Thrive in a Growing, Lucrative Field
Program Details: Less than 2 years | $714 Per Credit | 30 Credit Hours
Program Benefits
- Expert Faculty
- Fully Online Courses
- No Application Fee
- No GMAT or GRE Required
- AACSB-Accredited
- Transfer Credits Accepted
Today’s business leaders must do more than lead people; they must be able to leverage data to steer a business toward success. To meet the demand for well-rounded leaders who are both effective managers and strategic business analysts, Drake University has created this 100% online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) designed for leaders who need business analytics and big data expertise. Drake’s MSBA was ranked #95 in Best Online Master’s in Business Programs by U.S. News & World Report in 2023.1
The 30-credit master’s in business analytics online program can be completed in two years, attending part-time. (Non-degree-seeking students have the option to earn a Certificate in Business Analytics by taking the five core courses.)
Comprehensive, Flexible Curriculum
The online MS in Business Analytics focuses on data and business analytics knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques, as well as essential concepts related to business management and leadership. All six-week courses are asynchronous, which means you can study when and where it works best for you. There are no in-person requirements or scheduled online class meetings.
Program Outcomes
The only fully online business analytics master’s program in the state, Drake’s Master of Science in Business Analytics will prepare you to:
- Utilize key business data to solve operational, tactical, and strategic organizational problems.
- Lead data analytics projects and teams.
- Effectively communicate between data analysts and users.
- Design and implement a data repository to support strategic decision-making.
- Identify and apply effective data analytics methods to solve problems.
- Become proficient in applications such as Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Excel and Analytic Solver Platform, Microsoft PowerBI, Python, R, SQL, and Tableau.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the online application.
- Submit your official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities.
- Submit an electronic copy of your résumé or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a typed, one-page essay detailing how a graduate education at Drake University will help you reach your academic and professional goals.
- Submit contact information for two professional recommendations.
Explore our admissions requirements here.
Tuition Details
Drake University takes pride in delivering the best value education possible to our students. With our online master’s in business analytics program which costs $714 per credit hour, you’ll be prepared to pursue your career goals with skill, knowledge, and confidence. Explore our tuition details here.
Business Analytics Career Outlook
The online MSBA has been planned to target the specific skills and knowledge needed by the industry. Upon graduation, you can apply your expertise in several roles, such as a data analyst or architect, financial analyst, logistician, marketing analyst, operations research analyst, and more. Your data and business analytics skills could also qualify you to advance in your current position.
The overall employment of data scientists, in general, is expected to grow much faster than average at 35% from 2022 to 2032, adding over 59,400 jobs to the national workforce.2 This demand is fueled by the need for nearly every organization to make decisions based on sound data and business analytics.
- Data Scientist: $103,500 per year2
- Financial Analyst: $96,220 per year3
- Operation Research Analyst: $85,720 per year4
- Market Research Analyst: $68,230 per year5
- Logistician: $77,520 per year6
- Database Architect: $136,540 per year7
Faculty Spotlight
Alanah Mitchell, Ph.D., Aliber Distinguished Professor of Information Systems, Department Chair, and Co-Director of Data Analytics — Dr. Alanah Mitchell is the Aliber Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Information Management and Business Analytics in the Zimpleman College of Business at Drake University. She holds a PhD in Information Technology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Professor Mitchell’s research focuses on the design, implementation, and use of information and communication technologies for collaboration, specifically in global virtual teams. Additionally, she researches in areas of e-commerce and information systems pedagogy. She has published in such journals as Business Horizons, Communications of the Association for Information Systems, DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems, Electronic Markets, Information Technology and People, IT Professional, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, and Organizational Dynamics as well as others. Alanah is a Distinguished Member – Cum Laude of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) as well as a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). More information can be found on her website: https://www.alanahmitchell.com/
Student Testimonials
Julie Lanning — “In MBA 245: Leading with Data, I really enjoyed the different ways of learning. The instructor did a great job of explaining things if I did not understand … The discussions were also helpful as my peers did a great job of utilizing the information and worked on helping each other see different points of view in our assignments. Overall a positive course with lots of challenges; I feel like I have gained a lot throughout this term.”
Erin Evans — “I originally wanted to be a therapist,” Evans said. “I started taking a lot of Excel courses since not many people on my team were familiar with it, and through them, I found a love for data analytics. I liked the six-week schedule of each class, because it allowed me to take multiple courses within a period,” she said. I was still only taking one class at a time, but could finish my courses quickly. So long as you met your deadlines, you could work around your schedule.” Although Evans only just completed her master’s in 2022, she shared she has already received a promotion. This comes at a time when her company has set a new focus on their analytical advantage. “I have positioned myself because of my degree to be a key stakeholder in that project, which will give me visibility to leadership and the analytics department.”
About the Zimpleman College of Business
Do well by doing good.
Drake’s Zimpleman College of Business empowers you to prosper by using the influence of free enterprise to lead positive changes in the world. We put your ambitions and values at the center of our tailored educational offerings. We position you for a lifetime of career advancement by enabling you to do work that aligns with your values, and generates economic opportunity and income for yourself and others.
Upon graduation, you will be equipped with the technical skills, business acumen, empathy, and experience necessary to innovate and lead in a globally complex, diverse, and dynamic world. You will be:
- Proficient in your field
- A data-driven, strategic, and innovative problem-solver
- An effective communicator
- A socially and ethically responsible leader
- A global and culturally competent citizen
In addition to university accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, the Zimpleman College of Business is an accredited member of AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Sources
- U.S. News & World Report. “Drake University.” Retrieved on February 14, 2023, from https://www.usnews.com/
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Data Scientists.” Retrieved on December 14, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Financial Analysts.” Retrieved on December 14, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Operations Research Analysts.” Retrieved on December 14, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Market Research Analysts” Retrieved on December 14, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Logisticians” Retrieved on December 14, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2022. “Database Architects.” Retrieved on December 14, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.