MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (2024)

MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (1)

MS Business Analytics

About MS Business Analytics

About MS Business Analytics

Data has changed the way businesses make decisions. More than ever organizations need data-savvy leaders with strategies and approaches informed by data. Our MS in Business Analytics is an accelerated, highly selective*, interdisciplinary, and industry-relevant program that teaches both the analytical mindset and the cutting-edge technical skills needed for success in today’s data analytics marketplace. Since launching in 2016, it has become established as one of the most innovative academic programs in the Business Analytics field and is led by some of the world’s best instructors.

Our 10-month in-person** program offers students an incredible opportunity to advance their professional careers in the fast-growing data analytics field. This comprehensive program encompasses statistics, machine learning, econometrics, marketing analytics, and data management. Students also work collaboratively on real-world industry projects, providing them valuable experience working for a client in a team. Our emphasis on advanced statistical modeling, machine learning, data, communication, and cloud computing means students learn to ask the right questions to create actionable intelligence.

*The MS Business Analytics program is waiving the GRE/GMAT test requirement for all applicants this year. However, we encourage (but do not require) applicants to submit GRE/GMAT scores if their undergraduate degree transcripts do not report grade point average (GPA) on a traditional 4-point scale, or if their GPA is less than 3.0.

**Most classes are offered with a traditional in-person modality with the flexibility to offer a few courses with a hybrid or online modality. Students must maintain residence in the local area during the 10-month program.

The MS in Business Analytics is a STEM-certified program (CIP Code 52.1301). Students in the MS in Business Analytics program can apply for a two-year extension of their Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization, granting them a total of three years of work authorization.

Important Dates

  • Apr 1, 2024

    Final Application Deadline for Fall 2024 (International)

  • Jun 1, 2024

    Final Application Deadline for Fall 2024 (Domestic)

  • Aug 19, 2024

    Pre-Fall Intersession Courses Begin (MS Business Analytics)

  • Application Info
  • Program Costs
  • Request Info/Contact Us
  • FAQs

MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (2)

Key Features

Industry Connections

The MS in Business Analytics program is supported by the Business Analytics Advisory Board (BAAB) of top industry executives from companies like Google, Oracle, Tesla and Netflix, who help shape curriculum and assure it is aligned with industry needs, enabling our students to stay at the forefront of marketplace trends.
The BAAB is chaired by Rich Clayton, VP of Business Analytics at Oracle and meets 2-3 times annually to align the MSBA curriculum with industry, including the annual Analytics Forum in April that is sponsored by the MSBA program.

Read more about the Business Analytics Advisory Board.

Read more about recent MSBA student industry solutions

REAL-WORLD INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE WORKING CLOSELY WITH FACULTY

Cal Poly’s Business Analytics Agency connects MSBA students to Collaborative Industry Projects as their official graduate degree Culminating Experience. The Business Analytics Agency is managed by a team of instructors from Information Systems, Statistics, and Marketing. Through a long-standing relationship with the Cal Poly Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub) powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS)*, MSBA students benefit from AWS-certified instruction, access to cloud-based tools and real-world learning experiences. Cal Poly’s Business Analytics Agency creates opportunities for students to work across sectors with corporate, public sector and international organizations, such as AT&T, Oracle and the World Bank, on some of their key challenges, building skills with proprietary datasets, and offering value to these organizations.

*The Cal Poly DxHub is the first university-based Cloud Innovation Center (CIC) supported by AWS.

Read more about Industry Projects here

EXCELLENT ANALYTICS JOB PLACEMENT

Employers recognize the MSBA as the primary data science degree applied to the business domain, consistently among the top three highest paid professions for those with master’s degrees. Cal Poly was recently ranked a Top 10 MSBA program. The Cal Poly MSBA alumni network is well established, as seen in the over 100 alumni in the LinkedIn MSBA alumni network since 2015. This means MSBA students have consistently enjoyed premium job placement at companies like Google, Oracle, Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, PwC, Capital One, T-Mobile, Capgemini, Workday, Neustar, and the NFL.

Read more about our MSBA student’s excellent job placement.

Faculty

Brennan Davis

MS Business Analytics Program Director and Associate Professor of Marketing

David Caughlin

Associate Professor

Leida Chen

Professor Mgmt, HR & Info Systems

Henry Danielson

Lecturer

Garland Durham

Associate Professor of Finance

Allison Ellis

Associate Professor, Management and Human Resources

Samuel Frame

Associate Professor of Statistics

Hamed Ghodussi

Associate Professor of Finance

Hunter Glanz

Assistant Professor, Statistics Department

Sanjiv Jaggia

Professor of Economics and Finance

Ryan Jenkins

Associate Professor, Philosophy Department

Kevin Lertwachara

Professor of Management, HR, and Information Systems

Alexis Melville

Lecturer

Kevin Ross

Associate Professor of Statistics

T.J. Weber

Associate Professor, Marketing

Yongcheng Zhan

Assistant Professor, Management, Human Resources, and Information Systems

Curriculum Overview

From data mining to econometrics, our curriculum embraces the latest approaches and developments in the data analytics field. We also offer a number of cutting-edge elective classes that allow students to explore concepts in more...

