MS in Business Analytics

From Data Analysis to Business Influence

The most valuable analytics professionals are not always the most technical people in the room. They are the ones who understand what the business needs, know how to find answers in the data, and can lead others toward better decisions because of it.

The MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) at St. Thomas is a STEM-designated program that develops the technical depth employers require and the judgment, communication, and leadership skills to turn data into business impact.

Why Choose the St. Thomas MS in Business Analytics Program?

Build the technical skills employers are hiring for. From machine learning, predictive analytics to AI and data visualization, you'll learn the tools and know when to use them.
Work on real business problems before you graduate. Analyze a company challenge, present your findings, and walk into interviews with a portfolio project you can speak to.
Communicate data insights in a way that drives decisions. Data storytelling, presentation, and cross-functional communication are built into every course.
Learn to apply AI with the judgment employers need. Evaluate, govern, and use AI with the critical judgement employers need from analytics professionals.
Learn directly from faculty who know your work. Your courses are taught by professors with practical industry experience. Smaller classes allow for deeper collaboration.
Start building your employer network on day one. Through client projects, guest speakers, and an active alumni network, you’ll develop relationships with employers and peers across industries.

$90666

Average salary upon graduation from the St. Thomas MS in Business Analytics program.

27%

Average increase in salary upon graduation from the MS in Business Analytics program.

44%

Students who reported receiving a promotion while attending the MS in Business Analytics program.

Program Overview

The MS in Business Analytics is designed for recent graduates and working professionals looking to build analytics expertise without stepping away from their careers.

Length: Complete the program in as little as 16-18 months with the flexibility to finish in up to 5 years.

Hybrid Format: Courses follow a consistent hybrid schedule with alternating weeks on campus and online. During the summer, courses are fully online.

Start terms: Fall, spring, and summer

Curriculum: 30 credits

8 required courses build your foundation in data analysis, modeling, and communicating insights in a business context.
2-4 elective courses allow you to go deeper, add industry perspective, or focus on areas that align with your goals. Elective courses vary in length and credit value, with both 1.5-credit and 3-credit options available.

The curriculum emphasizes hands-on experience, including a client-based capstone project, AI coursework, and assignments built around real data and business problems.

Admission requirements for MS in Business Analytics:

Current resume with education and work experience listed
Answer to an essay question
Official transcripts from undergraduate and any other graduate degrees

International applicants: Additional requirements include a course-by-course degree evaluation and for many an approved English proficiency exam for degrees earned outside the United States.

MS in Business Analytics Admission

Estimated program tuition: $44,670 (see the Estimated Cost of Attendance for the MS in Business Analytics)

The graduation requirement is 30 credits, with a tuition cost of $1,489 per credit.

Scholarships

Incoming students may be eligible for up to $9,000 through the Dean's Scholarship.

MS in Business Analytics Tuition and Aid

The MS in Business Analytics at the University of St. Thomas is a STEM-designated program. This designation reflects the program's depth in technical and quantitative disciplines, including data analysis, machine learning, statistical methods, and AI.

For all students, STEM designation signals that the MSBA curriculum is built around rigorous, technical skills that employers in data-driven industries are actively hiring for.

For international students, STEM designation means you may be eligible for up to 36 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation, compared to the standard 12 months available to non-STEM graduates. This gives you significantly more time to build your career in the U.S. after completing your degree.

For questions about OPT or visa advising, contact the Office of International Students & Scholars.

Your career development starts the day you enroll, not the semester you graduate.

Academic Advisors

Whether you are looking to advance in your current role or change direction, you’ll receive guidance and support from our academic advisors who are committed to helping you reach your goals. These dedicated advisors will partner with you to develop an individualized plan of study and guide every stage of your journey.

Career Coaching

Work one-on-one with experienced career coaches throughout the program. Get practical guidance on resumes, salary negotiation, LinkedIn presence, and personal branding.

Networking and Employer Connections

Connect with Twin Cities companies through guest speakers, networking events, and your capstone project. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to 17 Fortune 500 headquarters and you will be building relationships across industries from your first semester.

Alumni Network

When you graduate you join 20,000+ Opus College of Business graduate alumni, many of them working at the companies you want to work for. This network is active, locally rooted, and genuinely invested in helping current students move forward.

See Frequently Asked Questions

The MS in Business Analytics Experience

The St. Thomas MSBA is designed around a simple belief: that the most valuable analytics professionals are not just technically strong, they are clear thinkers, strong communicators, and confident leaders. Every course, project, and client engagement in this program is built to develop those skills.

The MS in Business Analytics Experience

Critical Thinking and Communication

Strong analytics professionals do more than produce accurate analysis. They help organizations understand what the findings mean, what decisions need to be made, and what actions should follow.

Throughout the program, you learn how to explain complex findings clearly, present recommendations to different audiences, and connect technical analysis to business decisions. Whether you are building dashboards, presenting predictive models, or leading a client discussion, communication is treated as part of the analytical process itself.

Analytics, AI and Data Fluency

You build skills in analytics, statistics, data management, predictive modeling, and AI through coursework grounded in real business applications. Courses focus on how to work with messy data, evaluate different analytical approaches, and apply technical methods to real business problems.

