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Business intelligence architect education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a business intelligence architect. Business intelligence architects usually study computer science, business, or computer information systems. 69% of business intelligence architects hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 851 real business intelligence architect resumes to see exactly what business intelligence architect education sections show.

The most common colleges for business intelligence architects are the Georgia State University and the Georgia State University.

There are also many online business intelligence architect courses to help get the education required to be a business intelligence architect.

There are certain business intelligence architect certifications that you should consider. These business intelligence architect certifications include The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 (MCITP).

What education do you need to become a business intelligence architect?

What degree do you need to be a business intelligence architect?

The most common degree for business intelligence architects is bachelor's degree, with 69% of business intelligence architects earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 24% and master's degree degree at 4%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Master's, 24%
  • Associate, 4%
  • Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a business intelligence architect?

You should major in computer science to become a business intelligence architect. 21% of business intelligence architects major in computer science. Other common majors for a business intelligence architect include business and computer information systems.

Most common colleges for business intelligence architects

Business intelligence architects often get their degrees at Georgia State University, New York University, and University of Miami. Here are the most common colleges for business intelligence architects in the US based on their resumes.
Business intelligence architect common collegePercentages
Georgia State University7.89%
New York University6.58%
University of Miami6.58%
University of Illinois at Chicago5.26%
University of California - Davis5.26%

Best majors for business intelligence architects

Best colleges for business intelligence architects

The best colleges for business intelligence architects are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A business intelligence architect with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for business intelligence architects. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become business intelligence architects.

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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

7. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,530

Enrollment

4,571

20 best online courses for business intelligence architects

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1. Business Intelligence Analytics

udacity

Build confidence combining different data types and sources to create sophisticated data models for enterprises across all industries...

2. Data Visualization

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Discover how data visualization can communicate insights far more effectively than text or tables. In this course, you’ll learn how to build data visualizations programmatically using Python, and how you can use visualization to both discover and convey trends in your data...

3. Business intelligence and data warehousing

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Welcome to the specialization course Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing. This course will be completed on six weeks, it will be supported with videos and various documents that will allow you to learn in a very simple way how to identify, design and develop analytical information systems, such as Business Intelligence with a descriptive analysis on data warehouses. You will be able to understand the problem of integration and predictive analysis of high volume of unstructured data (big...

4. Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence

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Evaluate business needs, design a data warehouse, and integrate and visualize data using dashboards and visual analytics.\n\nThis Specialization covers data architecture skills that are increasingly critical across a broad range of technology fields. You’ll learn the basics of structured data modeling, gain practical SQL coding experience, and develop an in-depth understanding of data warehouse design and data manipulation. You’ll have the opportunity to work with large data sets in a data...

5. Complete Business Intelligence with SSIS, SSAS and SSRS

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4.2
(362)

Master Microsoft BI by solving Real-Life Problems. Learn ETL, Integration, Analytics, Reporting and Visualization!...

6. SQL Server Analysis Services - SSAS, Data Mining & Analytics

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4.1
(1,296)

Develop SSAS cubes from data warehouse on Multidimensional & Tabular modes with Dimensional & Data Mining Models...

7. Introduction to Data Analytics for Business

udacity

Learn to apply data & statistics specifically for business! In this course, you’ll go from data novice to spreadsheet wizard, calculating and forecasting key financial metrics, even making detailed projections off real-life financial data from the New York Stock Exchange...

8. SQL - MySQL for Data Analytics and Business Intelligence

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4.6
(53,305)

SQL that will get you hired – SQL for Business Analysis, Marketing, and Data Management...

9. Become an SQL Developer: Learn (SSRS, SSIS, SSAS,T-SQL,DW)

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4.4
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Learn SQL Developer Skills from Scratch(SSRS, SSIS, SSAS,T-SQL,Data Warehouse(DW))...

10. Data Warehouse Developer-SQL Server/ETL/SSIS/SSAS/SSRS/T-SQL

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4.3
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Develop and Implement a Data Warehouse Solution Step by step...

11. Learn SSRS SQL Reporting & Business Intelligence Essentials

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4.3
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SQL Reporting using SSRS gives you hands-on knowledge to make great SQL reports with Business Intelligence essentials...

12. Data Engineering - ETL, Web Scraping ,Big Data,SQL,Power BI

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4.2
(300)

Hands on Data Interaction using - ETL, Web Scraping ,Big Data,SQL,Power BI...

13. Advanced Tableau for Business Intelligence & Data Analysis

udemy
4.6
(940)

Build expert-level Tableau skills with real-world business intelligence & data visualization projects (Tableau 2020.2+)...

14. BI Developer: Learn ( Power BI SSIS SSRS SSASDWT-SQL )

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4.2
(423)

Gain Business Intelligence from Transforming Data...

15. Data Warehousing & Visualization in Microsoft BI & Power BI

udemy
4.3
(481)

Learn ETL, Data Analysis and Visualization using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Business Intelligence tools and Power BI...

16. Data Analyst - ETL/SSIS/SQL/PowerBI

udemy
4.2
(350)

Learn to extract ,transform, and analyse data...

17. Data Warehouse - The Ultimate Guide

udemy
4.6
(4,246)

Master Data Warehousing, Dimensional Modeling & ETL process...

18. SQL for Data Analysis: Beginner MySQL Business Intelligence

udemy
4.7
(8,345)

Learn SQL database querying w/ My SQL Workbench. Perfect for SQL beginners and first-time coders...

19. Learn MSBI , SSIS , SSRS and SSAS Step by Step

udemy
4.4
(3,925)

This course teaches you MSBI from basic level to advanced level . Covers all 3 concepts SSIS , SSAS and SSRS...

20. Advanced SQL: MySQL for Ecommerce & Web Analytics

udemy
4.6
(4,988)

Learn data analytics & business intelligence with SQL + My SQL Workbench, and apply your skills to real-world projects!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for business intelligence architects

The most affordable schools for business intelligence architects are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for business intelligence architects are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for business intelligence architects.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

10. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for business intelligence architects

The hardest universities for business intelligence architects to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for business intelligence architects are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for business intelligence architects based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six 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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,415

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for business intelligence architects

The easiest schools for business intelligence architects to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, barry university, and nyack college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a business intelligence architect without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for business intelligence architects.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

4. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

8. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

9. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,089

10. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

Average business intelligence architect salary by education level

According to our data, business intelligence architects with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $132,146 annually. Business intelligence architects with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $131,572.
Business intelligence architect education levelBusiness intelligence architect salary
Master's Degree$131,572
Bachelor's Degree$120,703
Doctorate Degree$132,146
Some College/ Associate Degree$104,857

Business intelligence architect education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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