How to Get an Affordable Business Analytics Master's Online

For you, data is more than a bunch of numbers. It’s stories waiting to be discovered, potential solutions to problems your organization is experiencing and, perhaps, a guide to future trends that can inform business decisions today. Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology, data is increasingly trackable and available for professionals to analyze and use to steer their organizations toward success.

If this excites you, you might consider earning a master’s degree in business analytics. With a bit of research, you can find an online program that fits your goals, schedule and budget.

What is a Master’s in Business Analytics? 

A master’s in business analytics is a graduate degree for people interested in synthesizing data to inform business strategies. Whether you’re a career-changer or a business professional looking to advance, a master’s in business analytics will introduce you to various tools and software needed to organize, interpret and present data.

Data comes in a range of forms, including numbers, text, audio and video, according to Dr. Tej Dhakar, a professor of management science at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), and it’s up to business analysts to draw insights from it. 

“We are witnessing a huge explosion of data creation, especially since the beginning of this century,” Dhakar said. “New data is being generated constantly by ubiquitous smartphones, emails, streaming, web surfing, social media, sensors, point-of-sale systems and many more devices and activities.” 

Business analytics courses will teach you how to navigate these different data types and draw meaningful conclusions from them.  

Is Business Analytics a Hard Major? 

Because business analytics careers rely so much on data analysis and general business knowledge, people with a background in business, math or statistics often gravitate toward it, said Jennifer Oquist, the director of new learning models at SNHU. They typically have the analytical tendencies needed to connect data to the big picture.

But, through practice, you can learn appropriate methods, tools and questions to ask that can help you develop an analytical mindset and approach to data. “Generally speaking, anyone with basic quantitative, computer and analytical skills coupled with an interest in data analysis and willingness to learn can succeed in this program,” Dhakar said. “Add interpersonal and teamwork skills to the mix, and you will have what it takes to succeed in a career in business analytics.”

Dhakar said there are three types of business analytics that a master’s program will discuss:

1. Descriptive: Descriptive analysis looks at historical data to draw insights from what happened in the past. Techniques can include data queries, reports, descriptive statistics, data visualizations, what-if spreadsheet models and descriptive data mining.
2. Predictive: Predictive analysis is all about forecasting what might happen next, often using approaches such as linear and non-linear regression, predictive data mining and predictive simulation.
3. Prescriptive: Prescriptive analysis considers specific scenarios and determines a business' best course of action, often relying on decision analysis, optimization models and simulation optimization. For example, airline companies use it to determine how to price their tickets.  

It’s also important that you develop business, technical and communication skills beyond data interpretation too. “Students should learn business strategy and financial modeling, data visualization, analytics tools and techniques and how to communicate business insights to a variety of stakeholders,” Oquist said. 

A master’s program should help you practice your communication skills because your job won’t stop after the analysis is done. Once you’ve made sense of the information, you’ll need to share your findings with those involved. "Business analytics tells the story of the data to help leaders make better-informed decisions," said Monique Jordan, senior associate dean of business at SNHU. "Business analytics tells the data story through clear narratives and visualizations." According to Jordan, curiosity, research, program management and programming skills are also helpful.

Some of the areas you’ll have an opportunity to focus on in a degree program are: 

• Data analysis 
• Programming  
• Oral, written and visual communication 
• Business strategies, modeling and metrics 
• Problem-solving 
• Collaboration 

Since business analytics efforts are applicable to all industries, the skills associated with the profession are sought-after, according to Jordan.

What to Look for in Programs 

Finding an online business analytics program that fits your life is important. Be sure to consider factors including affordability, timing, relevancy and faculty in your decision-making.  

• Affordability: How Much Does it Cost to Get Your Master’s Online? Education is a financial investment, but you don’t have to break the bank or accumulate a lot of student debt to earn your master’s degree. A master’s in business analytics degree can cost as low as $12,000 in tuition with online programs such as SNHU’s. Be sure to consider fees beyond tuition, too – such as textbooks. Some programs opt for free online resources instead of textbooks, which can help you save more. 

• Timing: Will It Fit Your Schedule? Next, you should consider your schedule. What kind of time do you have to offer as you balance school, work and all your other commitments? Perhaps logging into an online course for a couple of hours in the evening would work better for you than attending them at a nearby campus.
  
  Additionally, looking at your short- and long-term career goals can help you determine when you want to have your diploma in hand. Typical master’s programs can take a couple of years to complete, but some are fast-tracked. You might be able to finish in just over 12 months, helping you achieve your goals in less time while also saving you money. 

