Explore business analytics courses online

Do you want to help businesses create actionable insights using data? Online business analytics courses on edX can help you collect, visualize, and interpret data to inform business strategy.

Sign up for a business analytics course on edX today to explore how business data analytics can help your business thrive.

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Why take online business analytics courses?

Gain transferable skills

Business analytics can help organizations across a range of industries, such as finance, manufacturing, and marketing.

Make quick, thorough business decisions

Data analysis enables business leaders to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently.

Predict market trends

Business analytics can allow you to identify trends and create predictive models that forecast market shifts.

Business analytics course curriculum

There are all kinds of business analytics courses online, from introductory classes for general audiences to courses in advanced corporate strategy.

Some business analytics tutorials are free. More in-depth business analytics training, such as a business analytics certification course, may cost between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars.

While the curriculum will vary from course to course, an introduction to data analytics basics course might cover such topics as:

What data analytics is and the key steps in the data analytics process.
The differences between various data roles such as data engineer, data analyst, data scientist, business analyst, and business intelligence analyst.
An overview of the different types of data structures, file formats, and sources of data.
An explanation of different types of data repositories and big data platforms.
The process and tools for gathering data, wrangling data, mining and analyzing data, and visualizing data.

A more robust offering, such as a business analytics degree program, might teach you the foundational skills required for a career in business and data analysis, including knowledge of scripting languages and data analysis to solve real-world problems. A degree program curriculum may teach students how to:

Develop fully functional programs using common industry tools.
Translate business requirements into problems that can be solved computationally.
Formulate questions to be solved through statistical analysis.
Analyze data using statistical methods.

Whether you have a specific interest or need specialized knowledge in a particular area, you can find an online business analytics course curriculum that meets your goals.

Browse online Business Analytics Certificates

Find new interests and advance your career opportunities

Stand out in your field

Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.

Learn at your own pace

On your computer, tablet or phone, online courses make learning flexible to fit your busy life.

Earn a valuable credential

Showcase your key skills and valuable knowledge.

Certificates

Careers in business analytics

Below, find careers that you can pursue by learning business analytics, with 2024 salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Management analysts

Management analysts examine business expenses and processes to find ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. They generally must have a bachelor's degree in a subject like business administration and management, data science, or finance.

Median annual salary:$101,190

Data scientists

Data scientists collect, organize, and present insights from data to help business executives make strategic decisions. To become a data scientist, you may need a bachelor's degree or higher in a subject like data and computer science, statistics, or business.

Median annual salary:$112,590

Market research analysts

Market research analysts monitor and collect market data like policy changes and stock indexes to predict trends, evaluate the effects of marketing strategies, and collect data on potential customers and competitors. To work as a market research analyst, you typically must have a bachelor's degree in communications, statistics, or business administration.

Median annual salary:$76,950

How to become a business analyst

Business analytics requires you to have an understanding of big data. But businesses don't just want tables full of numbers — they need usable information that can lead to a competitive advantage. Many business analysts perform predictive modeling, data visualization, and statistical analysis to inform business decisions and allow the rest of the company to use these meaningful findings to improve performance.

Most business intelligence analysts hold at least a bachelor's degree. Some may pursue a bachelor's in computer or data science, or a degree in a different but related subject, such as a bachelor's in business administration.

Depending on their role and workplace, some professionals may pursue a graduate degree, such as a master's in data science or a more general degree, such as a master's in business administration (MBA). For those who don't want to commit to a full degree program right away, an analytics boot camp can help build specific skills and decide whether you want to pursue further education in the field.

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Frequently asked questions about business analytics

Can a business analyst work from home?

Yes, business analysts can work remotely. Because business analysts work primarily on computers, the job can easily be performed from any location. If flexibility is a priority for you, consider applying to remote business analytics roles when you finish your course or degree program.

What can I expect in a business analytics course?

In a business analytics course, you can expect to learn how to use various software to collect, organize, visualize, and interpret data to inform business decisions. Many courses focus on using data analysis to develop actionable strategies that push a business toward success.

What course is best for a business analyst?

Business analysts can take data tools and methodologies, predictive analytics, and statistics courses. These courses introduce analytics strategies and guide learners to independently collect, visualize, and report insights.

What type of business analyst makes the most money?

According to median annual salary data from the BLS, management analysts ($101,190), data scientists ($112,590), and financial analysts ($101,910) earned the highest salaries in 2024.