Business analytics is growing fast. As companies compete for business, they have to learn how to improve how they work. This allows them to be competitive.
Business analytics uses data to suggest changes. It also helps business leaders make informed decisions.
For example, business analytics might be used to help a company improve access to sales data.
Featured Programs
Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
Say that a company is using manual reporting to track sales of its products. Also, assume that this process is slow. Because of this, reporting lags behind sales.
By using business analytics, the business owner might find that automating sales tracking would speed up reporting. They might also find that automation would save money.
This is a simple example of what business analytics can do. However, it shows the value of using data analysis to help businesses run more smoothly.
So, how do you learn about this topic?
Professional analytics can be learned online. Many business analytics fees are quite low, so you can learn on a budget.
Some of the top business schools have business analytics courses online. For example, Wharton courses (Coursera) give you access to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Some business analytics courses are by themselves. Others are part of a series of courses. In some cases, you can even get a business analytics certification online.
Below, we’ve ranked 10 of the best online business analytics certifications and courses.
First, let’s take a look at how the rankings of these courses developed.
Methodology to Determine the Best Online Courses for Business Analytics
There are lots of options for learning business analytics. But which ones are best?
When thinking about your options, factors to consider are:
- Affordability
- Accreditation
- Flexibility
- Learning Level
- Course Ratings
Choosing an online course in business analytics should involve a close look at each of these factors.
You want something affordable. For most learners, it is the most important criteria.
But you want something that’s high quality and maybe even accredited. You don’t want to waste your time on a course that’s poorly developed.
The way the course is offered is important too.
For example, imagine you work two jobs and have very little time to study. Having flexible due dates would be a big advantage if this were the case.
Some courses also let you learn at your own pace. This is a bonus for busy people.
Consider course rankings too. The experiences that other students have in a course can be valuable information to have as you make a decision.
Below is an outline of each of these factors.
Affordability
Business analytics fees are the most important criteria for many learners. You want a quality education, but at a price that isn’t too high.
There are courses on our list that are completely free. Other courses require a fee. Fee-based courses can be very affordable.
Price doesn’t always reflect the quality of a course. Free courses can be just as helpful to you as paid ones.
This is scored as follows:
- Free: 6 points
- Under $15: 5 points
- $16-$25: 4 points
- $26-$35: 3 points
- $36-$45: 2 points
- Over $45: 1 point
Accreditation
Only some online courses for business analytics are accredited.
This is important because schools have to meet certain criteria. This means that when the class is done, you should possess specific skills. Not only that, but you’ll have skills that make you desirable to employers.
Usually, a college or university is accredited as a whole. Sometimes, the specific department at the school (i.e., the business department) is accredited. Other times, accreditations at both levels might be in place.
This criterion is scored as follows:
- Both the institution AND the business program are accredited: 2 points
- The institution is accredited OR the business program is accredited: 1 point
- No accreditation: 0 points
Flexibility
When choosing to learn online, you want professional analytics courses that offer you the flexibility to study when it best fits your needs.
You likely want a course that gives you easy access to course materials. Self-pacing options and flexible due dates are nice too.
You might be looking for a course that offers different course materials, such as handouts, videos, chat rooms, and so forth.
Since these kinds of features are desirable, we’ve included a “flexibility” component in our rankings. The more flexible a course is, the higher the points awarded.
This is scored as follows:
- High flexibility: 2 points
- Moderate flexibility: 1 point
- Low flexibility: 0 points
Learning Level
It’s necessary to find courses that fit your learning level. If you’re an advanced learner, you should seek out advanced business analytics courses.
Likewise, if you’re just starting in this field, a beginner course is the best option.
While beginner courses have just as much value as advanced ones, we assign a higher ranking to courses that offer advanced studies.
This is because advanced courses are more in-depth. They also require more planning and preparation. They are typically more challenging than beginner or intermediate classes as well.
This is scored as follows:
- Advanced: 3 points
- Intermediate: 2 points
- Beginner: 1 point
Course Ratings
When looking for an online professional analytics course, something to consider is the rating for the course.
Ratings from past students shouldn’t be the only factor you use to choose a class. However, they can provide valuable input to help you make your decision.
Student ratings that are quite high (4.5 or above on a 5-star scale) typically indicate that the course is worth your time.
When looking at course ratings, consider how many ratings the course has. If a course has 5,000 ratings, it might be more informative than one that only has 100 ratings.
