis or stochastic processes. While these technical courses are more process-driven, they are an important part of the master’s degree.
When a student has completed this specialization, they can contribute to virtually any business by providing insight on how data can be used to make decisions. Careers in consulting and marketing are common for MBA graduates with concentrations in business analytics, but it they can also go into finance or business operations. Common areas for graduates include brand management, investment banking, real estate financing, and strategic planning.
Information Systems
This specialization focuses less on the numbers and more on the technical innovations that guide business.
In a technology-loaded world, with new apps, devices, and software developed daily, businesses need people who can work with information systems, gauge their effectiveness, and provide valuable insight and guidance. Whether adopting a new program or choosing between new devices, businesses often turn to MBA graduates with a specialization in information systems.
Curriculum will vary by school, but students will generally take classes on data modeling, IT security, technology infrastructures, and business-resource planning. Classes on network infrastructures, for example, teach students to create secure intranet and database systems, analyze risk, and respond to data breaches that could threaten companies. In data modeling courses, you’ll learn to build databases and analyze the relationship between information and business endeavors.
After you have completed an MBA with a specialization in information services, you’ll be equipped to move into careers that involve technology, information, business analysis, and systems analysis. You could, for example, hold a position as an information systems analyst. This position requires you to provide relatable information on complex data sets and coordinate procedures that relate to a company’s information systems. You could also find work as an information-systems analyst in human resources, which helps companies find the right employees in an effective yet efficient manner. With an MBA in information systems, you would also be a strong candidate for leadership and management positions, which brings more responsibilities and the potential for higher pay.
Business Intelligence
Big data is a massive, complex, and confusing topic, but people who understand how to analyze and communicate data are in high demand, making an MBA with a specialization in business intelligence a quality education choice. This degree will give you the skills to study data, synthesize the information, and present it to business leaders who make decisions. Students will learn how to implement various tools that are used in business intelligence, making them versatile additions to companies and organizations.
When you enroll in this concentration, you’ll find courses that focus heavily on the gathering of stats and the organization of information. Courses can have titles like “statistical analysis,” data modeling,” or “database architecture.” These classes cover theoretical topics, such as summarizing data to make informed decisions, as well as technical issues, such as the design and creation of information systems.
After graduation, professionals with an MBA in business intelligence can move into careers that include a data analyst, which works to make numbers more comprehensible for sales, marketing, or budgeting, or as a database administrator, who is an IT professional dedicated to managing and maintaining database information. Most graduates will move into the private sector, but because governments have started using business intelligence practices, you could find work for public offices.
FAQs
How do I decide between an MS and an MBA in Data Science?
If you’re a candidate for both Master’s in Science and Master’s in Business Administration programs in Data Science, the most important question for you to consider as you determine your educational plan is what area of focus interests you most. If you are more drawn to working with raw data, applying statistical models, and translating those findings for others to understand, you’re best off in an MS program. If your greatest strengths are in business strategy and logistics, an MBA will address those areas of interest directly, incorporating a strong knowledge of data science into your coursework so that you can hold leadership positions in businesses that rely on data driven practices.
Though the GMAT is optional for some schools, should I take it anyway?
While it’s true that some programs don’t require you to take the GMAT in order to apply, this can sometimes be a sign of a less-than-stellar program. There are some good programs out there that don’t require GMAT scores (see our listings below to see which ones), but do note that if you decide not to take the GMAT, your options will be more limited. If you have the time and resources to invest in taking the test, it’s worth your while to have GMAT scores to open up as many academic options as possible.
Can I simply receive a business degree and add data science certifications after the fact?
While this is a possible route for those who realize they would like to enter the world of big data after starting their business careers, if you already are sure that this is the arena where you’d like to stake your professional life, a Data Science MBA is your most efficient option to build up the standardized skills and knowledge needed to hold a business leadership role.
Finding a School
Think you have what it takes to complete an MBA and become a leader in the business sector? Then browse our listing of MBA programs below to find the perfect school for your needs.
For each school there is a link to the program overview, the program length, delivery method, GRE requirements, tuition, and a link to the course offerings.
Hopefully this listing will help you find an MBA program that fits your budget, schedule, and future goals.
