As companies generate more data at ever faster rates, the need for business analytics professionals is growing.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    Online | On Campus | Hybrid
  • Degree
    MS

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MSBA Overview

Business analytics is the process of transforming raw data into business intelligence and insight. The Master of Science in Business Analytics program will help you:

  • Develop the ability to collect, manage and analyze data from a variety of sources.
  • Enhance your understanding of business processes and systems.
  • Develop the ability to understand and communicate insights gleaned from descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics.

Private and public firms in fields as diverse as health care, finance, logistics and marketing need business analysts to help them identify and solve problems related to forecasting, customer relationship management and revenue optimization — to name only a few. Experts predict that in the next 10 years, hundreds of thousands of new jobs will be created in the domain of business analytics.

  • The Master of Science in Business Analytics requires 10 courses (30 credits). Students complete a core of seven required courses (21 credits) and then complete three courses (nine credits) within one of six tracks:

    • Accounting Analytics
    • Big Data
    • Finance Analytics
    • Healthcare Business Analytics
    • Managerial Decision Making
    • Marketing Analytics

    Courses may include:

    • Advanced Machine Learning
    • Analytical Decision Making Tools
    • Business Intelligence and Data Mining
    • Database Management
    • Data Engineering for Business Analytics
    • Decision Analytics
    • Statistics for Predictive Analytics

    For more information on the MSBA curriculum including course listings and degree pathways, visit the online Graduate Catalog.

    • Submitted online application
    • Admission to the MSBA program is open to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university, with a GPA of at least 3.000
    • Introductory-level business course prerequisites
    • Official transcript from previously earned degrees
    • An official Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score (minimum 500) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with equivalent minimum score
      • Applicants may waive the GMAT exam based on certain criteria. To apply for a GMAT Waiver, please complete the GMAT Waiver Form (pdf)
    • 3 letters of recommendation from instructors who have taught you, ideally in the field of study for which you are applying (letters may also be from employers or supervisors who are in a position to compare your performance with that of your peers)
    • A resume or CV
    • $50 application fee
    International Applicants
    • A foreign credential evaluation by World Education Services or Center for Educational Documentation is required for degrees earned outside of the United States
    • English proficiency testing
      • TOEFL minimum 600 (paper based), 250 (computer based) or 100 (Internet based)
        • A waiver may be given to candidates who have completed at least two semesters of full-time college/university work in the United States by the date of submission of the application
    UMass Lowell Bachelor's to Master's Applicants
    UMass Lowell undergraduate students with a 3.000 GPA or better have the opportunity to save time and money by earning a bachelor's and a master's degree in a little as five years. Students can continue from bachelor’s to master’s level studies within their own department. Or students can apply to a program in a different department to create a set of skills to meet emerging needs in the workplace and their own academic interests. Please refer to the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog for the latest information about admission, courses, retention, degree and thesis requirements.

    Visit Graduate Admissions for more information.

  • In-state

    Cost Per Credit: $844.99*
    Total Tuition (based on 30 credits): $25,349.70*

    Out-of-state/International Students

    Cost Per Credit: $1,499.44*
    Total Tuition (based on 30 credits): $44,983.20*

    *These estimated graduate charges are for the 2021-2022 academic year. These prices are subject to change by vote of the UMass Board of Trustees.

    Financing

    For more information on tuition and financing, visit Costs & Aid for Graduate Programs.

  • The MSBA degree will be a valuable credential for individuals who wish to pursue a professional career in business analytics in private enterprises or in the public sector. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 200,000 new jobs will be created over the next several years in the area of business analytics.

    Companies who hire business analytics professionals (often with starting salaries above $90,000) include Raytheon, Amazon, UPS, McKinsey & Co., FedEx, United Health Group, Massachusetts General Hospital and GE Energy Management. UMass Lowell MSBA graduates will be prepared for positions such as:

    • Data Scientist
    • Research Analyst
    • Big Data Analytics Specialist
    • Consultant

Why Study Business Analytics at UMass Lowell?

Headshot of Christine Vaudo

"Everyone’s looking for analytics. Whether it’s fundraising, finance, marketing – there are lots of jobs."

When Christine Vaudo heard about the Manning School’s business analytics degree, she knew it was for her. A lover of math, she has experience in computer science and working with databases. And the career opportunities are booming. Read more.

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AACSB Accredited

UMass Lowell graduate students enroll in one of the nation’s top business schools, as determined by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Read more.

MSBA alum Varun Bisht '21, second from right, caught up with, from left, Manning School Dean Sandra Richtermeyer, Assoc. Prof. Amit Deokar and Program Coordinator Luvai Motiwalla during the capstone presentations earlier this summer at the Pulichino Tong Business Center. Image by Ed Brennen

In a Data-Rich World, Business Analytics Students Gain Upper Hand

To gain a deeper understanding of his work protecting data privacy at Amazon, Varun Bisht ’21 decided to get a Master of Science degree in business analytics (MSBA). He is among a growing number of professionals learning how to transform raw data into business intelligence and insights with an MSBA degree from UMass Lowell. Read more.