05/19/2025
Business analytics combines data analysis, statistical modeling, and business acumen to get valuable insights and transform raw data into real-world intelligence.
With a business analytics degree, you may have opportunities to pursue a wide range of technology-driven roles in business schools where you can apply advanced mathematical and statistics skills.
Typical roles for business analytics program graduates may include business analyst, systems administrator, customer service representative and more.
Potential Career Options for Business Analytics Graduates
With the growing importance of data across all industries, the business analytics field offers a diverse range of roles focused on turning complex data sets into actionable results to drive decision-making. Business analytics roles may seek professionals with strong analytical, technical, and communication skills are well-positioned for success.
Business analyst: Responsibilities may include ensuring data accuracy, performing statistical analyses, creating visualizations to present findings, conducting financial modeling and forecasting, and evaluating performance metrics to drive strategic decisions.
Skills: Analytical thinking, data visualizations, SQL, Microsoft Excel, communication skills.
Business intelligence analyst: Responsibilities may include data mining and transforming data into strategic, actionable plans to help businesses understand key performance metrics and identify trends.
Skills: Data visualization, SQL, BI tools, data warehousing.
Business systems analyst: Responsibilities may include identifying and analyzing design systems to help businesses streamline processes and improve efficiencies.
Skills: Analytical, mathematical, critical thinking, problem-solving.
Management and Leadership Roles for Business Analytics Degree Holders
A business analytics degree may lead to a range of management and leadership roles that leverage data to fuel business growth, enhance efficiency, and foster innovation. These positions typically involve leading teams, defining strategic priorities, using data systems and ensuring that analytics initiatives align with an organization's objectives.
Operations analyst manager: Responsibilities may include include using analytics and advanced mathematical methods to help organizations solve complex issues.
Skills: Operations management, process optimization, statistical modeling, team leadership.
Computer systems analyst: Responsibilities may include studying an organization’s computer systems to identify ways of increasing efficiency and improving effectiveness for organizations.
Skills: Programming languages, database management, network basics, system design, critical thinking, understanding business needs.
Computer and information systems managers: Responsibilities may include managing an organization's technology infrastructure, including information technology (IT) systems, networks and software.
Skills: IT infrastructure management, software, hardware, cybersecurity, team leadership, conflict resolution.
Marketing analytics manager: Responsibilities may include leading a team that focuses on analyzing marketing campaigns and user data to optimize the return on investment. They may also oversee customer journeys and A/B testing and ultimately report on marketing effectiveness with recommendations for campaign improvements.
Skills: Marketing strategies, data analysis, A/B testing, data visualization and customer relationship management system (CRM).
Financial and Sales Roles for Business Analytics Degree Holders
Business analytics degree holders may find that financial and sales roles could involve leveraging data analysis and analytical tools to drive strategic decision-making, improve business performance, and optimize business processes.
Financial analyst: Responsibilities may include analyzing financial data to support decision-making and provide insights into an organization’s financial performance to guide business strategy and financial planning.
Skills: Financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, Microsoft Excel, SQL, financial software like Oracle or SAP.
Sales analyst: Responsibilities may include collecting and analyzing sales data and market trends to provide valuable trends and insights to support strategic decision-making within an organization.
Skills: Data analysis, analytics tools such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, SQL, and an understanding of sales metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Skills and Tools for Business Analysts
Candidates seeking a role as a business analyst may possess a combination of technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills to be effective in the field to improve business processes, drive efficiencies and support business growth opportunities.
Common skills for business analysts may include:
- Analytical and problem-solving skills: Breaking down complex problems to identify issues and solutions.
- Communication: Explain findings, present recommendations, and communicate technical and non-technical information.
- Documentation: Gather information to write detailed reporting, interview team members, and present findings to stakeholders.
- Data analysis and interpretation: Analyze data to identify trends, find insights and provide recommendations for improvements.
- Project management and leadership: Define the scope of the project, track progress and coordinate with different teams.
- Technical proficiency: Learn fundamentals of technical tools like Excel, Jira, SQL, Tableau or other BI tools for data analysis.
- Stakeholder management: Facilitate meetings, present findings to management, align project goals with business goals.
- Process improvement and optimization: Streamline workflow, balance costs, improve the quality of tools or services.
- Business expertise: Review how business operations affect the business's bottom line, identifying strategic insights and opportunity for growth.
- Change management: Implement new processes, seek opportunities for improvements, assist with onboarding and piloting for new software or tools, gaining buy-in from partners and stakeholders.
Common tools a business analyst may use:
- Statistical software: R®, SAS®, Python®
- Data visualization tools: Tableau™, Power BI®
- Programming languages: SQL, Python®, R®
- Big data tools: Hadoop®, Spark™
- Machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI): TensorFlow™, Keras
- Cloud technologies: AWS®, Google Cloud®, Azure®
- Business intelligence (BI) tools: Power BI®, Tableau™
- Excel: Advanced features (pivot tables, macros, VLOOKUP)
Education and Training for a Business Analytics Degree
A bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in business analytics, similar to management analytics, may include modules on artificial intelligence, big data, spreadsheet modeling, and data visualization. A typical program may take up to four years to complete. There may also be bachelor of science degrees that offer specific concentrations in business administration and analytics.
There are also online bachelor’s degree programs that offer programs in computer science, management information systems and business analytics. Regionally accredited programs such as these aim to prepare students to advance their career by providing foundational knowledge, skills, and academic credentials.
For those seeking leadership positions or a role with a specific concentration, a master’s degree in business analytics could be a good choice. This is often a 1-2-year program that provides a strong foundation in data analytics and business strategy.
There are also many certifications for business analytics careers. Though not always mandatory, certifications may enhance one's qualifications and provide additional proficiencies in sought-after tools and methodologies.
Common certifications may include:
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
- Certified Agile Business Analyst (CABA)
- Six Sigma Certification
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Business Analytics Job Outlook and What's Next
There are several key trends shaping business world and the job outlook for those with business analytics degrees.
- A potential increase in demand for specialized roles, such as business analysts.
- Growing trend in remote work and flexible work.
- Wide range of industries like finance and manufacturing.
- Work may be available in more areas across the globe.
- Increase in AI within business analytics.
- The need for continuous learning and staying relevant.
Potential avenues for graduates with above-average employment growth over the next decade may include:
- Data scientist
- Statistician
- Logisticians
- Operations research analysts
As companies continue to harness the power of data, graduates with expertise in business analytics, data interpretation, and machine learning may find their fit within the field.