MBA Programs with Emphasis on Data Science, Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
Auburn University – Auburn, Alabama
Duel Degree Option: Master of Business Administration Online/ Master of Science in Information Systems
Auburn University’s MBA program ranks among the nation’s best and gives students the competitive edge to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry.
Online students utilize CANVAS to view lectures, collaborate on group assignments, participate in discussions, submit homework, and gain access to all course materials.
A dual graduate degree is available in Information Systems. Information Systems targets existing IT professionals who are pursuing leadership positions in their given organizations.
The Information Systems program also gears towards people seeking to start working in the demanding IT field.
Students work with a faculty advisor to customize the program to their exact goals.
Students must live in the United States to participate in the online MBA, except for U.S. Military personnel.
Program Length: 39 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT or GRE preferred
2022-2023 Tuition: $10,386 (in-state), $31,158 (out of state)
Babson College – Babson Park, Massachusetts
MBA Business Analytics Concentration
Designed to teach advanced skills and techniques which apply to both discipline-specific and general business programs.
This program emphasizes the importance of data analytics. Classes enhance analytic skills in business and beyond, which 98% of employers believe business students should know to make decisions.
Program Length: 45 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT or GRE required
2022-2023 Tuition: $89,550 for One-Year program, $115,244 for Two-Year program
Baker College – Flint, Michigan
MBA Business Intelligence
Baker College’s Business Intelligence program incorporates rapidly evolving technology into modern business management practices.
The business intelligence program is designed for managers who want to expand their information resources. Not only do students learn advanced managerial skills, but also technical skills that will improve efficiency and surpass business goals.
Experienced business managers and IT professionals teach classes.
Program Length: 38 credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: Not required
2022-2023 Tuition: $12,510 total
Bentley University – Waltham, Massachusetts
Emerging Leaders MBA – Business Analytics
Offered in 3 formats, students will receive hands-on experience in facing the same challenges as modern top executives in business.
Students participate in 5 foundation courses: Managerial Statistics, Economic Environment of the Firm, Marketing Management, Accounting for Decision-Making, and Financial Statement Analysis for Decision-Making.
Students also take six core courses and eight electives.
Program Length: 18 courses
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $43,440 total
Bryant University – Smithfield, Rhode Island
MBA – Business Analytics Specialization
Engineered for working professionals with campus classes only two nights per week.
Bryant designs curriculum so that students learn to manage a business on both local and global levels. The Business Analytics Specialization offers classes in Global Finance, Global Supply Chain Management, International Business, Business Analytics, and Global Immersion Experience. Worldly, ambitious students will find Bryant’s Business Analytics Specialization program the optimal way to global business practices.
Program Length: 40 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $47,100 total
California State University – Fullerton – Fullerton, California
MBA Business Analytics Concentration
California State University is the only university in Orange County, California to hold accreditation in business administration and accounting from AACSB International. Such accreditation is a very prestigious honor to hold.
The Business Analytics Concentration covers accounting, economics, IT project management, operations management, the legal and ethical environment in business, organizational behavior, and marketing management.
California State University offers the flexibility of full- or part-time scheduling, afternoon or evening classes for working students, and classes at the main campus in Fullerton or on the CSUF Irvine Campus.
Program Length: 38 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $7,176 total (California Resident), $16,680 total (Non-resident)
California State University – San Bernadino – San Bernardino, California
MBA Business Intelligence and Information Technology Focus
The Business Intelligence and Information Technology Focus is a high-quality master-level education for students aiming for positions of growing responsibility and leadership through education with a broad spectrum of the business industry.
The program is open to all qualified applicants, regardless of undergraduate major.
The Business Intelligence and Information Technology Focus engulfs students in information systems analysis and design, planning, strategy, and policy. Diving deeper into business, students learn the ever-important networking systems and security, geographical systems strategies, advanced enterprise resource planning, and advanced marketing research.
Program Length: 60 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: Not required
2022-2023 Tuition: $7,176 total (California Resident), $16,680 total (Non-resident)
Carnegie Mellon University – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Business Analytics MBA Track
Carnegie Mellon’s Business Analytics MBA Track utilizes data, both statistical and quantitative analysis, predictive modeling, and optimization as businesses grow into more modern practices.
Teachers immerse students in three intense courses plus a capstone project. In addition to that, students complete five electives to gain experience in the business world further. Classes include marketing research, business forecasting, the art and science of prediction, optimization methods in operations, finance, and interactive marketing, as well as strategic IT and social media strategy.
