What Can I Do with a Business Analytics Bachelor’s Degree?

Let’s talk about business analytics. This up-and-coming field is highly sought after in many modern businesses, and having a bachelor’s degree in business analytics will give you a great start to your career. But you may be wondering, what is business analytics? 

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What is Business Analytics?

The answer to the question, “what is business analytics?” involves a rather complex answer. But at its core, business analytics professionals are in-demand because of their creative, multi-faceted problem-solving skills. Those who are employed in the field of business analytics are able to analyze many different data points, draw conclusions from them, and offer suggestions that will improve performance. They often work internally with companies, as part of the employees who make sure services and products are of high caliber, but they can work externally too, providing objective insights to various companies in a specific industry. If you’re wondering, what is business analytics? This is the perfect article to delve deep into it and learn whether this career path could be right for you.

business analytics degree

What is analytics and business intelligence? These terms are often confused, but they are related. Analytics skills are used in business intelligence (also known as BI). Data science is another related field that frequently intersects with analytics and BI. The chief difference between analytics and business intelligence is that BI usually involves projecting future data, whereas analytics analyzes and reflects on historical data. Both are essential fields that are essential in today’s ever-increasingly computer-reliant workforce.

Accreditation for Business Analytics

Are you interested in joining the in-demand field of business analytics? Perhaps now is the time to take your career in a whole new direction. But what kind of certification do you need to obtain to qualify for business analytics jobs? You may not be so sure. There are various certifications available, depending on which career path you’re most interested in.

The IIBA offers various certifications for entry-level, mid-range, and senior level business analytics professionals. IIBA stands for International Institute of Business Analysis. Ideal IIBA certifications for business analytics professionals include ECBA, CCA, CCBA, CBAP, CBDA, and AAC certifications. ECBA stands for Entry Certificate in Business Analysis, which is a basic certification that anyone wishing to enter this field should obtain. CCA stands for Certificate in Cybersecurity Analysis. This certification is ideal for anyone who wishes to have a dynamic career in the technology and/or government security sectors. CCBA is for professionals who already have 2-3 years of experience, and it stands for Certification of Capability in Business Analysis. This certification will drive your resume to the top of the pile so you can climb your way up to the next level in your business analytics career. CBAP requires the passage of the CBAP Exam, and is for senior business analysts with extensive experience. CBDA stands for Certification in Business Data Analytics (IIBA-CBDA).

Now that you probably have an idea of what kind of certification program you might apply for, it’s a good time to start looking at schools. There are so many options for colleges and universities that it can become overwhelming to try to apply to a few. But one factor that should help you narrow down the choices is accreditation. There are various organizations that accredit schools regionally. For instance, CHEA, Council for Higher Education Accreditation, ensures all schools approved by them are of high quality, impart valuable skills to students, and meet certain eligibility standards. At this link, you can find the complete 2019-2020 directory of CHEA-accredited colleges and universities. Other accrediting organizations people should be aware of when choosing a business analytics degree program include the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. Make sure you thoroughly research any school you’re considering applying to and make sure that whatever degree you eventually receive will be honored in all kinds of workplaces and places of higher education so you’ll be able to achieve your career aspirations in this booming field.

Types of Business Analytics Degrees

At its most basic level, what is a business analytics degree? Why should you pursue one? Is a degree in business analytics worth it? Well, if you’re interested in solving problems, helping business meet their goals and thrive, and a dynamic career path that will always keep you on your toes, then business analytics is an excellent field for you. Before beginning any bachelor’s business analytics program, it’s natural to wonder, is a degree in business analytics worth it? Will this be money and time well spent? Now is the time to reach out to your network, talk to contacts (perhaps friends-of-friends) about their experiences, and glean some first-hand wisdom. You can straight up ask them, “is a business analytics degree worth it?” Do you regret the time and financial investment you made to get this degree, or has it opened doors for you in your career? Perhaps they can give you an on-the-ground answer to the fundamental, must-ask question, “what is a business analytics degree?” How will it bolster my career? Before even considering which programs to apply to, it’s smart to have conclusive answers to these questions. If not, don’t bother.

