Master’s in Business Analytics (MSBA)
Master’s in Business Analytics (MSBA)
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If you’re interested in earning your Master of Science in Business Analytics degree and furthering your education, our frequently asked questions can provide you with more insight on this career path and earning your degree.
Graduate coursework is designed to be challenging. Coursework in an MSBA program aims to enhance and develop your knowledge of areas such as analytics, databases, statistics and data mining. When completing your studies, ask for clarification on topics you find confusing and be sure to apply yourself to your studies to help prepare for success in your program.
Salary expectations are based on several factors for business analytics graduates. However, we can look at the management analyst role as an example. In May 2022, management analysts had a median annual salary of $95,290, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.2
A master’s in business analytics can teach you advanced information in the business analytics field and may be an ideal choice for you and your career aspirations. Certain occupations in this field expect much faster than average job growth as well. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for management analysts to increase by about 10% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 95,700 jobs in the field.1
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
GCU is a university that designs programs with the needs of working professionals in mind. You can pursue your master’s in business analytics degree while still managing your professional responsibilities and family commitments. Our online learning platform connects you to knowledgeable faculty. You will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with peers across a range of industries.
During your MSBA studies, you will be taught to refine your communication skills to convey key concepts and information to all stakeholders. Examine creative problem-solving methods in the organizational environment. The MS in Business Analytics curriculum integrates the Christian worldview. Students are encouraged to identify as servant leaders who apply the transformative nature of data analytics for the betterment of their communities. Examine Christian-minded solutions to ethical dilemmas and consider the regenerative and innovative qualities of moral practices.
MSBA students will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics as they study key concepts like statistical language, data mining and data visualization. Critical thinking, mathematics and computing skills blend in hands-on, project-based learning experiences.
The Master of Science in Business Analytics degree concludes with the Applied Capstone Project. You can work to gain practical experience through an applied project that explores a specific aspect of analytics.
In the courses throughout this program, the following core competencies will be covered:
This degree may be ideal for students who possess practical industry experience and are looking for a pathway toward a career they may find fulfilling.
As a graduate with an MS in Business Analytics, you may be prepared to pursue jobs such as:
Management analyst
Data scientist
Operations research analyst
Postsecondary business teacher
New jobs estimated to open for management analysts from 2022 to 20321
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts, retrieved on Oct. 2, 2023.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Management Analysts, as of May 2022, retrieved on Oct. 2, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as management analysts, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
Take the next step by earning your graduate degree in business analytics. Apply online at GCU.
Data collection, analysis, interpretation and application are at the heart of the tactical and strategic decisions made by corporations to accelerate forward progress. The growing field of business analytics requires academically trained big data analysts to assist organizations in making these decisions. You can position yourself for possible career advancement by earning your Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) at Grand Canyon University.
The master’s in business analytics degree emphasizes big data analytics and the objective application of analytical methods to address specific business problems.