Program Length: 15 classes
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $47,629 total
Clemson University – Clemson, South Carolina
MBA in Business Analytics
The Clemson University MBA in Business Analytics program offers a blended design of both online classes and in-person learning experiences. Students receive the flexibility of the online classes while also immersing themselves in occasional in-person sessions on weekends at the Greenville facility. The program begins with an introduction to business intelligence class, then moves into application development and operations management.
As students continue to grow, they learn managerial accounting, information systems, and ethics and leadership. In addition, students learn financial management, business forecasting, and strategic management.
Finally, students complete an internship to understand the workings of the business world fully.
Program Length: 30 credits
Delivery: Hybrid
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $10,858 total (South Carolina Resident), $22,566 total (Non-resident)
Cornell University – Ithaca, New York
Digital Technology Immersion M.B.A
Through the SC Johnson College of Business, the Data Driven Immersion (DTI) submerges students in the development of firsthand experience and technical knowledge that will produce a successful career in the high-tech industry.
In a cross-disciplinary format, students learn to engage the power of analytics to solve complex business problems.
Cornell’s immersion program is the only one to focus on digital technologies and build student’s skill sets in databases, coding, and advanced analytics. The curriculum includes core courses focused on operations and analytics, DTI practicum, actionable solutions for companies’ projects, and electives in strategy, analytics, marketing, and product management.
Program Length: 2 Years
Delivery: Campus
GRE: Required
2022-2023 Tuition: $29,500 total
DeVry University – Downers Grove, Illinois
MBA with a Business Intelligence and Analytics Management Concentration
DeVry University emphasizes the importance of real-world applications in learning.
The Business Intelligence and Analytics Management Concentration provides 16 course choices for the ambitious learner delving into management theory and practices, professional communication, collaboration, problem-solving, technology, analytics tools, analytics modeling, and analytics strategies.
DeVry puts technology at the core of the program to give students the technological edge in an ever-growing world.
Program Length: 48 credits
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: Not required
2022-2023 Tuition: $17,072 total
Georgetown University– Washington D.C.
Business Analytics, M.S.
Advance in a data-driven world with a master’s program that brings together leading-edge analytics and critical business skills.
Earn your M.S. in Business Analytics online in 16 months at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, ranked a Top 15 Business School in North America.
At graduation, you will be ready for a range of careers in business data analytics and will be able to address complex real-world problems with the latest data management tools and best practice models.
2022-2023 Tuition: $56,592 total
Indiana University – Bloomington, Indiana
MBA Business Analytics
Indiana University’s Business Analytics program gives students the strategic edge to position themselves as a brand manager, e-commerce project manager, web metrics analyst, or a consultant of senior decision-makers.
The 30-credit-hour degree completes in as little as 15 months.
Students will be able to make high-risk business decisions, utilize strategy in management positions, understand data and information from any database, and provide solutions to various business areas through analytical models.
Program Length: 15 credits
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $10,033 total (in-state residents), $31,932 total (non-residents)
Key West University – Key West, Florida
Master of Business Administration, Data Analytics Specialization
Key West University’s MBA requires 39 credit hours of core courses that enable students to develop a global, holistic understanding of how business disciplines are integrated at a strategic level.
The Data Analytics Specialization teaches students new approaches and techniques to effectively managing organizational data.
The developed practical skills relate to data mining, modelling, and visualization. They will prepare the MBA program participants for successful careers in their profession.
Program Length: 39 Credit Hours
Delivery: Campus
GRE: Not Required
2022-2023 Tuition: $6,864 per year
New England College – Henniker, New Hampshire
MBA in Health Informatics
New England College’s Health Informatics program is designed for business-minded students in the healthcare industry.
Beyond medicine, students learn practical applications of theories in healthcare management and leadership. Professors teach critical thinking and growth through self-development. Students learn to work as a team of healthcare professionals through communication and team-building experiences.
Moreover, most importantly, in a growing world of diversity, students learn ethical leadership in a modern healthcare environment.
Program Length: 40 credits
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: Not required
2022-2023 Tuition: $13,678 per year
New York University – New York, New York
MBA with Business Analytics
New York University’s specialization in Business Analytics teaches students to make high-risk business decisions through the use of models and data.