Plenty of people think they have to interrupt their lives if they want to prioritize getting a business analytics degree, but that’s not actually the case. There’s no need to stop working full-time, shirk your family responsibilities, or even commute to get your business analytics degree. Just sign up for an accedited business analytics online degree program! There are many good options to choose from depending on what specialty you’d like to pursue and what your interests are. The bachelor’s of science in business analytics program at American Public University (6) is an interesting option. Students heavily utilize statistical analysis techniques in this online business analytics degree program, and the school accepts transfer credits at a rate of 77%, which is solid.

Bachelor’s business analytics online degree programs include Webster University, Liberty University, Colorado State University – Global Campus, St. Louis University, and Washington State University. Upon graduation from any of these top schools, you’ll most likely answer the question, “is a business analytics degree worth it?” with a resounding yes. Just imagine receiving your diploma for your business analytics online degree and receiving your first job offer in this promising field. What beautiful moments those will be!

Uneducated people, usually from older generations, dismiss online business analytics degrees because students don’t attend classes in-person, but the pandemic has really leveled the playing field and help people realize that no matter where students learn, they are able to acquire highly valuable skill sets. Getting analytics degrees online is just as much as an accomplishment as it would be in an in-person setting. Start researching business analytics degrees online today to find many promising options. Make sure all schools applied to are accredited so degrees will be recognized in all kinds of higher learning institutions and workplaces.

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Certifications for Business Analytics

Thinking about pursuing a certificate in business analytics program? That’s a smart move because this field is booming as more and more industries rely on statistics to analyze historical data and predict future data points. Obtaining a certification in business analytics is a wise choice to enhance one’s resume and give them an edge over competitors. But which one should you pursue? Like with most other questions, the answer is “it depends.”

IIBA certifications in business analytics are always smart bets. IIBA is an industry leader in the business analyst field. Popular online certificate in analytics programs include ECBA (Entry Certificate in Business Analysis), CCBA (Certification of Capability in Business Analysis), and CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP). Specialized IIBA certifications in business analytics include CCA (Certificate in Cybersecurity Analysis), AAC (Agile Analysis Certification), and CBDA (Certification in Business Data Analytics). If you know anyone who is already has certification in business analytics, it’s pretty likely that they are from IIBA an certificate in analytics program. What’s especially great about IIBA programs is that they can be completed anywhere with Wifi. Obtaining a certificate in analytics doesn’t have to be a huge interruption to your life when you obtain it from a school with an online certificate in analytics program. With a certificate in business analytics in-hand, any graduate will be able to enhance their resume and land that next new job in their career ladder. When asked, “is a certificate in business analytics worth it?” the vast majority will say, absolutely. Certificate courses in business analytics are rigorous, teach up-to-date information professionals need now, and make a worthwhile investment in terms of time and money.

Wondering what certificate courses in business analytics include? Here’s a helpful example. At Harvard Business School online, students will complete a wide range of lessons including Describing and Summarizing Data, Hypothesis Testing, and Multiple Regression. These certificate courses in business analytics give graduates the skills they need to carve out a more successful career path. Perhaps they will be eligible for a new leadership role in their current company or jump ship to a more lucrative opportunity. Harvard Business School is an impressive choice for anyone interested in standing out from the crowd of applicants for their next job.

There’s no doubt about it – certifications in business analytics require a significant investment of time, effort, and finances. But plenty of people who have considered pursuing a certification in business analytics to bring fantastic boosts to their careers. Is a certification in business analytics worth it? There’s only one way to truly find out – apply to an online certification in business analytics program today. You won’t regret it!

Careers in Business Analytics

Data is a big part of our world these days, and people interested in having thriving careers are smart to pursue degrees in business analytics. Natural question prospective students often pose is, “what can I do with a degree in business analytics? What jobs can I get with a business analytics degree?” It makes sense that people want to know what kind of career path in business analytics they can expect when, upon graduation, they start careers in analytics.

This article from Bentley University explores some growing options for a career in business analytics. These business analytics manager job description options rely on people having master’s degrees, but it’s a good idea for bachelor’s students to know about them so they can be prepared for mid- and upper-level business analytics degree jobs.