This is scored as follows:
- 5 stars: 5 points
- 4.5+ stars: 4 points
- 4+ stars: 3 points
- 3.5+ stars: 2 points
- 3.4 stars and below: 1 point
- No ratings: 0 points
When you consider all five of these factors, you get a clear picture of the quality of a course. This will help improve your chances of taking the best business analytics course for you. Researching these factors will also help you avoid the time and expense of enrolling in a class that might not be the best fit.
Ranking the Best Online Courses for Business Analytics
#10: Business Analytics
This is a short degree program from Udacity. It involves multiple classes, including an introduction to data and data visualization.
You’ll also learn how to use databases for storing information. Techniques for retrieving that data and analyzing it are also covered.
This best online business analytics course includes instruction on additional topics:
- Building data dashboards
- Using Structured Query Language
- Using Excel
This is a class that doesn’t have any course requirements. This means you only need the ability to utilize a computer to find success.
As a student in this course, you’ll use real-life data to build the skills you need for business analytics. Udacity also provides mentors and career coaching. There are online student community and learning programs designed just for you as well.
Points: 7
Affordability: $199 per month (at the time of this writing).
Accreditation: None.
Flexibility: Moderate. Learning is self-paced, but you have to finish the course in three months. If you don’t, you must pay extra.
Course Rating: 4.6 out of 89 stars
Learning Level: Beginner
#9: Predictive Analytics for Business
This course teaches you how to use business analytics to solve problems. Udacity offers it as a short degree program. This is a collection of classes that build on one another.
The purpose of this course is to help you develop skills that employers want. With the projects you complete in this class, you’ll have a portfolio of work to show off your skills.
Learning targets for this class include:
- Learning how to work with data
- Using different classification models
- How to create an A-B test
In addition to using these skills as a business analyst, you could use what you learn to find jobs in:
- Business systems analysis
- Product management
- Market analysis
This intermediate-level series of classes has several prerequisites. This includes algebra and statistics. You need to understand Excel too. It helps to know MySQL, but this is not required.
The fee for this course includes career services and a career coach. It also includes mentor support. You get feedback on assignments from experienced reviewers as well.
Points: 8
Affordability: $199 per month (at the time of this writing).
Accreditation: None.
Flexibility: Moderate. You get a tailored learning plan that is self-paced. However, if you do not complete the course in three months, you have to pay extra to finish.
Course Rating: 4.85 out of 5 stars
Learning Level: Intermediate
#8: Data-Driven Decision Making
This course gives you insights into how to use business data to make important decisions.
More specifically, you’ll learn why data is so important to businesses. You’ll explore big data, what it is, and how it is used in the decision-making process. This class also introduces the tools and techniques that business analysts commonly use.
Other topics of study in this best online business analytics course include:
- Data analysis frameworks
- Why data presentation techniques matter
- Career options in business analytics
PricewaterhouseCoopers and Coursera offer this course. It takes around 11 hours to complete. You can finish the required elements as quickly or as slowly as you wish.
Points: 8
Affordability: Enrollment is free. Since course fees (typically around $50) apply after the free trial, this is scored as a paid course. There could be other costs as well. Learn more about Coursera pricing.
Accreditation: None.
Flexibility: High. This course is completely online and self-paced. There are flexible deadlines and it is offered in multiple languages.
Course Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (based on 754 reviews)
Learning Level: Beginner
#7: Wharton Business Analytics Certificate
This certificate, which is offered by Wharton and Coursera, is a collection of five courses. These courses examine how analytics can be used to explain business problems. For example, you can use data to track customer behavior. You can then predict what products they might buy next.
These classes give you a good introduction to using data. Since it is a beginner course, you don’t need any prior experience in business. You don’t need experience in analytics either.
During this program, you’ll learn how to use data to help make better business decisions.
You’ll also learn how to:
- Use data to evaluate employees
- Model supply and demand
- Solve business problems
Points: 10
Affordability: Enrollment is free. Since course fees (typically around $50) apply after the free trial, this is scored as a paid course. There are other costs to complete the certificate program. Learn more about Coursera pricing.
Accreditation: Wharton is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The University of Pennsylvania, where Whorton is located, is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Flexibility: High. You can complete the course at your own pace. All course materials are available online. The course usually takes three months to finish.
Course Rating: Each class in this course has at least 4.5 out of 5 stars (based on 16,753 total ratings)
Learning Level: Beginner
#6: Foundations of Strategic Business Analytics
Coursera and Essec Business School offer this course. Whether you’re a business student or a professional, this class will help you learn new skills.
You’ll learn about marketing supply chains and credit scoring. You will also get an introduction to using business analytics in human resources.
You can also expect to gain skills related to:
- Using R Studio
- Data analytics
- Effectively presenting analytics information
All of these skills are developed to solve major business issues.