Students of this program learn the impact of advertising on the rise and fall of sales. They look at historical data and how it can predict stock returns.
Some of the courses in the Business Analytics program include (but are not limited to): Data Mining, Data Visualization, Decision Models, Forecasting Time Series Data, Risk Management, Trading Strategies, Regression and Multivariate Data, and Research for Customer Insights.
Program Length: 30 credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $37,332 per year
Northeastern University – Boston, Massachusetts
MBA x Data Science
Through the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, the MBA x Data Science program at Northeastern University deals with computational modeling, data collection and integration, storage and retrieval, processing, analytics, and visualization.
Courses focus on database system management, machine learning, and data mining.
In order to graduate from the program, students must complete 16 credits of core curriculum, corporate residency, and 12 credits from the Khoury College of Computer Sciences. Students must also complete 12 credits from a second business concentration and 15 elective credits, 3 of which must be experiential in nature.
Program Length: 55 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT preferred
2022-2023 Tuition: $26,715 per year
Northwestern University – Evanston, Illinois
Data Analytics M.B.A.
Through the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, the Data Analytics MBA combines the experience which managers may not understand helps solve business problems through analytics with the understanding of business problems which would cause data scientists to lack help for managers.
The program starts with foundational courses in Business Analytics and Marketing Research. The Competitive Advantage courses include Analytics for Strategy, Retail Analytics, Sports and People Analytics, Digital Marketing Analytics, and more. The Deep Dive courses include Visualization for Persuasion, Technology for Analytics, Data Exploration, and Programming for Analytics. Lastly, the Experiential courses include Analytical Consulting Lab and Data Analytics Decisions.
Program Length: 18 Courses
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT preferred
2022-2023 Tuition: $51,869 total
Ohio University – Athens, Ohio
MBA with Business Analytics Concentration
Ohio University’s MBA works with the business professional who wants to become a leader who makes a difference.
With flexible scheduling and online classes, the Business Analytics Concentration is 100% online, ranked third best MBA value by Fortune, and does not require the GMAT.
Core courses include Predictive Analytics, Data Management, Business Intelligence and Analytics, and Prescriptive Analytics.
Program Length: 35 credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: Not required
2022-2023 Tuition: $9,444 total (Ohio Resident), $17,436 total (Non-resident)
Oregon State University – Corvallis, Oregon
MBA in Business Analytics
Oregon State University’s Business Analytics program works in coherence with the growing interest in usable information in operational, tactical, and strategic decision making within businesses.
Students endure an intense course load of legal environment, decision tools, value in exchange, practical business analysis, supply chain management, managing ethics and corporate social responsibility, data mining, and data exploration and visualization.
Graduates of the Business Analytics MBA will be able to select appropriate analytic tools for specific issues. Students will be able to compose data-analytic tools and concepts to create new data-analytic solutions.
Students will become influential leaders of analytic teams and projects.
Program Length: 60 credits
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $13,446 (in-state), $28,242 (out of state)
Purdue University – Lafayette, Indiana
MBA Business Analytics Specialization
Purdue University’s Business Analytics Specialization holds a foundation of courses in advanced business analytics, data minding, spreadsheet modeling, and management of organizational data.
To further investigate business analysis, the program includes six sigma and total quality management.
Graduates of this program will be able to work in large consulting companies which provide services to a wide variety of industries. Students may also work with small consulting firms that specialize in a particular area of industry, such as marketing or healthcare. Additionally, students may become business analysts of an internal consulting group dealing with specific assignments.
Program Length: 60 credits
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: GMAT or GRE (GMAT preferred)
2022-2023 Tuition: $11,209 per semester (Indiana resident), $21,092 per semester (Non-resident)
Rutgers University – New Brunswick, New Jersey
MBA with Concentration in Analytics and Information Management
Rutgers University’s program prepares students for careers in database systems, internet security, software engineering, and upper-level statistical analysis.
Students receive an in-depth, hands-on understanding of database technology, design, and application. In the classroom, students will work with the most up-to-date software to learn appropriate decision-making skills.
Graduates of the program will know statistics and analysis applied to managerial problems, statistical limitations and potential, and software packages such as Excel, R, and SAS.