View Curriculum

Program Specifics

The MSBA program at Cal Poly is positioned at the crossroads of statistical modeling, big data management, and actionable business insights.We prepare our students to enter the job market with advanced technical skills without losing sight of the business purpose behind the analysis. This purpose is emphasized in our unique...

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Graduate Program Events

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Student Profiles

MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (23)

Naren Doddapaneni,
MS Business Analytics

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MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (24)

Jeff Ernst,
MS Business Analytics

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MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (25)

Matt fa*gan,
MS Business Analytics

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MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (26)

Ashley Goodin
MS Business Analytics

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MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (27)

Sally-Nguyen,
MS Business Analytics

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MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (28)

Arjun Reddy Toom,
MS Business Analytics

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MS Business Analytics Program | Masters of Science Degree in Business Analytics | Cal Poly OCOB (2024)

FAQs

How much does the MSBA program cost at Cal Poly? ›

MSBA Costs. Program Cost: $825 per credit/unit for in-state and out-of-state students (includes international students), approximately $28,050 for the program. The program is also subject to campus auxiliary fees, including the student union fee, ASI fees, health center fees, and the student success fee.

What is the difference between MS Business Analytics and MBA business analytics? ›

In fact, you will find the answer depends on your unique career goals. MSBAs are focused and value data analytics over leadership. An MBA, on the other hand, is more flexible by providing students with a high-level business understanding with the additional potential to specialize with concentration options.

What is a master of science in business analytics? ›

The Master of Science in Business Analytics Program trains students to work in data-rich environments. It enables students to solve real business problems through organization, analysis, and interpretation of data.

What to do with a master's in business analytics? ›

Job roles in this area include data scientists, data engineers, analytics managers, predictive modeling analysts, business intelligence engineers, and similar positions. These jobs are frequently ranked by employees as among the best over the past decade.

Is MSBA worth it in USA? ›

A Masters degree in Business Analytics is worth the investment if you're incredibly passionate about Data in your everyday life. Also, if you're keen on learning how to use data to step up your career, an MSBA degree can benefit your career path. 2. What is the course duration of MS in Business Analytics in the USA?

Why is Cal Poly so expensive? ›

Cal Poly is more expensive than many schools in the University of California system because UC's provide more financial aid. Part of the goal of this plan is to offset some of those costs making Cal Poly a more accessible choice for low and middle-income California students.

What is the salary of MSBA in USA? ›

The average MS in Business Analytics in USA salary ranges between 66,400 to 191,000 USD (55.33 to 1.59 lakhs INR) per annum based on skills, experience, and location.

Which is better business analyst or business analytics? ›

Business analysis focuses on understanding business needs, facilitating change, and ensuring alignment between stakeholders and technology teams. Business analytics, on the other hand, emphasizes data exploration, pattern recognition, and predictive modeling to enable data-driven decision-making.

Is MSBA difficult? ›

A business analytics masters is not significantly harder or easier than most others. An occasional challenge in Master of Busines Analytics programs is being exposed to unfamiliar areas of study. The field combines statistics, tech, programming, and business studies. Not many students have expertise in all these areas.

Is masters in Business Analytics in demand? ›

Since demand and growth for business analytics professionals are so high, expect to see great returns for your investment in a graduate degree.

Who is eligible for masters in Business Analytics? ›

Completed Bachelor's with a minimum 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ ST category) from a recognised university. Students who are waiting for their final results or are giving their final examination can also apply.

Which is better masters in Business Analytics or data science? ›

Choosing which degree and career path is better for you should ultimately come down to what you want to learn and do after earning a graduate degree. If you want to develop more technical skills in the area of collecting and analyzing data, data science might be the better path for you.

What is the best master's degree for business analyst? ›

Master of Business Administration

If you want to be a business analyst, all you have to do is choose data analysis as your main interest. It is useful anywhere. Whether or not you end up being a business analyst, your MBA will still prove useful.

Is business analytics an IT job? ›

2. Is a business analyst an IT job? Although business analysts' work frequently involves IT, they are not solely responsible for IT. Business analysts bridge the gap between technological solutions and business needs by working across multiple disciplines.

What does a person with a business analytics degree do? ›

You develop and implement data strategies, design and maintain data systems, and analyze data to identify insights that you communicate to internal and external stakeholders. This role is like the master architect of data models and governance measures that ensure data security.

Is Cal Poly MSBA good? ›

Cal Poly's MSBA program has been recognized as a Top 10 MSBA program. Graduates can tap into a well-established MSBA alumni network, with over 100 alumni on the LinkedIn network since 2015.

How much does it cost to go to Elon MSBA? ›

The per credit cost for the 2024-2025 academic year is $1,206. One of the major benefits of the M.S. in Business Analytics is the reasonable cost of tuition.

What is Cal Poly Business Analytics ranked? ›

Rankings & ratings

It is ranked #91-100 in World University Rankings - Masters In Business Analytics 2024.

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