The goal isn’t just technical proficiency. You learn how to structure analysis thoughtfully, interpret results critically, and build work that holds up under scrutiny.

Learning Through Real Work

Coursework is built around real business problems connected to companies and current industry questions. From your first semester through your capstone, you’re working on challenges that cut across teams and functions, where data connects strategy, operations, people, and technology. You make judgment calls, adjust your approach when the data surprises you, and produce work that a real client evaluates.

You work with a team and an organization to define the problem, analyze the data, and present recommendations directly to their leadership. You field tough questions and stand behind your conclusions.

You leave with a portfolio project, a professional reference, and work that holds up outside the classroom.

A Collaborative, High-Engagement Environment

In small, discussion-driven classes, you build capabilities that don’t show up in a tech stack: creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead through ambiguity. You work closely with faculty who know your name, understand your goals, and bring real industry perspective, along with mentors who are invested in your growth.

The relationships you build with peers, professors, and industry professionals don’t end with the program. They shape how you work and who you can rely on long after you leave.

student looking at interactive dashboard

A group of students presenting project insights

26

Average Age

3

Average years of work experience

3.3

Average undergraduate GPA

38%

International students

Career Outcomes and Student Stories

Students and alumni share how the MS in Business Analytics delivers measurable impact in their roles and careers.

Career Outcomes and Student Stories

Students and alumni share how the MS in Business Analytics delivers measurable impact in their roles and careers.

“I became more concise and confident when presenting insights."

Paul Martinuzzi knew technical skills alone weren’t enough to stand out as a business analyst. He also needed to explain what the data means and why it matters.

In the MS in Business Analytics program, he built skills in areas like linear optimization and predictive modeling while becoming more comfortable explaining his thinking to others.

A Data Storytelling course especially changed how he approached analysis. Instead of staying buried in spreadsheets, he learned how to connect the data to the bigger business picture. Now, he focuses on making his analysis clear, practical and useful to the people he works with.

“You learn how to use tools to answer business questions and present your findings to an executive level audience.”

After nearly a decade working in a laboratory setting, Eric Kessel decided it was time for a career change. He entered the program without professional experience in programming tools, and it had been years since he'd taken a statistics course. The pace of the classes allowed him to build those skills without feeling overwhelmed.

Today, he uses SQL, Excel, Power BI, and data storytelling to build clear, impactful dashboards and present insights to executive leadership as a senior analyst at Allina Health.

“The community was a major part of what made the program so special.”

Ratsamee Thosaengsiri points to the people and structure of the program as a highlight of her St. Thomas experience. With a bachelor’s degree in a non-technical field, she wasn’t sure what to expect at first. But the courses, built around hands-on projects, real datasets, and faculty support, helped her build confidence and new skills.

She also appreciated the day-to-day experience of learning alongside classmates from different backgrounds and working with professors who were accessible and involved. She and her peers encouraged one another, shared ideas, and celebrated small wins together.

The program’s emphasis on ethics in analytics also left a lasting impression. “In a world where data is everywhere, learning how to work responsibly, avoid bias, and think about the bigger impact of our decisions has stayed with me.”

"I can picture each skill I’ve learned so far being applied in my startup and digital marketing career."

Summer Song came into the program already working on her startup, Omi Live, an online marketplace focused on eco-friendly brands. She chose the MSBA in part for the flexible schedule, but also to build skills she could use right away.

She was inspired by the stories from founders of sustainable brands and by the challenge of helping consumers better understand greenwashing and which products are actually eco-friendly. Growing up in China, where live shopping is more common, she saw how live product reviews could influence how people evaluate what they buy. As she moved through the program, she became more comfortable using data and visuals in her startup and marketing work.

She also became more intentional about how she tells a story, whether she’s pitching her idea, talking with customers, or thinking through how to position her product in the market.

See All Opus Faculty

Muer Yang, PhD

Professor, Operations and Supply Chain Management

Dr. Yang specializes in simulation optimization and health care operations, work that sits at the intersection of complex systems, data, and real-world decision-making. His research has informed public policy, and he has served as an expert witness in election law cases.

Iva Rashkova, PhD

Assistant Professor, Operations and Supply Management

Dr. Rashkova studies how organizations design and deliver products and systems that actually work for people, across public sector operations, food systems, and health care. Her work brings a human perspective to analytics, focusing on how decisions translate into real outcomes.

Jordan Barlow, PhD

Assistant Professor, Operations and Supply Management

Dr. Barlow researches what happens when people and technology intersect, including collective intelligence, virtual collaboration, and how organizations build security-conscious cultures. His work is especially relevant as analytics teams navigate questions about trust, behavior, and adoption.

Take the Next Step

Connect with our team to talk through your goals, your experience, and whether the St. Thomas MS in Business Analytics is the right next step for you.

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MS in Business Analytics

From Data Analysis to Business Influence

Why Choose the St. Thomas MS in Business Analytics Program?

MS in Business Analytics - In This Section

MS in Business Analytics Career Outcomes

Program Overview

The MS in Business Analytics Experience