Since this is an advanced course, some prerequisites are required. You should be familiar with R Studio. You should also understand databases and basic data analysis.
Points: 10
Affordability: Enrollment is free. Course fees (typically around $50) apply after the free trial (so this is scored as a paid course). There could be other costs. Learn more about Coursera pricing.
Accreditation: Essec is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Flexibility: High. This course is self-paced. You can set and reset deadlines as needed. The course is short as well – about four weeks of study.
Course Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (based on 460 ratings)
Learning Level: Advanced
#5: Analytics for Decision Making
This class is offered by edX and Babson College. It is a beginner course that introduces you to the basics. You’ll learn hands-on skills that enable you to analyze data easily.
This course goes beyond simple data analysis. It helps you identify ways to clearly present research. You will also learn how to examine the data you collect. You’ll gain skills to make informed conclusions about what the data means too.
Some of the topics included in this top business analytics course are:
- Decision making in the real world
- Using data to make managerial decision
- Models that work long-term
This course lasts for four weeks and requires about 4-6 hours of work per week. You must use Excel, so being familiar with that program is required.
Points: 11
Affordability: Free. An edX certification is available, but a $249 fee applies.
Accreditation: Babson College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and its business program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Flexibility: High. This course is self-paced. However, it’s recommended that you complete the class in four weeks.
Course Rating: None
Learning Level: Beginner
#4: Statistics for Data Science and Business Analysis
This Udemy course helps prepare you for a career in business analytics. With the skills you gain, you can work towards other jobs. Future data analysts, marketing analysts, and business intelligence analysts can all benefit from this course.
This business analytics online course focuses on helping you build the basic skills required for careers in this field. To do so, teachers guide you through the following topics:
- Descriptive statistics
- Inferential statistics
- Distributions
- Estimators and estimates
- Confidence intervals
- Hypothesis testing
Since this is a beginner course, you don’t need any experience. And with on-demand video and more than two dozen articles available, you get many resources to guide your learning. You get a certificate upon completion of the course as well.
Points: 12
Affordability: $9.99 (at the time of this writing).
Accreditation: None.
Flexibility: High. This course is self-paced and you get lifetime access. You can also access the class on TV or via your mobile device.
Course Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (based on 9,553 ratings)
Learning Level: Beginner
#3: Dynamic Dashboards and Data Analysis with Google Data Studio
This new course by Udemy helps you learn how to use data visualizations for business analysis. More specifically, you’ll learn how to use Google Data Studio for presenting data in a way that’s easy to understand.
Not only do you learn basic details about data presentation, but you do it while using real-world examples. This includes learning how to blend data sources in Google Sheets.
Additionally, you’ll learn how to:
- Work with expressions
- Create automated reports
- Explore user-level data
This online business analytics course is designed for all skill levels. It includes video, downloadable assets, and full lifetime access to the course. Upon completion of the class, you get a certificate.
Points: 12
Affordability: $9.99 (at the time of this writing).
Accreditation: None.
Flexibility: High. This course is self-paced and you get lifetime access. You can also access the class on TV or via your phone.
Course Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (based on 16 ratings)
Learning Level: Beginner to advanced (scored as beginner)
#2: Business Analytics for Decision Making
This class teaches you how to create models for decision making. It is offered by the University of Colorado-Boulder and Coursera.
You learn about data analysis in this class. You also learn methods for data reduction.
The focus of this class is on developing the decision making process. Understanding decision making is important. This is because problems in the business world often have many possible solutions.
Subjects addressed in this online business analytics course include:
- Mathematical optimization
- Data analysis
- Data simulations
- Business analytics
When you enroll, you get access to course videos and readings. There are practice tests and assignments too. If you complete the course, you get a certificate. Certificates can be shared on sites like LinkedIn.
Points: 12
Affordability: Enrollment is free. Since course fees (typically around $50) apply after the free trial, this is scored as a paid course. There are other costs to complete a certificate program. Learn more about Coursera pricing.
Accreditation: The University of Colorado-Boulder is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Leeds School of Business, which is part of the University, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Flexibility: High. You can complete the course at your own pace. All course materials are available online. The course usually requires 3-4 hours of work per week.
Course Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (based on 288 ratings)
Learning Level: Advanced
#1: Marketing Analytics: Products, Distribution and Sales
In this class, you will learn how to apply business analytics. You’ll learn how to make informed decisions about products too. You’ll also learn how products can be effectively marketed.
This best course in business analytics online is provided by edX and the University of California at Berkeley. The instructor, Stephan Sorger, has experience in business and marketing. He’s worked at NASA and Oracle, among others. He’s also the author of two popular marketing books.