Program Length: 15 courses
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT or GRE required
2022-2023 Tuition: $18,696 per semester (New Jersey Resident), $31,800 per semester (Non-resident)
Saint Mary’s University – Minneapolis, MN
Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
Saint Mary’s University offers a 36-credit Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics that can be completed 100% online.
This program regularly places participating students before a panel of Fortune 500 experts providing both insight to your work and exposure to your skills and hiring potential. Working with these companies’ real-time big-data sets allows students to master actual data governance and visualization skills and graduate with industry tools in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and agile frameworks.
Includes the option for a 15-credit certificate in Business Analytics, Healthcare Analytics, or Artificial Intelligence.
Program Length: 36 Credits
Delivery Method: Online
GRE: No
2022-2023 Tuition: $29,231 total
Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, California
MBA with Data Sciences and Business Analytics Concentration
Santa Clara University’s Data Sciences and Business Analytics Concentration will develop critical thinking skills within its students for strategic assessment and utilization of modern data science paradigms.
Graduates will understand and maintain technical expertise in different fields such as econometrics, statistics, optimization, calculus, and software paradigms.
Throughout courses, students will learn how to build theoretical, statistical and econometric models in order to characterize business situations, build strategies, and evaluate models. Students will collect, verify, and utilize data to attain augmented business decisions.
Program Length: 70 units
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $24,798 total
Southern New Hampshire University – Manchester, New Hampshire
MBA with Business Intelligence
Students of Southern New Hampshire University’s Business Intelligence MBA will be the head front of significant business decisions.
The program combines research with real-world case studies to ensure the fullest understanding of data and information management. Students will present and visualize data in the business world. They will utilize decision methods and models to push businesses forward.
Core courses include Foundations of Data, Decisions Methods and Modeling, and Presentation and Visualization of Data.
Program Length: 17 courses
Delivery: Online
GRE: Not required
2022-2023 Tuition: $18,900 total
Syracuse University – Syracuse, New York
Online MBA with Business Analytics Specialization
Through the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, the online MBA program with a Business Analytics Specialization at Syracuse requires 36 credits of core coursework that is flexible to students’ different career goals.
To fulfill the program, students must take 3 elective courses, beginning with Business Analytics and choosing 2 more from Technical Electives and Business Electives.
Students may be able to complete the program in as little as 24 months.
Program Length: 36 Credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: Required
2022-2023 Tuition: $43,428 total
Thomas Edison State University – Trenton, New Jersey
MBA in Data Analytics
While businesses collect more data than they know what to do with, Thomas Edison’s MBA in Data Analytics enables students to lead the movement in big data through business forecasting, predictive analytics, data visualization, and managerial statistics, followed by a significant capstone project.
The Data Analytics program empowers graduates to utilize advanced data pieces to push rapid growth in organizational sustainability.
Program Length: 39 credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: Not required
2022-2023 Tuition: $12,150 total
University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
MBA with Business Analytics
University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business offers one of only a few graduate programs which prepares students for certified careers in SAS – the highest-quality software within the data mining industry.
Students will detect hidden patterns and relationships in massive quantities of data and raw information. Through this knowledge, graduates will be able to present how organizations can improve their performance.
Additionally, this Business Analytics program offers an optional international trip during the summer to fully immerse oneself in comprehensive business analytics.
Program Length: 2 years
Delivery: Online
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $11,100 total (Alabama Resident), $31,460 total (Non-Resident)
University of Baltimore – Baltimore, New York
Master of Business Administration Business Analytics Specialization
Through the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore, the MBA with the Analytics Specialization builds on previous knowledge of predictive analytics and hones in on big data principles that may aid in business strategies. The specialization courses require 9 credits. Courses consist of Data Science Toolkit I and II, Visual Business Intelligence, Database Management Systems, and Marketing Information and Analysis.
Upon completion, students will be able to synthesize and utilize data from supply chains, social networks, customer engagement, and revenue modeling.
Program Length: 36-48 Credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: Required
2022-2023 Tuition: $14,382 total (Maryland Resident), $20,844 total (Non-resident)
University of Bridgeport – Bridgeport, Connecticut
MBA with Analysis Intelligence
Through the study of big data and utilizing it to improve company processes and outcomes, students of the Analytics Intelligence program will endure three levels of study: Core, Concentration, and Capstone.
In Core, students study global program and project management, marketing and branding, organizational behavior, information systems, advanced finances, and cost accounting.