What jobs can you get with a business analytics degree? Glad you asked. Here are some jobs with a business analytics degree graduates can expect to qualify for: 1. data scientist, with an emphasis on computer science, 2. data scientist, with an emphasis on analysis, 3. quantitative analyst/modeler, 4. data business analyst, 5. business analyst manager or consultant. The article points out that jobs with a business analytics degree can have a wide range of duties and expectations. Analytics degree jobs aren’t one-size-fits-all, so it’s important for prospective employees to know what they’re looking for and what their skill set is. Depending on what kind of career in business analytics a certain person is interested in, many programs (including the degree program at Bentley University) offers electives in various subjects including finance, information management, leadership, marketing, negotiating, and more.

The IIBA published an article titled “The Business Analyst Career Road Map” that’s super helpful for anyone trying to project what a career in business analytics could be like upon graduation. The good news is that there are so many choices to make in one’s career path in business analytics. With an excellent business analytics skill set from an accredited program, business analytics degree jobs will be easy to find post-graduation. This article contains business analytics job descriptions which prospective students will find helpful as they hone down all the degree program options.

The article divides business analytics degree jobs into various “Role Families.” When you’re wondering, what can I do with a degree in business analytics? This is an impeccable resource with lots of helpful information. One business analytics job description includes details about “business focused role families.” What jobs can you get with a business analytics degree? This article contains a plethora of possbilities including business requirements analyst, business systems analyst, enterprise architect, and many more.

Now is the perfect time to stop wondering, “What can I do with a business analytics degree? What jobs can I get with a business analytics degree? Dive into this article and you’ll find that there are so many different career paths open to you with a business analytics degree in-hand.

Wondering about how business intelligence and analytics job descriptions factor into this discussion of business analytics job descriptions? Pondering, what can I do with a degree in business intelligence and analytics? Business intelligence and analysts job descriptions include so many different responsibilities, including analyzing data with software applications, implementing querying techniques on data, developing new models for analyzing data for one’s company to use, and much more. A director of business analytics job description, or business analytics manager job description, often involves overseeing the work of more junior business and intelligence analysts.

There are so many different potential answers to the question, “what can I do with a degree in business intelligence and analytics?” Surely, there are some director of business analytics job descriptions that haven’t even been invented yet, and by the time current prospective students graduate, a new business analytics manager job description will be invented. Business intelligence and analytics job descriptions are always changing and evolving as technology adapts and advances to meet humanity’s needs.

Business Analytics Salary Potential

A business analytics salary can vary widely depending on what professionals specialize in, which industry they serve, and what city they work in. But prospective students who are curious about business analytics job salary ranges are will be pleased to learn that a business analytics degree salary, for those with master’s degrees, has an average of $72,000. A senior business analyst can expect an average salary of $84,081, and a business insight and analytics manager can expect a salary of $96,005. These business analytics salary ranges are incredibly appealing in comparison to some other, less lucrative career paths.

An average business analytics degree salary for a quantitative analyst is $83,477, and an analytics consultant can expect to make an average of $80,588 per year (13). A business analytics job salary provides a comfortable living for promising professionals of all kinds.

Professional Organizations in Business Analytics

Connecting with professional organizations in the business analytics field is a wise choice in order to stay on top of new information and trends, as well as network with colleagues and potential future employers. Connecting with organizations like the IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis), school-specific organizations for graduates of business analysis degree programs, the AACSB, the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, and more. Most, if not all, of these organizations require people to have graduated from a degree program in business analysis, but it’s still worthwhile for students to be aware of these organizations and look forward to joining their cohorts upon graduation from an accredited program.

Whether you choose to pursue your business analysis or business intelligence degree online or in-person, you will qualify to join plenty of professional organizations to advance your career potential as you climb up the ladder. Whatever specialty you choose, and whichever industry you’d like to serve in, hosts of companies and governments are looking for deep-thinking, logic-driven, hard-working people like you. Working in the business analysis field isn’t easy – it requires constant reinvention, innovation, and creativity – but properly conducting business analysis and business intelligence initiative will enable companies and economies in general to achieve the next level of success. What could be more important than that?

If you’re ready to be part of the changes that will be made in the future, and make sure they are made based on well-analyzed data, now is the time to begin researching business analyst programs, pick a few that fit your criteria well and get you excited to start learning, and apply as soon as possible. Your future career in this booming field awaits! Now is the ideal time to get started to ensure your future success. Pick out some accredited programs, read all about them, connect with business analysts in your network to get advice and recommendations, and get ready to work hard and reap lifetime benefits in this exciting field.

Carrie Morris
Author

Warren Dahl
Editor-in-Chief