Considering an MS in Business Analytics from Opus College? Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about careers, the current job market, and how this degree can help you fast-track your career in analytics.
The MS in Business Analytics program at Opus College is designed for two groups of people: recent graduates who want to fast-track into analytics, and working professionals who are ready to go deeper.
Students come from backgrounds such as business, economics, engineering, health sciences, and operations. The MSBA program is designed to launch and fast-track a career of turning data into insights and actionable decisions.
An MBA is a broader business degree covering core areas like finance, accounting, marketing, and operations, with an emphasis on management and strategy.
The MS in Business Analytics is a specialized degree focused on quantitative and technical skills: how to analyze data, identify opportunities, and communicate findings in ways that drive real business decisions.
A simple way to think about it: if your goal is to lead a business unit, an MBA may be the better fit. If your goal is to become the person organizations rely on to make sense of their data, the MSBA is built for you.
If you're deciding between graduate programs at St. Thomas, the best way to learn more is contact our Opus College admissions team at ocbgradadmissions@stthomas.edu. You can also visit our Program Comparison page to learn more.
The MSBA curriculum at Opus College is built around the skills employers are actually hiring for. You'll develop technical depth, but just as important, you'll learn how to apply it in real business settings using critical thinking skills. Every course integrates hands on, applied learning.
Coursework covers:
You’ll build experience with widely used analytics and business intelligence tools, including Excel, SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI, Alteryx, and Snowflake, while also exploring AI and machine learning tools used across industries.
No prior experience with these platforms is required. The curriculum is designed to build your proficiency from the ground up, and tools are updated regularly to reflect what employers are actively hiring for.
Yes. AI is a core part of the MSBA curriculum at Opus College. You'll learn how key AI technologies work, including generative AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and how organizations are applying them.
Electives give you the option to go deeper: how AI systems are trained, how large language models function, and how to build and evaluate AI tools through hands-on projects.
Yes - experiential learning is one of the most distinctive parts of our MSBA program.
In your final semester, you'll work in teams on a live analytics project with a company client. You'll leave with a portfolio-ready deliverable you can walk through in job interviews.
Capstone partners are companies based in the Twin Cities, including The Toro Company, U.S. Bank, Polaris, Andersen Windows & Doors, SPS Commerce, and Stratasys.
Find the full details for admissions and application requirements here. Please note that the GMAT/GRE is optional.
No. Full-time work experience is not required for the MS in Business Analytics program, and you do not need a specific major or prior technical background to apply. About one-third of students enroll directly after earning their undergraduate degree. Others enter the program without experience in programming languages and build those skills through coursework.
Yes. Our MS in Business Analytics program is STEM certified. International students may be eligible for up to 36 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Learn more.
You can find more information about the MS in Business Analytics admission and application process here.
Yes. The program's hybrid format is designed for working professionals, and many students continue working while enrolled in the MSBA.
All courses in the program follow an alternating schedule: one week on campus, one week online. Courses run on the same cadence, so when you're on campus, your fellow colleagues are there too. Summer courses are offered fully online.
There is strong demand for analytics talent, driven by a few clear shifts by companies:
MSBA graduates move into data-focused roles across a range of industries. Common titles include Data Analyst, Business Analyst, and Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst.
The Twin Cities has a high concentration of employers across health care, finance, retail, and technology. Many of them are hiring for analyst roles.
Students can connect with these organizations through capstone projects, guest speakers from major employers, and alumni working across the region. Opus-hosted networking events connect students to alumni and hiring managers at Twin Cities firms.
Graduates from Opus College's MSBA program are working at employers nationwide including Target, UnitedHealth Group, 3M, Medtronic, General Mills, Wells Fargo, Ameriprise Financial, Cargill, Best Buy, Deloitte, and Amazon Web Services.
From day one of the MSBA program, you'll have access to:
Estimated MSBA program tuition (2026-2027):
Incoming MS in Business Analytics students may be eligible for scholarships, including the merit-based Dean’s Scholarship and the Alumni Referral Scholarship. No separate scholarship application is required. Many students also use employer tuition assistance programs to help fund their degree.
Yes. Options may include employer reimbursement, federal student loans, scholarships, and more.
Connect with our team to talk through your goals, your experience, and whether the MS in Business Analytics is the right next step for you.