Business Analytics at WGU
Are You Looking to Get a Business Analytics Degree?
Reliable analytics, complete with strong data analysis is a real world business problem for organizations in all verticals and of all sizes. If you’re interested in business intelligence that inform business decisions and are thinking about a business analytics program, there are other routes to consider that can open the door to a broader number of careers or more advanced positions in business analytics.
While WGU doesn’t currently offer a business analytics program, our Bachelor of Science in Data Management/Data Analytics, Master of Science in Data Analytics, or Master of Business Administration programs can prepare you for a number of jobs related to business analysis. These degree programs can help you build on your knowledge and expand your career options.
Needed Skills for Business Analytics Roles
Those in business analytics roles need to have a strong set of both technical and non-technical skills. This field requires knowledge in data collection, descriptive analytics, predictive analysis, visualization and reporting—as well as programming languages, databases, and how to perform cost-benefit analyses. In addition to these hard skills, some of the soft skills needed for this career field include:
- Oral and written communication
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Organization
- Decision-making
If you’re thinking about a job related to business analytics, here are three WGU online degree programs that can prepare you for roles in this career field.
Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics
Many business analytics jobs blur the lines between business and IT, which is why getting an education in data management and analytics will give you a solid foundation to work with. Rather than a degree focused solely on business analytics, a data analytics program can give you a broader understanding of data and data sets and all the ways they can be applied to a multitude of industries, including IT, healthcare, education, cybersecurity, and more.
Some of the knowledge gained in this program that can prepare you for a job in business analytics include:
- Business of IT
- Data management
- IT fundamentals
- Scripting and programming
- Technical writing
- Data science
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
If you’re already working in business analysis and want to take your career to the next level, an MBA can build on your business acumen and prepare you to be a leader in your organization. In this program, you’ll dive into principles of effective management, teamwork, communication, and performance management, and more.
While a business analytics degree will prepare you for the specific data-focused elements of a business career, an MBA can help you learn about the kind of data driven decision making you'll need as a leader. An MBA is widely considered a great program to advance into management positions, and analytic-focused coursework will help you learn about making leadership decisions based on data.
Some specific skills you’ll learn in an MBA program that can equip you for a leadership role in your organization include:
- Data-driven decision making
- Ethical leadership
- Operations management
- Leadership
Master of Science in Marketing (MSMK)
WGU’s marketing master’s degree is offered with two distinct programs: Digital Marketing (MSMK) and Marketing Analytics (MSMKA). Digital Marketing is for general marketers with an emphasis on social media, email, e-commerce, and content marketing. Marketing Analytics is designed for technical marketers pursuing SEO and other data-driven aspects of marketing. Each program can help prepare students for a leadership role in marketing.
Some important skills you’ll learn in a marketing master’s degree program include:
- Content management
- Brand management
- Content creation
- Data-driven decision making
- Creative thinking
- Marketing leadership
Digital Marketing and Marketing Analytics programs also offer opportunities to earn industry-relevant certifications from WGU’s partnerships with Google and HubSpot. With a master’s in marketing from WGU, you’ll learn how to grow a company’s customer base through leveraging diverse marketing channels and conducting marketing campaigns. You’ll also be able to work in higher-level marketing roles with a potentially higher salary.
Master of Science in Data Analytics (MSDA)
If you already have a data science or other data-related degree or quite a bit of experience working with big data, a master’s degree can prepare you for more advanced roles in the field of business analysis, like a business analyst or analytics manager.
Some of the knowledge learned in this program that can prepare you for a job in business analytics includes:
- Advanced data acquisition
- Advanced data analytics
- Predictive modeling and forecasting
- Representation and reporting
$78,000
is the average annual salary for business analysts.
$156,000
is the annual salary for business analysts who specialize in IT.
Business Analytics Career Options
What does a business analyst do?
Business analysts use data to collect insights and recommend new systems, procedures, or changes within an organization.
What does a data analyst do?
Data analysts help companies interpret their own collected information, identifying trends, outliers, and other useful data that inform business operations.
What does a data architect do?
A data architect is in charge of visualizing and building the blueprint of an organization’s entire IT network.
What does a chief technology officer (CTO) do?
A CTO is a top-level executive that oversees the entire IT department and integrates business needs and requirements into IT planning and operations.
What does a chief data officer (CDO) do?
A CDO is an executive-level leader in charge of managing, interpreting, and leveraging data within a company. They also make sure that the company’s data is being used to achieve business goals.
What does a market research analyst do?
Market research analysts gather and analyze data on consumers and competitors. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.
14%
Projected employment growth for management analysts from now until 2030.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why Choose WGU?
There are several reasons why WGU is a great option if you’re pursuing a career in business analytics.
- Low, flat-rate tuition, charging students the same amount per six-month term, regardless of the number of classes taken.
- Competency-based education, allowing students to choose the pace of their course and graduate faster, saving money in the long run.
- Scholarships and financial aid, making tuition even more affordable and accessible for students from all walks of life.
- Business programs with career-focused coursework, teaching meaningful skills that will translate directly to a career in entrepreneurship.
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
100% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
Which Degree Should You Choose?
Technology
Data Analytics – B.S.
Lean into data, and walk away with a cutting-edge online degree:...
Lean into data, and walk away with a cutting-edge online degree:
- Time: 62% of graduates finish within 36 months.
- Tuition and fees: $3,735 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
- CompTIA Data+
- CompTIA Project+
- Udacity Nanodegree—a unique, highly recognized credential designed to prepare you for a career in data science
- MSI Change Management (Optional Certification)
- Certiprof Design Thinking Professional Certificate (Optional Certification)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data management
- Data wrangling
- Statistical analysis
- Visualization
- Leadership and management
- Model deployment & storytelling
Technology
Data Analytics – M.S.
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:...
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 20 months.
- Tuition: $4,055 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data Analytics Lifecycle
- Data Science and Advanced Analytics Applications
- Data Mining Techniques
- Machine Learning
- Data Management
Master data mining, visualization, and SQL—and lead analytics at the business of your choice.
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Business
Marketing – M.S.
Two online marketing master's degree options with a focus on either...
Two online marketing master's degree options with a focus on either digital marketing or marketing analytics.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish WGU master's programs in 18 months
- Tuition: $4,530 per 6-month term
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program
- Specialization: Students choose from two specializations to focus their marketing studies on digital marketing or marketing analytics
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Management
- Strategic Planning
- Digital Marketing Analytics
- Presentations
- Market Research
- Communications
A marketing master's degree will help you prepare for a wide range of exciting marketing careers.
