Master’s Degree in Business Intelligence

A master’s in business intelligence is a specialized graduate-level program that emphasizes data analytics and the digital technologies that currently shape the competitive landscape. With data-driven decision-making becoming a standard business practice, you could position yourself for long-term success by developing expertise in this field.

Business intelligence programs develop analytical and business management skills. They teach students to extract valuable insights from big data and apply their findings to their employer’s benefit.

Research master’s-level programs, their curricula and concentration options, and the dynamic careers they can help you enter in this in-depth guide.

Businesses across various industries incorporate analytics and intelligence into their operations, and this trend is poised to continue accelerating. The financial services, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail industries have adopted these techniques, with business intelligence significantly affecting production, logistics, marketing, and human resource management operations.

A master’s in business intelligence can help you pursue work as a financial or management analyst, market researcher, and data scientist, among other roles. You can also combine this degree with an undergraduate education to qualify for economist, statistician, and other specialized roles.

These two positions offer a glimpse into the earning potential you could realize with a master’s in business intelligence:

Financial analysts examine data to help businesses identify opportunities for growth, investment, and savings. They also study market and industry trends and contribute to organizational money management decisions. In addition to a graduate degree, you can also pursue a career-enhancing certification like the chartered financial analyst credential.

Source: BLS

Data scientists analyze quantitative information, extract business insights, and communicate their findings to organizational leaders through visualizations and other tools. A master’s in business intelligence or a graduate degree in data science can prepare you for this fast-growing role.

Source: BLS

A 2020 National Center for Education Statistics study found that graduate students in business, management, and marketing programs paid an average of $15,925 in annual tuition fees. However, many factors can affect schooling costs. You may pay more or less for your program, depending on:

If you need financial assistance to pursue a master’s in business intelligence, seek out non-repayable forms of aid first. These include scholarships, fellowships, and grants. Loans are another option, but use them sparingly to help control your education debt burden.

Consult this resource for further financial aid information:

Schools set specific admission standards, which vary among institutions. While you should always source information directly from the school, many master’s in business intelligence programs share several common entry requirements. These generally include:

Some programs prefer or require that applicants have relevant professional experience. You may also need test scores, likely from the GMAT or GRE, though many schools have test-option policies. Interviews may also factor into the admissions process, particularly for competitive programs.

You may not necessarily need a directly related bachelor’s degree to qualify for admission, but strong performance in relevant coursework can enhance your application.

Master’s in business intelligence programs have variable completion timelines. Some have distinct tracks for students with different profiles, in which early-career learners complete more credits and those with multiple years of professional experience take fewer classes.

Standard programs cover 30-36 semester credits, but requirements can exceed these typical levels. Generally, you should expect to dedicate 2-3 years of full-time study to your program.

Choosing the right business program can be difficult, but evaluating these factors early in the process can save you time, effort, and money while supporting a better educational outcome.

In addition to costs, acceptance rates, and school reputation, key factors include:

You may also want to consider the strength and size of the school’s alumni network, as it could affect your career trajectory after graduation.

Ensure that the school that hosts your program holds an active accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor. You must attend an accredited institution to qualify for federal financial aid and transfer credits between schools.

While you should consider institutional accreditation mandatory, programmatic accreditation is optional. Programmatic accreditation confirms that the program aligns with specific academic or professional standards and signals high academic quality.

For business intelligence degrees, programmatic accreditors include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

If you plan to study online at a school located in another state, ensure the school is authorized to provide distance education to learners in your state. The SARA-Participating Institution Directory can help.

Some business intelligence programs use alternate titles to indicate a distinct focus or concentration. For example, you may encounter programs with terms like “data analytics” or “information management” in their titles.

In other cases, you can select a concentration track from a set of supported options. Some examples include:

Also, note that many MBA programs offer concentrations in business intelligence, data analytics, and related areas. Consider these options if you want to add a transferable suite of management skills to your business intelligence expertise.

Courses vary depending on the program’s focus and the concentration track you choose. Despite these variations, master’s in business intelligence programs usually explore similar concepts in their coursework. Some of the core courses, electives, and culminating experiences you may encounter include:

In addition to traditional face-to-face learning, you can also enroll in a 100% online business intelligence degree or a hybrid program that combines distance and campus-based learning. Business intelligence and analytics topics translate well to virtual learning environments and the engagement tools they offer.

Business intelligence programs often include lab components, practicums, and/or internships. If you plan to study online, consider how the program integrates these requirements into its distance-based format.

If you take online courses, you should also understand the difference between asynchronous and synchronous delivery models. Asynchronous courses use pre-recorded lectures, allowing you to “attend” class at times of your choosing, but you will trade off direct real-time access to your instructor for the convenience.

Synchronous classes occur live, at set times. They offer less flexibility, but more interactivity.