In Concentration, students prepare for entry-level roles in business.
In Capstone, students experience policy and strategy, business planning, ethics and innovation, research methods, and thesis. Last, students complete an internship to experience hands-on learning of business fully.
Program Length: 36 credits
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $19,096 total
University of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
Full-Time MBA Business Analytics Concentration
Through the Booth School of Business, the MBA Business Analytics Concentration is designed for students interested in pursuing how to manipulate, manage, and analyze data sets and models.
Required courses for the concentration include Managerial Decision Modeling, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science for Marketing Decision Making.
The MBA curriculum includes four major components: Foundation courses, Functions, Management, and Business Environment courses, Electives, and Leadership training. 20 classes are required plus Leadership Effectiveness and Development.
Program Length: 21 Months
Delivery: Campus
GRE: Required
2022-2023 Tuition: $65,145 total (on average)
University of Delaware – Newark, Delaware
MBA Major in Business Analytics
The University of Delaware’s state-of-the-art facility lays out so that students may collaborate with each other, faculty, and industry professionals.
Students must complete 15 credits in database design, data mining for business analytics, decision analytics and visualization, optimization and spreadsheet modeling, and business analytics capstone.
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Excel before enrolling in the business analytics concentration.
Program Length: 44 credits
Delivery: Campus or Online
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $17,622 per year
University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia
MBA with Concentration in Business Analytics
In this Business Analytics Concentration, students will learn in not only core classes but also four “directional” courses.
Core courses lay down the base of predictive analytics, business process management, and data analytics.
The directional courses teach specific skills in valuation, derivative security markets, financial modeling directed studies, marketing analytics and decision making, leading evolving organizations, energy informatics, and cyber threat intelligence.
Students will have a full understanding of business plus a specified area of business.
Program Length: 60 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $8,878 per year (Georgia Resident), $25,186 per year (Non-Resident)
University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa
Joint Degree: MBA with MS in Business Analytics
A joint degree allows students to earn two degrees at once while cutting down on the number of required courses.
Typically delivered face-to-face over a 10 to 12-week period, the Business Analytics degree studies data management and visual analytics, then continues with advanced analytics and moves into data programming in R. Students then study data science and finish with a required experience project in analytics. The program provides a hands-on approach to business analytics.
The degree takes approximately four years to complete but credits are valid for ten years in case life takes priority.
Program Length: 60 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $10,875 total (in-state residents), $29,822 total (non-residents)
University of Maryland – College Park, Maryland
Online MBA – Specialization in Information Systems & Business Analytics
With the flexible scheduling of an online degree, UMD’s Specialization in Information Systems and Business Analytics embraces the rapid evolution of businesses and their ability to obtain crucial information with speed and precision.
Students learn to manage and analyze the data points they collect and actualize the information systems in front of them.
Graduates will stay current within their professional settings to move ahead of the quickly growing industries.
Program Length: 54 credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $16,238 total (Resident), $35,388 total (Non-resident)
University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst, Massachusetts
Isenberg MBA with a Focus in Business Analytics
Through the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, the MBA with a Focus in Business Analytics combines the general business and analytic electives courses to meet each students’ career aspirations.
The program requires 9 credits to establish a focus.
Students in the Business Analytics Focus can choose from 10 courses to satisfy that requirement. Some of these courses include Business Intelligence and Analytics, Ecommerce Logistics, Quality Analytics, and Supply Chain Analytics.
Each full-time MBA student is awarded a 2-year fellowship that fully funds the degree, full tuition, an annual stipend, and health care.
Program Length: 45 Credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: Required
2022-2023 Tuition: $14,364 per year (Massachusetts Resident), $31,489 per year (Non-resident)
University of New Haven – West Haven, Connecticut
MBA: Business Analytics Concentration
MBA: Data Analytics (STEM) Concentration
Offering two analytics based concentrations the University of New Haven MBA is 100% online and can be completed in as little as 18 months.
The Business Analytics degree trains you to make strategic decisions based on data interpretation skills. The knowledge and experience gained in this program prepares graduates to take on a wide range of leadership opportunities in the top industries driving the job market.
The Data Analytics (STEM) MBA Concentration teaches you to collect, identify, and understand data patterns. Apply learned mathematical statistics to forecast business data and influence strategic business decisions.
