Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Business intelligence specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a business intelligence specialist. Business intelligence specialists usually study business, computer science, or electrical engineering. 70% of business intelligence specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 388 real business intelligence specialist resumes to see exactly what business intelligence specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for business intelligence specialists are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.
There are also many online business intelligence specialist courses to help get the education required to be a business intelligence specialist.
What education do you need to become a business intelligence specialist?
What degree do you need to be a business intelligence specialist?
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Master's, 23%
- Associate, 5%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a business intelligence specialist?
- Business, 18%
- Computer Science, 17%
- Other Majors, 51%
Most common colleges for business intelligence specialists
| Business intelligence specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University | 11.11% |
| New York University | 9.26% |
| University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | 7.41% |
| Cairn University | 5.56% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 5.56% |
Best majors for business intelligence specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 18.2% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 17.3% |
| 3 | Electrical Engineering | 7.4% |
| 4 | Management Information Systems | 6.9% |
| 5 | Information Systems | 6.1% |
Best colleges for business intelligence specialists
The best colleges for business intelligence specialists are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A business intelligence specialist 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 specialists. 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 specialists.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
7. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
8. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
10. SUNY at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,099
Enrollment
21,404
20 best online courses for business intelligence specialists
Advertising disclosure
1. Business Intelligence Analytics
Build confidence combining different data types and sources to create sophisticated data models for enterprises across all industries...
2. Data Visualization
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
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. Complete Business Intelligence with SSIS, SSAS and SSRS
Master Microsoft BI by solving Real-Life Problems. Learn ETL, Integration, Analytics, Reporting and Visualization!...
5. SQL - MySQL for Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
SQL that will get you hired – SQL for Business Analysis, Marketing, and Data Management...
6. Introduction to Data Analytics for Business
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...
7. Advanced Tableau for Business Intelligence & Data Analysis
Build expert-level Tableau skills with real-world business intelligence & data visualization projects (Tableau 2020.2+)...
8. SQL Server Analysis Services - SSAS, Data Mining & Analytics
Develop SSAS cubes from data warehouse on Multidimensional & Tabular modes with Dimensional & Data Mining Models...
9. Become an SQL Developer: Learn (SSRS, SSIS, SSAS,T-SQL,DW)
Learn SQL Developer Skills from Scratch(SSRS, SSIS, SSAS,T-SQL,Data Warehouse(DW))...
10. Learn SSRS SQL Reporting & Business Intelligence Essentials
SQL Reporting using SSRS gives you hands-on knowledge to make great SQL reports with Business Intelligence essentials...
11. Business Data Analytics & Intelligence with Python 2023
Become a Business Data Analyst. Learn Python, Statistics, and Data Analytics using the latest industry tools...
12. Data Warehousing & Visualization in Microsoft BI & Power BI
Learn ETL, Data Analysis and Visualization using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Business Intelligence tools and Power BI...
13. Learn MSBI , SSIS , SSRS and SSAS Step by Step
This course teaches you MSBI from basic level to advanced level . Covers all 3 concepts SSIS , SSAS and SSRS...
14. SQL for Data Analysis: Beginner MySQL Business Intelligence
Learn SQL database querying w/ My SQL Workbench. Perfect for SQL beginners and first-time coders...
15. Data Analysis And Business Intelligence With Microsoft Excel
Use Power Query, Power Pivot, DAX, & Excel's data visualization tools to build powerful Business Intelligence solutions...
16. Tableau Prep for Business Intelligence
Learn how to use Tableau Prep & Tableau Prep Builder to clean, shape and prepare data for analysis & visualization...
17. MicroStrategy for Business Intelligence
Comprehensive course on Micro Strategy Desktop and Web Dashboards...
18. BI Developer: Learn ( Power BI SSIS SSRS SSASDWT-SQL )
Gain Business Intelligence from Transforming Data...
19. Python Foundations for Data Analysis & Business Intelligence
Master the building blocks of base Python for data analysis & BI, with hands-on demos & unique, real-world projects!...
20. Data Warehouse - The Ultimate Guide
Master Data Warehousing, Dimensional Modeling & ETL process...
Top 10 most affordable universities for business intelligence specialists
The most affordable schools for business intelligence specialists are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for business intelligence specialists 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 specialists.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
5. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for business intelligence specialists
The hardest universities for business intelligence specialists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for business intelligence specialists 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 specialists 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
7. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
8. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for business intelligence specialists
The easiest schools for business intelligence specialists to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and cardinal stritch university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a business intelligence specialist 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 specialists.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
3. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
4. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
7. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
8. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
9. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,089
10. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
Average business intelligence specialist salary by education level
| Business intelligence specialist education level | Business intelligence specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $104,213 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $95,319 |
| Doctorate Degree | $104,684 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $82,402 |
Business intelligence specialist education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for business intelligence specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025