Major themes in this class include:
- How to use analytics to improve marketing
- Using decision trees to make better decisions
- Tracking consumer behavior
You should be able to finish this course in four weeks. This is possible if you study 5-7 hours per week.
It is vital to have an understanding of basic marketing principles before enrolling. You should also be familiar with simple operations in Excel, though this is not a requirement.
Points: 12
Affordability: Free. An edX certification is available. The certification costs $249.
Accreditation: Berkeley is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC). Their business program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Flexibility: High. This course is self-paced. But for best results, you should complete the class in four weeks.
Course Rating: None
Learning Level: Intermediate
Frequently Asked Questions
Are paid online business analytics courses the best?
Many business analytics courses require a fee. But just because a course has a fee doesn’t mean it’s the best. This is why we developed a detailed ranking methodology. Price is just one factor that can influence how good a course might be.
If you look at our rankings, many fee-based courses are included. Some fees are quite small. For example, our third-ranked course, “Dynamic Dashboards and Data Analysis with Google Data Studio,” has a one-time fee of $9.99.
By contrast, some of the courses on this list, like “Predictive Analytics for Business,” require a much higher fee. In this case, it’s $199 per month. While this is one of the most expensive courses on the list, many features might make it worth the price.
The top-ranked course on our list, “Marketing Analytics: Products, Distribution and Sales,” is completely free to take. This just goes to show that paying for a class doesn’t necessarily make it the best.
What makes a professional analytics course the best is more about what it offers you. Some people find exactly what they need in free courses. Others might need to purchase a course to get the instruction they want.
This might even change from one subject to the next. For example, the best online business analytics course for you might be one that has a fee. But the best online accounting course for you might be free. It just depends!
What are the best free online business analytics courses?
Based on our rankings, the best free online business analytics course is “Marketing Analytics: Products, Distribution and Sales” from edX and the University of California at Berkeley.
As a free course, you have nothing to lose. You can work at your own pace. You can set deadlines according to your schedule. Having the flexibility to take a class on your terms is helpful. When you have work, school, and other responsibilities taking up your time, you need to be able to do your studies when you can.
Another benefit of this class is that it offers intermediate-level instruction. Beginner courses are a great place to start, but this class takes you above and beyond basic concepts. Instead, you’ll get to explore business analytics in more depth.
While the certification for this course is not free, it is an option worth thinking about. A certification shows that you have learned valuable skills. It also shows that you can use those skills in a work setting.
You can also share your certification with potential employers (i.e., on LinkedIn). Doing so shows your commitment to continuing your education and learning new things.
Even if you don’t get the certification, employers will like the fact that the course is from one of the top universities in the country. In addition, Berkeley is accredited. So is its business school. As mentioned earlier, courses from accredited schools are often viewed better by potential employers.
Of course, there are many other free online business analytics courses worth your time. In fact, our rankings include five other courses that are free to enroll. Any one of these courses would be a good choice for preparing for a career in this field.
What is business analytics certification?
A business analytics certification gives you the chance to study analytics in depth. It goes beyond beginner and intermediate learning and challenges you to develop better skills.
Certificate programs focus on specific knowledge and skills that make you more attractive to potential employers. These programs can also help you if you’re already working in business. By gaining more skills, you can become a valuable asset to your employer.
There are many benefits to getting certified. It’s a way to show your understanding of business analytics. Certification is also helpful for getting the skills needed to reach your goals. For example, if you already work in the business industry, a certificate in analytics could help you get a promotion.
The best online business analytics certification programs vary greatly. You’ll find that some programs require more time than others. Some programs are more expensive than others too.
Also, some certifications have very specific prerequisites. This means if you lack certain knowledge or skills, you will have to take more classes before starting the program.
While these certification programs have many differences, you can expect to learn about some or all of the following no matter which program you choose:
- Using technology to analyze data
- Learning how to manage data
- Applying analytics to solve business problems
- Learning how to use statistics
- Developing effective presentation skills
- Learning how to utilize predictive modeling
Note that the common courses in these programs are designed to meet one goal. That goal is to help you get the skills that businesses need better understand their operations.
In other words, the training you get in a certificate program helps you make sense of a huge amount of data. You do this by examining, interpreting, and making predictions about data. If you can do that, you can help businesses understand problems that impact their bottom line.
Excel is the most common tool used in business analytics. As a result, you can expect to do a lot of work in that program. If you aren’t familiar with Excel, it’s a good idea to take some basic excel courses before enrolling in a business analytics certificate program.
