Best Colleges For Business Analysts

In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for business analysts. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-State Tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

Business Analyst Education Requirements

There are several education requirements to become a business analyst. Business analysts usually study business, computer science or finance. 71% of business analysts hold a bachelor's degree and 18% hold a master's degree. We found these by analyzing 118,414 business analyst resumes to investigate the topic of business analyst education more precisely.

The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a business analyst are University of Phoenix and DeVry University.

For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in business analyst education paths.

We prepared a list of a business analyst certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that business analysts must have to succeed are Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP).

What Education Do You Need To Become a Business Analyst?

What degree do you need to be a Business Analyst?

The most common degree for business analysts is bachelor's degree 71% of business analysts earn that degree. A close second is master's degree with 18% and rounding it off is associate degree with 7%.

  • Bachelors, 71%
  • Masters, 18%
  • Associate, 7%
  • Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What Should I Major in to Become a Business Analyst?

Most business analysts, 29% to be exact, major in business. Some other common majors for a business analyst include computer science and finance majors.

Most Common Colleges For Business Analysts

Here are the most common colleges for a business analyst career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and University of Maryland - College Park .

Business Analyst Common CollegePercentages
University of Phoenix16.39%
DeVry University6.04%
University of Maryland - College Park5.96%
University of Houston5.84%
Pennsylvania State University5.58%

Best Majors For Business Analysts

RankMajorPercentages
1Business29.1%
2Computer Science9.9%
3Finance8.8%
4Accounting6.8%
5Computer Information Systems4.6%

20 Best Online Courses for Business Analysts

Advertising Disclosure

1. Business Process Modelling with UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN

udemy
4.3
(265)

Become an expert in Modelling Business Processes with Business Analysis Techniques and UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN...

2. Business Analyst: Project Management Techniques and Tools

udemy
4.5
(3,819)

Learn project management techniques to increase your project success rate as a Business Analyst!...

3. Business Analysis Masterclass

udemy
4.5
(1,615)

We don't teach. We job Train!...

4. Plan the Project as a Business Analyst

udemy
4.5
(2,341)

Increase your value as a Business Analyst by learning how to plan projects successfully without a Project Manager...

5. BPMN Process Analysis using Microsoft Visio Professional

udemy
4.5
(1,303)

Business Analyst Guide to Business Process Modelling with BPMN and Microsoft Visio Professional...

6. Business Analyst: Software Testing Processes & Techniques

udemy
4.5
(7,843)

Reduce project bugs with repeatable testing processes. Learn to create test cases, scenarios, track defects, & more!...

7. BPMN 2.0 Business Process Modelling for Business Analysts

udemy
4.2
(509)

Become a BPMN 2.0 Expert in 1 day. With this practical hands-on course you will learn proper Business Process Modelling...

8. Fundamentals of Business Analysis

udemy
4.5
(13,538)

Get the foundation in business analysis you need to solve your organization's biggest problems...

9. Become A Business Analyst

udemy
4
(291)

Foundation course in Business Analysis core concepts, tools and key modelling techniques essential in the work place...

10. The Complete Salesforce Certified Business Analyst Course

udemy
4.4
(466)

Salesforce Business Analyst Certification Exam - Earn Salesforce's Newest Certification and Learn Business Analysis...

11. Introduction to Business Process Modeling

udemy
4.5
(4,667)

Learn how to analyze, model, and improve your organization's business processes...

12. Retail for Business Analysts and Management Consultants

udemy
4.5
(2,044)

A practical guide with cases studies how to analyze and improve a retail business during management consulting projects...

13. The Business Intelligence Analyst Course 2022

udemy
4.6
(39,632)

The skills you need to become a BI Analyst - Statistics, Database theory, SQL, Tableau Everything is included...

14. Business Analysis: Developing Irresistible Business Cases

udemy
4.5
(1,604)

Building the business acumen you need to promote your projects to management...

15. BPMN for business analysts

udemy
4.5
(3,637)

Learn the best practices of process modeling and analysis with Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN 2.0) standard...

16. IQBBA Certified Foundation Level Business Analyst (CFLBA)

udemy
4.4
(1,533)

Be an IQBBA certified business analyst and Learn the basics of Software Business Analysis and Requirements Engineering...

17. Business Analysis: Working with Use Cases

udemy
4.5
(4,460)

An introductory course on use case modeling for Business Analysts or those looking to transition into a BA role...

18. Business Analysis Essentials

udemy
4.3
(379)

Advance from a complete novice to a confident Business Analyst with the help of an expert...

19. Business Analysis Fundamentals - 2022

udemy
4.6
(42,267)

Set yourself up for success, learn the key business analysis concepts to thrive in your Business Analyst career...

20. Business analysis & Scrum with JIRA for Software development

udemy
4
(1,382)

Become a great Business analyst, Product owner & Scrum master with JIRA & Confluence. Business analysis & Scrum course...

Top 10 Affordable Universities For Business Analysts

If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for business analysts.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,238

Cost of Attendance

21,567

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Cost of Attendance

22,990

10. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,419

Cost of Attendance

17,697

Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Business Analysts

Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,407

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

43%

SAT Average

1,338

9. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

40%

SAT Average

1,376

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

31%

SAT Average

1,398

Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Business Analysts

Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

1,061

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

999

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions Rate

94%

SAT Average

979

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

9. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions Rate

97%

SAT Average

1,050

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions Rate

96%

SAT Average

1,139

Average Business Analyst Salary by Education Level

Business analysts with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $87,159 annually. With a Masters degree, business analysts earn a median annual income of $86,709 compared to $78,258 for business analysts with an Bachelors degree.

Business Analyst Education LevelBusiness Analyst Salary
Master's Degree$86,709
Bachelor's Degree$78,258
Doctorate Degree$87,159
Some College/ Associate Degree$66,197

Business Analyst Education FAQs

How Long Is Business School?

Business school lasts for four years when obtaining a bachelor's degree in business, and a full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program usually takes around two years to complete.

What Degree Do You Need To Be A Business Analyst?

You need a bachelor's or master's degree in finance to be a business analyst. A bachelor's degree is often the minimum requirement for this role; however, some employers prefer candidates that have a master's degree. In addition to finance, here are some other appropriate majors for business analysts:

What Do You Learn In An Mba?

In an MBA, you will learn a broad, practical curriculum that is designed to teach you all of the main functions of a business including:

  • Finance

  • Accounting

  • Marketing

  • Strategy

  • Human resources

  • Operations

What Is The Best College For Business Analysts?

The best college for Business Analysts is Stanford University

Search For Business Analyst Jobs