Like most states, Alabama’s economy is changing to meet the business needs of the 21st century. This includes updating outmoded methods of business education and embracing the use of data science to guide business decisions. That’s why many savvy business students and working professionals are interested in affordable business analytics programs. The good news for Alabama students is that the state is home to several schools that offer business analytics degrees, and most of them are quite affordable. Even better, many of them are offered at least partially online.
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SEE ALSO: Best Online Master’s in Business Analytics Degree Rankings
To help students in their search, we ranked the five Alabama colleges and universities that are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the most prestigious accrediting body in business education, and offer at least one master’s degree in business analytics. For some schools, that means a Master of Science (MS), while others offer business analytics training within a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Our ranking heavily weighted the total in-state tuition to obtain the degree and gave extra points to schools that offer at least some of their business analytics degrees online.
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
- Troy University
- University of Alabama Birmingham
- University of Alabama Huntsville
- Auburn University Montgomery
- University of Alabama
#1. Troy University Sorrell College of Business
600 University Ave., Troy, AL 36082
Business Analytics Degree:
- Master of Business Administration in Global Business Information Systems and Data Analytics
Other Applicable Degrees:
- None
Program Description:
One of only two business analytics programs in the state that can be completed completely online is found at Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business, which earns the university the No. 1 spot on our list of Alabama business analytics master’s degree programs. In addition to the flexibility of an online Master of Business Administration degree in global business information systems and data analytics, Troy’s program is also one of the most affordable, costing most students about $15,000 if they complete it online. Further, the global focus of Troy’s MBA is a unique one among Alabama business schools and sets the university apart from the rest. Relevant courses include Big Data Analytics and Business Decision Support and Data Analysis for Global Managers. While Troy doesn’t offer any other business analytics-specific education at the graduate level, the university has an undergraduate degree in data analytics for global business and several other graduate degrees related to business, including MBAs and Master of Science degrees.
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree and at least a 2.5 GPA in all undergraduate work or at least a 3.0 GPA for last 30 semester-hours; GMAT 500 or above or GRE 1,050 or above
Tuition
- $12,750 campus; $14,820 online (30 credit-hours)
Online?
- Yes, optional
#2. University of Alabama Birmingham Collat School of Business
1720 2nd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35294
Business Analytics Degrees:
- Master of Science in Management Information Systems
Other Applicable Degrees:
- None
Program Description:
The other of the two programs that offer master’s degrees that can be completed online, the University of Alabama Birmingham’s Collat School of Business provides the only one of these degrees that is only completed online. No on-campus version of the degree exists, meaning all students have the same experience since none of them have the option of attending courses on campus. UAB’s degree combines important areas such as business, strategy, security and leadership to ensure graduates are not only well-versed in the foundations of business but that they have the technological chops to face the future. Relevant courses include Business Data Communications and Data Visualization for Business.
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree and at least a 3.0 GPA; GMAT score 480 or higher or GRE combined score 940 or higher
Tuition
- $16,020 (30 credit-hours)
Online?
- Yes, 100%
#3. University of Alabama Huntsville College of Business
301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35899
Business Analytics Degrees:
- Master of Science in Business Analytics
Other Applicable Degrees:
- Master of Science in Information Systems (online)
- Technology and Innovation Management Graduate Certificate
Program Description:
One of two programs offering a Master of Science in Business Analytics, the University of Alabama Huntsville wins out over its sister school, the University of Alabama, which also offers that degree for two big reasons — UAH is more affordable, and the program can be completed partially online, giving students a big bang for the buck as well as a high degree of flexibility in their academic careers. The business analytics degree is one of many future-forward business degrees offered by UAH’s business school, some of which are offered online, and the business analytics master’s degree includes courses like Data Management and Data Mining and Quantitative Methods.
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree; GMAT at least 500 (preferred) or GRE at least combined 300 (accepted)
Tuition
- $12,561 (30 credit-hours)
Online?
- Partial
#4. Auburn University Montgomery College of Business
7430 East Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117
Business Analytics Degree:
- Master of Science in Management Information Systems, Business and Data Analytics Concentration
Other Applicable Degrees:
- Master of Business Administration (online)
Program Description:
Auburn University Montgomery’s Master of Science in Information Systems degree is a STEM-forward option for learners who want the option to pursue a technology-heavy degree that is grounded in business practices and theory. With a business and data analytics concentration, students can learn not only the fundamentals of information science but how those fundamentals can be applied to solving business problems. Other concentrations for this degree include information systems and enterprise resource planning. Business analytics courses offered in the concentration include Data Mining Methods and Applications and Applied Business and Data Analytics. While this program is not offered online, AUM does offer an online Master of Business Administration.
Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree and GPA (minimum unlisted); GMAT or GRE scores (minimums unlisted)
Tuition
- $12,270 (30 credit-hours)
Online?
- No
#5. University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business & Manderson Graduate School
361 Stadium Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Business Analytics Degrees:
- Master of Science in Business Analytics
Other Applicable Degrees:
- STEM Path to Master of Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration, Business Analytics focus
- Master of Science in Marketing Analytics (online)
Program Description:
Though it’s the largest school among the five Alabama universities that offer master’s degrees in business analytics, the University of Alabama comes in last on our list because it’s also the most expensive option with a total cost that for most students will exceed $22,000 and because the degree cannot be completed online. Still, Alabama’s program is rigorous and will give students a deep understanding of data science and the hands-on experience necessary for a long career in the field. Alabama also is unique among the other schools in the state since it offers several other graduate degrees applicable to people who might be interested in a business analytics career, including a unique MBA approach that focuses on a foundation in STEM and a business analytics-focused traditional MBA. Relevant courses in the business analytics degree include Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining and Advanced Applied Modeling and Analysis.
Degree Details:
Accreditation
- AACSB
Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree; 60th percentile or higher GRE or GMAT score
Tuition
- $22,140
Online?
- No