Update: This article was originally posted on April 18, 2022. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
“Big data” is one of the hottest terms in business today. Globally, we generate a whopping 2.5 quintillion bytes daily. All that data is extremely valuable to companies and investors, especially as technology improves to be able to transform vast amounts of information into better analyses and conclusions.
That’s where Business Analytics comes in. This field uses data, statistical and quantitative analysis, predictive modeling, and optimization to improve strategy and decision-making for businesses across all sectors.
This is why pursuing a Business Analytics degree is even more beneficial in 2023 than ever before – both for employers, who need analysts with the latest knowledge and skills in data analysis and innovation, and students, who are promised larger and larger returns on their MBAs. In addition, focusing on analytics is an excellent way to future-proof your career.
That’s why in this post, we explore the different options that Business Analytics MBA grads can pursue in their careers and give you the best MBAs with a focus on Business Analytics available in 2023 so you can get the most out of your degree.
What can you do with a Business Analytics MBA?
While pursuing a Business Analytics MBA, you will not only gain the foundational business and management skills that you would from any MBA but also the technical and analytical expertise to focus on data.
Specifically, you will develop your problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills in a way that focuses on analytics, statistics, and technology so that you can transform raw data into actionable insights and strategies.
And because Business Analytics MBA graduates are one of the most in-demand segments for employers, there are plenty of options for exciting, well-paying careers after you finish your degree.
Data-driven decision-making is increasingly important across fields, from healthcare to manufacturing, and in every department, from marketing to supply chain management. The most common jobs that Business Analytics MBA grads receive include financial analyst, business insights specialist, analytics manager, logistician, and management analyst positions.
With an average post-MBA salary of around $138,000, business school grads can expect high returns once they finish their degrees.
The best Business Analytics degrees
As the popularity of Business Analytics degrees rises each year, more and more business schools are offering top-quality programs focused on data and analytics. We go through the top-ranked ones for 2023 below.
MIT Sloan
Source: @mitsloan on Instagram
With a longstanding reputation for offering the best Business Analytics MBA in the US, MIT Sloan’s Business Analytics program is 12 months long and focuses on modern data science, optimization, and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.
As Sloan is known for its top-notch opportunities for those passionate about data and analytics, you will have access to a number of activities that will boost your analytical skills and knowledge. For example, the Business Analytics MBA is done in conjunction with MIT’s Operations Research Center – an interdisciplinary research center focused on data science and other technical fields.
Carnegie Mellon Tepper
Source: @teppercmu on Instagram
The Business Analytics track at Tepper School of Business is ranked second nationwide, emphasizing the school’s excellence in innovation and technology. Core courses include Modern Data Management and Data Mining, and the program is finished off with a capstone project. The project exposes students to a real business problem, which they solve using visualization, data mining, and optimization techniques.
Graduates of Tepper’s Business Analytics MBA have accepted jobs from companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, and Bank of America, and top consulting firms like Deloitte, IBM, and McKinsey.
Wharton
Source: @whartonschool on Instagram
With numerous opportunities to develop your leadership skills and build relationships with fellow students, Wharton offers a collaborative approach to business education. Wharton’s MBA Major in Business Analytics combines its powerful reputation and network with the program’s innovative focus on data science.
The Business Analytics major is focused on preparing students to collect, manage, and describe datasets and then form inferences and predictions to make optimal decisions. Courses to choose from include Healthcare Data & Analytics, Big Data, Big Responsibilities: The Law and Ethics of Business Analytics, and Scaling Operations.
NYU Stern
Source: @nyustern on Instagram
Stern’s specialization in Business Analytics matches the quality of its other offerings, preparing students for real-world application of the latest problem-solving techniques in analytics. Some of the ideas that MBA students learn on this track include the impact of advertising on sales, how historical data predict stock returns, and how changes in task characteristics can influence time to completion.
Courses available to Business Analytics-track MBA students include Research for Customer Insights, Trading Strategies and Systems, Decision Models, and Management Consulting.
Chicago Booth
Photo courtesy of @chicagobooth on Instagram
Booth’s data-driven approach to business is pervasive throughout its MBA specializations, but the school’s Business Analytics track prepares leaders who want a true focus on technology and analytics. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes courses in big data, predictive analysis, statistics, decision optimization, and the major programming languages.
And with a wide range of electives, there are many options for students to pursue specialized interests within the analytics module. MBA students can also join a variety of extracurricular opportunities such as the Analytics Club, Artificial Intelligence Group, and Business Solutions Group.
Berkeley Haas
Source: @berkeleyhaas on Instagram
With its location in the heart of Silicon Valley and relentless focus on challenging the status quo, Berkeley Haas is at the top of many innovators’ list of dream schools. Haas’s Business Analytics Certificate is particularly focused on such innovation and transforming students into leaders who can make disruptive changes.
The track focuses on key concepts such as inference, causality, and decision-making, as well as skills in cutting-edge areas like machine learning, data mining, and visualization. Some available courses include Big Data & Better Decisions, Marketing Research, and The Business of AI.
Georgia Tech Scheller
Source: @georgiatechscheller on Instagram
Scheller’s MBA program prepares students for careers in a tech-driven world. The 22-month program allows students to pursue a Business Analytics track that develops a creative understanding of analytical tools and techniques to define important business problems and derive insights for problem-solving.
Alongside an array of experiential courses and opportunities for Business Analytics-focused students, Scheller’s Business Analytics Center has a mission to “prepare our highly regarded students to lead today’s analytics-enabled and digitally focused workforce and engage with our industry partners to provide real-world Experiential Learning opportunities.” The Center provides students with a platform to collaborate with industry leaders, faculty, and peers to solve real-world Business Analytics problems.
Get into a top business analytics MBA
While the above Business Analytics MBAs are just some of the quality degrees that you can choose from to boost your career in this growing field, this list is a good indication of the many opportunities and specializations available to those wanting to gain expertise in data analytics and decision making. Making a decision on which programs to apply to can thus be overwhelming. And then there’s the task of getting accepted at your top program!
Luckily, Ellin Lolis Consulting’s expertise is in helping you along every step of the way, from the decision-making process to writing your essays to completing your admissions interview, using our personalized approach. So, no matter what your interests, circumstances, and goals are, we can help you find the right Business Analytics MBA for you!
To take advantage of the Ellin Lolis Advantage and find the MBA program of your dreams, apply to work with us today!
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