From rolling out new products to expanding territory to finding a new employee, business and organizations of all types are increasingly relying on business analytics to make key decisions.
This emerging and exciting field is quickly becoming one of the most popular areas of business education because it marries training in business and management with cutting-edge skills like data science and analysis. Most upper-level jobs in the field require advanced training, such as a master’s degree.
SEE ALSO: 20+ Online Masters in Business Analytics Ranking
Fortunately for students in Maryland, there are several institutions with applicable graduate programs. In fact, there are so many that students will need to do a little analysis of their own to make the best decision. We wanted to help them a bit, so we investigated all graduate options offered by colleges and universities in Maryland and compared them across factors like accreditation (AACSB is the gold standard), cost, academic rigor and value. Your mileage may vary, but our analysis indicates these three business analytics master’s degrees represent the best of the best in Maryland.
Our Selection Criteria
- Reputation: How the university and program is thought of by its peers.
- Credibility: How well the program ranks in major degree rating publications.
- Flexibility: How flexible the program is in terms of online class times, time to complete degree, etc.
- Value: Comparison of the quality of education to cost.
Programs in This Section
#1. Frostburg State University
101 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD 21532
Business Analytics Degree:
- MBA in Business Analytics
Other Applicable Degrees:
- Online MBA in Health Care Management, Online MBA in Management
Program Description:
The top rating in Maryland goes to the MBA in Business Analytics offered at Frostburg State University. In addition to a 100% online delivery method, Frostburg State’s MBA is the most affordable of the four degrees to make our list of finalists, and it’s affordable even for out-of-staters. Other possible concentrations in the online MBA are management and healthcare management, and full-time students can complete all degree requirements in just one year.
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree; GMAT or GRE required but waived with undergraduate GPA 3.0 or higher and two years’ professional experience or 2.75 GPA and five years’ professional experience; English proficiency scores required for international applicants
Tuition
- $18,354 in-state; $23,520 out-of-state (42 credits)
Online?
- Yes
#2. Loyola University
4501 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210
Business Analytics Degree:
- Master of Science in Data Science
Other Applicable Degrees:
- Professional MBA, Emerging Leaders MBA, Master of Accountancy
Program Description:
Loyola Maryland is home to an online Master of Science in Data Science that will take students about 12-18 months to complete, depending on which specialty they choose. Students can opt to take a computer science track with a technical specialization, or they can opt for more flexibility with a data analytics specialization. Loyola also offers multiple MBA options, as well as a Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree; GMAT or GRE not required; English proficiency scores required for international applicants
Tuition
- $26,350 (31 credits)
Online?
- Yes
#3. University of Baltimore
11 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201
Business Analytics Degrees:
- MBA in Data Analytics, MBA in Digital Business, MBA in Marketing, MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Other Applicable Degrees:
- Master of Science in Business-Finance, Master of Science in Taxation, Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Social Entrepreneurship
Program Description:
The online-optional MBA at the University of Baltimore includes 11 areas of specialization, including several that will appeal to business analytics students. These include data analytics, digital business and marketing, and while tuition is high, few MBA programs in the country offer so many customization options.
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree; GMAT optional; English proficiency scores required for international applicants
Tuition
- $33,072 (39 credits)
Online?
- Yes (optional)
#4. University of Maryland
7621 Mowatt Lane, College Park, MD 20742
Business Analytics Degree:
- Master of Science in Business Analytics
Other Applicable Degrees:
- Full-Time MBA, Flex MBA, Online MBA, Master of Science in Marketing Analytics, Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, Master of Quantitative Finance
Program Description:
Last but not least, the fourth program to make our list is a Master of Science in Business Analytics offered through the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland’s flagship College Park campus. It’s the most expensive of the bunch, but students can complete their training in as little as 20 months, on campus or online, helping them quickly level-up their careers.
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree; GMAT or GRE required, GMAT average 636, GRE average 318; English proficiency scores required for international applicants
Tuition
- $49,320 (30 credits)
Online?
- Yes (optional)