Both programs provide the skills to form data into meaningful presentations that will move organizations forward.
Program Length: 48 credits (BA), 34 credits (DA)
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $18,360 per year
University of South Dakota – Vermillion, South Dakota
MBA – Business Analytics
The Business Analytics Specialization consists of 60 credit hours of advanced business coursework. This course load provides firsthand knowledge of data management and warehousing.
Students study as managers of data analysis. In marketing scenarios, students receive direct competitive practices in data for competition. In an operational analysis, students learn primary methods of handling business information.
Program Length: 60 credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $6,123 total (South Dakota residents), $11,773 (non-residents)
University of Southern Maine – Portland, Maine
MBA in Business Administration, Business Analytics Concentration
This Business Analytics Concentration leverages big data to create efficiency within a business to produce more accurate performance.
Students will help businesses compete at a higher level on the global spectrum.
Core courses of this concentration delve into accounting, ethical and legal issues in businesses, financial engineering and valuation, strategic management of technology, and topics in international business.
Students then complete a capstone practicum.
Program Length: 36 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $7,776 total (Maine resident), $22,500 total (Non-resident)
University of St Francis – Joliet, Illinois
MBA with Concentration in Business Analytics
Unlike other MBA programs, students at the University of St. Francis can begin their concentration immediately.
In the Business Analytics Concentration, students work towards a career in business forecasting and econometrics. They take classes in enterprise resource computing, business intelligence and analytics, and data mining.
Graduates move on to careers in general and specified consulting firms or internal consulting groups with specialized assignments.
Program Length: 36 credits
Delivery: Campus and Online
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $13,950 total
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – Chattanooga, Tennessee
MBA with Concentration in Business Analytics
Students of the Business Analytics Concentration at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga learn to internalize the big data from databases and data warehouses. Then they utilize tools and methods of descriptive, prescriptive, and predictive analytics to present such data in a way that will move an organization forward.
Graduates of the program will have practical and strategic skills and fundamental skills for entrepreneurial success.
Program Length: 36 credits
Delivery: Online
GRE: GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $8,618 per year (Tennessee resident), $16,682 per year (non-resident)
University of Virginia – Charlottesville, Virginia
MBA/MSDS Degree
To become a data scientist, students of the MSDS/MBA program will endure a rigorous professional program of integrated curriculum which centers on applied learning.
The interdisciplinary focus of the program submerges students in numerous industries. Students network with professionals outside the university to gain preparation for industry-leading careers.
In conclusion of the degree, students complete a capstone project for modern real-world experience in the business industry.
Program Length: 3 years
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $18,382 per year (Virginia Resident), $30,790 per year (Non-resident)
University of West Alabama – Livingston, Alabama
MBA in Computing and Data Analytics
ACBSP and SACS accredited, University of West Alabama’s MBA is offered in a fully online, flexible format and offers a generous transfer policy at one of Alabama’s oldest and most affordable colleges. Benefit from personal support “from application to graduation” alongside 3000 online learners in UWA’s 70 online programs.
Specialize your degree according to your career goals with concentrations in accounting, CIS, entrepreneurship, finance, management, marketing, sports management and more.
Advanced coursework is also available in strategic management, economics, business policy and more.
Program Length: 1 year
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $6,678 total (Alabama residents), $13,356 (non-residents)
Villanova University– Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MBA Analytics Specialization
Through Villanova’s School of Business, the MBA Analytics Specialization courses range in topic and require 7.5 credits in qualifying coursework. Some elective courses include: Intro to Business Analytics, Dashboard Analytics, Analytics in Sports Business, Intro to Data Mining, Big Data: Theory and Practice, and Simulation of Business Analytics.
Courses are offered across the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Program Length: 2 years
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $21,207 total
Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, Virginia
Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Analytics
The MSBA-BA program provides an innovative and multi-disciplinary environment by admitting students from non-business backgrounds. By doing so, students learn to think critically outside the realm of the business practices. Students still learn, though, techniques for descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics.
In addition to this, students will build an understanding of how businesses identify and solve problems in marketing, operations, finance, information, technology, human resources, and accounting through analytics.
Program Length: 30 credits
Delivery: Campus
GRE: GRE or GMAT required
2022-2023 Tuition: $14,521 total (Virginia Resident), $29,267 total (Non-Resident)