• Relevancy: Does it Have the ‘Real World’ in Mind? Exploring a program’s curriculum can help you decide where to get a business analytics master’s online. Courses should cover material you can directly apply to your career, regardless of your industry, and they should prepare you for the future of work, equipping you with the skills needed to adapt to changing roles.
  
  “All business analytics programs are not created equal,” Dhakar said. “... When selecting a master’s program in business analytics, look for how closely the courses in the programs relate to analytics. Also, look for what skills you will acquire through the programs.”
  
  Working with data management software including Excel, Tableau, SAS and Microsoft Project are good indicators that your courses can help prepare you for conducting business analytics in the professional world, as will courses that spend time on languages such as SQL, JavaScript, Python and R, Dhakar said.
  
  Programs that emphasize hands-on experiences allow you to put theory to practice even before you receive a diploma. “Hands-on experiences using real-world data sets and business problems are the best preparation for the workplace,” Oquist said. Some data sets SNHU students have explored, for example, include national organizations such as Multiple Sclerosis Society and Heroes for Hire as well as local nonprofits like City Year New Hampshire. 
  
  Finding programs that establish collaborative settings from the start is also beneficial. Working with others is not only reflective of real-world challenges, but it also develops a learning community that can help you succeed in and out of the classroom. “You’re not on your own,” Oquist said. “You have classmates to work with on projects, to support and encourage you as you learn new skills and to network with as you gain new professional contacts.” 

• Faculty: What’s Their Experience? Lastly, look to the program’s faculty. These are the people who will coach you throughout your educational journey.
  
  “Faculty should be industry veterans with recent experience,” Oquist said. Not only should faculty know what they are talking about, but they should also be immersed in the career themselves. That’s because they can give you the most up-to-date information about a role that undergoes frequent changes as technology advances. They know what employers are likely looking for – perhaps as employers themselves – and can help you gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue your goals.   

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Business Analytics? 

With a master’s degree in business analytics, you can be a valuable member of teams that focus on marketing, finance, human resources and other business operations. Whatever your interests are, there’s likely an analyst position in both the public and private sectors that aligns well. 

"Strong quantitative skills and data literacy are important when analyzing the increasing amounts of data," Jordan said. Financial modeling, social media monitoring and analysis as well as customer experience surveys are just a few methods businesses use to gather influential information.

Some job titles you might encounter in your search, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and O*NET OnLine, include:  

• Business Intelligence Analyst: Working closely with financial and marketing stakeholders, you’ll identify patterns and trends based on multiple types of data. Business intelligence analysts earned a median of $98,230 last year, and the demand is expected to grow 15% by 2030, according to O*NET OnLine. 
• Market Research Analyst: In this position, you’ll gather consumer data to inform and forecast sales. In 2020, market research analysts earned a median of $65,810. Because more industries are using data to inform their business decisions, the demand is projected to grow 22% by 2030, according to BLS. 
• Operations Research Analyst: As an operations research analyst, you’ll likely work to solve problems using a wide variety of complex information to help guide managers and business leaders to make informed decisions. They earned a median of $86,200 in 2020, and the role is expected to grow by 25% by 2030, BLS reported.  
• Financial Analyst: As a financial analyst, you’ll stay up to date on economic and business trends, which can help you assess and report on an organization’s investment opportunities. Employees in this role earned a median of $83,660 in 2020, and the position is projected to grow 6% by 2030, BLS said. 
• Human Resource Analyst: If a job in human resources interests you, you might become an analyst focusing on compensation, benefits or position classification, working to develop policies and plans for an organization’s employees. According to BLS, analysts in human resources earned a median of $67,190 in 2020, and the position is projected to grow 10% by 2030. 

While most entry-level analyst positions require at least a bachelor’s degree, earning your master’s may give you the knowledge, skills and authority needed to take you and your organization to the next level.  

Is a Master’s in Business Analytics Worth It? 

The demand for business analysts is growing – and growing fast. “As long as businesses ask hard, critical questions, there will be opportunities for talented business analysts to add value,” Oquist said. 

The projects you will work on as a business analytics student will help you grow your portfolio and demonstrate to employers that you have experience handling different challenges, ultimately helping you stand out as a job candidate. 

"Earning the master’s degree provides the opportunity to move into roles of a more technical and quantitative nature in a field that is rapidly growing," Jordan said.

Rebecca LeBoeuf ’18 is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with her on LinkedIn.