Earning a business analytics bachelor’s degree online is the best way to secure a career in the analytics industry today. BBA programs provide the training required for researching and reporting data, designing and building computer systems, and linking the business world with the complicated and fast-paced realm of data science. While you may be able to get an entry-level job in business analytics sans college, an online business analytics bachelor’s degree is key for developing a professional portfolio, a higher salary, and more opportunities for growth in your career path.
An online business analytics degree is designed for nontraditional students, particularly those already working in the industry who are interested in advancement. Imagine going from your customer service analytics job to titles ranging from operations research analyst to information systems manager, data engineer, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an annual median salary among computer systems analysts alone at $93,730. That is an excellent salary for a career that only requires a bachelor’s degree to get started.
GetEducated compared 36 business analytics degree programs from 31 regionally accredited online schools to create this ranking. Below is our editorially independent list of the 17 ‘Best Buys’ for an affordable business analytics bachelor’s degree online. All degrees cost less than the national tuition average for an online degree in this major.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$54,900
Least Expensive: University of Arkansas at Little Rock ~$33,600.00
Most Expensive: Berkeley College ~$110,500.00
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest business analytics bachelor’s degree online programs. The online bachelor’s degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Business Analytics Bachelor’s Degree Online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | (AR) | $33,600.00 $25,980.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
2 | University of Central Missouri | (MO) | $36,254.00 $35,264.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
3 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $36,900.00 $30,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
4 | South College | (TN) | $38,400.00 | All Students |
5 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | (WI) | $42,360.00 | All Students |
6 | University of Southern Maine | (ME) | $42,575.00 $60,695.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | (LA) | $45,480.00 | All Students |
8 | Texas A & M University - Commerce | (TX) | $46,104.00 $95,064.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | Old Dominion University | (VA) | $46,888.00 $52,528.00 $33,688.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
10 | Wilmington University | (DE) | $47,140.00 | All Students |
11 | Columbia College - SC | (SC) | $47,400.00 | All Students |
12 | Liberty University | (VA) | $48,892.00 $32,092.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
13 | Portland State University | (OR) | $51,506.00 $127,214.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
14 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | (CO) | $52,360.88 $111,004.88 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | Regent University | (VA) | $52,600.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
16 | Utica University | (NY) | $53,255.00 $48,215.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
17 | Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | (FL) | $53,840.00 $30,200.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bellevue University | (NE) | $56,710.00 $33,850.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Golden Gate University | (CA) | $57,606.00 $31,530.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Central Baptist College | (AR) | $58,280.00 | All Students | |
University of Massachusetts Global | (CA) | $60,000.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Kansas State University | (KS) | $60,840.00 | All Students | |
Oregon State University | (OR) | $64,070.00 | All Students | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | $64,920.00 | All Students | |
Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor | (WI) | $65,393.00 | All Students | |
Rutgers University | (NJ) | $67,680.00 | All Students | |
City University of Seattle | (WA) | $76,140.00 | All Students | |
Berkeley College | (NJ) | $110,500.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
AACSB AACSB International
IACBE International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited business analytics bachelor’s degree online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online bachelor degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a bachelor’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for business analytics may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best business analytics bachelor’s degree online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Business Analytics Bachelor’s Degree Online
“Analytics” is the practice of using data to make decisions. It’s a skill that involves collecting, analyzing, and communicating numerical data and working this knowledge into a decision. Using analytics, we are able to gain insights that we might not realize and make informed decisions we might not otherwise make.
“Business analytics” is simply taking the discipline of analytics and applying it to an organization, specifically a for-profit company. It can involve countless data sets and variables, and encompasses cost, time of production, markets, customers, materials, resources, and much, much more.
Business analytics is becoming practically universal. Almost all companies, at least larger companies, utilize business analytics in some way.
Here’s an extremely simplified example: Imagine a shirt company that wants to increase sales. The company leaders thinks red shirts would be popular with customers, but they hire a business analytics expert and discover that blue shirts generally sell fastest. With this new information, the company decides to create blue shirts.
Of course, business analytics is never that simple. It usually involves countless variables that may include (among others) labor, raw material pricing, transportation costs, global politics, and consumer preferences.
This is a challenging career, but it’s a great option for people who want a thriving occupation, one that brings a strong salary as well as unique challenges on a daily basis. As you’ll see from the careers listed below (see “Popular Careers for People Trained in Analytics”), the pay is high and the careers are expected to grow at rates well beyond the average. This makes the career very interesting to potential students.
What to Expect from a Business Analytics Bachelor’s Degree Online
These are four-year programs that are completed online (be sure to check with the degree program, as some may have in-person requirements), making them convenient for busy professionals, parents, and anyone who wants to earn a complete degree in their own time.
Business analytics is a broad, diverse career field, and your business analytics bachelor’s degree online will deliver many useful skills that apply to countless industries. You will likely develop skills in decision making, descriptive analysis, data communication, and more. Overall, you’ll learn to organize and interpret data and use these skills to solve problems and make better decisions.
Courses during a business analytics bachelor’s degree online usually include a mix of general business studies (these programs are usually delivered through a college’s school of business) as well as analytics courses.
Business classes are universal to practically all industries, and may include the fundamental of accounting, organizational management, marketing and business finance. These skills can apply to almost any career in business and management.
However, you will also complete a set of classes that are specific to analytics. This may include business analytics tools and software, data mining, business forecasting, IT project management, and business statistics. All of these classes help you become a more knowledgeable expert in the field of business analytics.
Popular Careers for People Trained in Analytics
There are many outstanding careers that you can enjoy when you understand business analytics. With a bachelors degree (and perhaps a little industry experience), you’ll be ready for occupations that include…
Operations Research Analyst
- Salary: $86,200
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: None
An operations research analyst uses math and analytical methods to solve a variety of complex problems. They identify issues in business, government policy, healthcare, and many other industries, then use their analytical training to reach a viable solution.
While the pay for this career is certainly attractive, the potential growth is a major benefit to this profession. The career is expected to grow by 25%, adding over 25,000 jobs between 2020 and 2030. This make it not only a lucrative career, but a stable, growing profession.
Management Analyst
- Salary: $87,660
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: Under 5 years
A management analyst helps an organization run more efficiently. This could mean supporting a business, non-profit group, or government agency. Using information and data, they may recommend new structures of management organization, or new procedures for staff members. Some of these professionals specialize in a certain industry, such as healthcare, manufacturing, or construction.
This job is expected to grow by 14% between 2020 and 2030, adding a whopping 124,000 jobs in a single decade. And these professionals will be well paid, as the top 10% currently earn over $156,000. You will, however, need professional experience, usually under five years in the industry. For example, a management analyst specializing in construction likely needs experience in construction management.
If you think one of these high-paying, fast-growing careers would be right for you, then launch your career with a business analytics bachelor’s degree online.