Specifically, you’ll need to understand how to use Excel to clean data and model spreadsheet concepts. You should be able to manage data and create visuals like charts and graphs in Excel as well.
Is certification in business analytics worth it?
In short, yes!
Business analytics is a growing field that is in very high demand. Employees trained in business analytics can be hired for important positions in business and industry.
One of the reasons business analytics is such a great career option is because it is changing the way businesses operate. In other words, it is helping companies make better decisions. Doing so reduces costs without sacrificing the quality of their products or services.
Another reason that a certification in business analytics is worth it is that there is so much valuable data to analyze. In fact, there is more and more data to analyze with every passing day. The amount of data we produce doubles about every three years. In all that data are answers to problems that can make businesses much more successful.
The ability to analyze, interpret, and take meaning from data can be applied to many parts of businesses. It can be used to improve customer service. It can also help companies create more user-friendly products. From reducing shipping times to making production more efficient, business analytics has a lot of benefits for businesses.
The majority of businesses lack employees that can analyze big data. On top of that, there is a shortage of business analysts. This means that getting a certificate in this field might help you get one of the many jobs available.
Do you need a degree to get a job in business analytics?
You do not need a degree to get an entry-level job in business analytics. You might be able to get a mid-level job in this field without a degree as well.
For these jobs, having the needed skills is more important than having a degree. So, if you’re good at statistics and understand how to use Excel, you might be able to find a job without a degree.
However, most employers want employees with a degree. Higher-paying jobs with more responsibilities often require a degree as well.
In some cases, a bachelor’s degree will help you get a better job. You don’t even need a bachelor’s degree in business analytics. A bachelor’s degree in any of the following areas could help you get a job in business analytics:
- Business administration
- Management
- Statistics
- Computer science
- Data science
- Information management
- Information systems
Some employers might even help you get your bachelor’s degree. This is a huge bonus. You can complete your degree with financial assistance from your employer. Your employer then gets an employee with the specific skills they want and need.
Something else to consider is getting a master’s degree. Typically, the more education and training you have, the better the job you can get.
Whether you have no degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree, there are certain skills you should have:
Analytical skills – Much of this job is analyzing data. You should be able to examine a problem and quickly find solutions. This includes looking at “big picture” problems. It also includes exploring very specific problems that businesses are having. For example, let’s say a business is having trouble with customer satisfaction. You should be able to look at customer satisfaction data, identify the major problems, and come up with solutions that will correct the problems.
Decision making skills – You should be able to make good decisions. You need to make decisions quickly as well. Part of this is relying on analysis and critical thinking to make effective decisions. Often, business analysts have a lot of influence. As such, you must be confident in the decisions you make.
Technical skills – There are two parts to this. First, you need to have the skills to operate analytics tools, like Excel. Second, you should have an understanding of the technical aspects of a business. With those skills, you can more effectively use data to create solutions to business problems.
Communication skills – You must be able to communicate your findings effectively. This includes both verbal and nonverbal communication skills. You should be able to speak clearly, write well, and understand how to summarize information in charts, graphs, and other visual mediums.
In addition to having these skills, business analysts should be good problem solvers and critical thinkers. Being able to manage others and negotiate with others are other assets you should have.
What job can you get with a business analytics degree?
One of the benefits of a degree in business analytics is that there are many different kinds of jobs. You can work in statistics or marketing. You can also work in management or research. These are just a few options.
Here is a list of popular jobs for people with a business analytics degree.
Business analyst – A business analyst looks at data and helps plan ways to help businesses grow. They might be responsible for database management. They might be asked to predict future market conditions. This job includes a lot of strategic planning as well. Usually, business analysts are also asked to optimize workflows in business settings.
Marketing analyst – Marketing analysts research consumer behavior. Using what they learn, they try to predict what consumers will do in the future. These analysts also examine market trends. By looking at these trends, they can help businesses make improved business decisions. Another primary task is to identify ways to segment markets. This allows businesses to target their products and services to customers more effectively.
Management analyst – A management analyst tries to make a business more efficient. They look at ways to reduce costs. They also propose ways to increase profits. Their suggestions are based on a lot of research. Usually, they analyze how companies have performed in the past to find ways to improve how the company operates.
Quantitative analyst – These workers focus on financial information. Like management analysts, they want to increase a company’s profits. They do this by assessing risk and developing ways to reduce it. This job requires a lot of math skills, including statistics and calculus.
Keep in mind that this is a short list of possible careers. There are many other options. Also, keep in mind that some of these careers might require a master’s degree. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you might consider working on your master’s. As noted earlier, the more education you have, the more job opportunities you might find.
OCR Staff
January 2020
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