10 Best Business Analytics Certificates to Boost Your Skills

Business analytics—the process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to improve business decisions and performance—is an increasingly in-demand skill. Companies, large and small, use business analytics to make decisions about product development, marketing campaigns, and customer service. It’s also used in predicting customer behavior and understanding customer needs.

Given that it’s such an important skill, more and more businesses need people who can help them make sense of their data and use it to make better decisions. So if you want to work with data, learn how to make sense of it, and put it to good use for your company, then this is a great time to start learning about business analytics.

The good news is there are a ton of excellent options out there when it comes to business analytics certificates and degrees. But how do you know which one is right for you? 

That’s why we’ve written this guide. We’ve compiled this list of some of the most popular programs out there so that you can find an option that fits your needs and goals perfectly. Ready? Then let’s get started. 

How Important Is a Business Analytics Certificate?

Very. A business analytics certificate shows employers that you have the ability to collect and analyze data through complex data analytics, drive strategic decision-making, and develop sustainable business growth. It also teaches you the skills you need to become a business analyst who uses data to help improve, grow and optimize your company’s operations.

Best Business Analytics Certificates

Before you start searching through all the certificates out there, check out this list of top-notch business analytics programs that will help you learn all the skills you need to succeed in today’s competitive job market.

Data Analytics Career Track – Springboard

Rating

4.6/5 on Course Report

Overview

The Data Analytics Career Track at Springboard is designed to take you from beginner to pro and give you the skills and knowledge you need to apply analytics in your career. You’ll learn to use Python to create your own data analytics tools, analyze complex datasets, and write reports. You’ll also take courses on data science fundamentals and topics like analyzing business problems, structured thinking, and connecting data with SQL. After completing this program, you’ll have all the skills necessary to be effective as a data analyst or data scientist at a company that needs your expertise.

Best For

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been interested in the field for years, this data analytics certification is perfect for anyone who wants to become a data analyst. While the course is designed for beginners, more experienced professionals will find it helpful too. You should ideally have two years of professional work experience.

Duration

The bootcamp lasts six months, with approximately 20 hours of study per week.

Price

Springboard’s Data Analytics Bootcamp has various options for different budgets. You can enroll in the course and pay $8,500 upfront or take advantage of Springboard’s payment plan, which lets you spend $1,690 monthly for up to six months.

Business Analytics Specialization – The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on Coursera

Rating

4.6/5 on Coursera

Overview

The Business Analytics course on Coursera is a comprehensive introduction to the field, teaching you how to use data to solve business problems. You’ll learn how to collect data, analyze it, and implement your findings.

You’ll start by learning how data can be used as a competitive advantage by understanding the challenges facing today’s businesses and their managers. You’ll then learn about the most common ways companies use data: forecasting and optimization, machine learning and prediction, simulation modeling, and simulation optimization. Finally, you will learn how to apply your knowledge by working through case studies in which you’ll use real-world data to answer questions.

Best For

The course is ideal for anyone who wants to learn how to use data for informed business decisions. The course covers everything from basic statistics and quantitative data to advanced concepts like machine learning. You’ll also get to apply your newfound skills by building a hands-on project.

You don’t need prior data science or statistics knowledge—just a passion for understanding how businesses can use data to make smarter decisions.

Duration

The Business Analytics course is pretty flexible. You can complete it in 6 months at your own pace, dedicating around 3 hours per week.

Price

You can enroll for free, then pay the $59 Coursera monthly subscription.

Business Analytics – Harvard Business School Online

Rating

N/A

Overview

The Online Business Analytics Course from Harvard is a course that focuses on applying data analytics to business problems. The course will introduce you to the key concepts and methods of analytics and then dive into how you can apply those concepts in the real world by looking at case studies from industry leaders.

In this course, you’ll learn how to design, build and implement a data-driven strategy to give your organization a competitive advantage. You’ll also learn how to interpret the results of your analyses and create presentations that are easy for others to understand.

Best For

The course is designed for people who want to learn about business intelligence (BI) and analytics but don’t have a background in statistics or computer science. It’s also an excellent fit for anyone who wants to make sense of their company’s data and use it to make better decisions.

Duration

The course takes eight weeks to complete.

Price

The Harvard course requires a one-time fee of $1,750.

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate – Coursera

Rating

4.8/5 on Coursera

Overview

The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera is a comprehensive set of courses that equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a data analytics professional. The program begins with an introduction to big data and data analysis, and it then covers the fundamentals of SQL, R, or Tableau. You’ll also learn about business intelligence, reporting and visualization tools, analytical thinking, data ethics, and privacy.

Best For

The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera is a great fit for anyone who wants to enter the field of data analytics. The coursework focuses on ensuring you have a solid foundation in the concepts, skills, and powerful tools needed to succeed in the industry. If you want to become an expert at analyzing data and turning it into actionable insights, this certificate will be just what you need.

Duration

The course lasts six months with under 10 hours of study per week.

Price

You can enroll in this course for free and then subscribe to the Coursera platform for $59 per month.

Business Analytics Certificate – eCornell

Rating

4.3/5 on G2

Overview

The Business Analytics Certificate from eCornell offers a unique opportunity for professionals and students to learn how to use data analytics, statistics, and modeling to solve business problems. The program provides participants with the skills to analyze financial and functional data using Excel. It also demystifies business analytics concepts and applies them to your work.

Best For

The program is designed for individuals interested in moving into an analyst role and those seeking to leverage analytic skills. It will also appeal to those who need a refresher on using a modern version of Excel, managers, executives, or administrative assistants.

Duration

The course takes three months to complete.

Price

You can enroll in this course by paying a one-time fee of $3,750 or $675 per month.

Business Analytics: Decision Making With Data – Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

Rating

N/A

Overview

The Business Analytics: Decision Making with Data certificate is an 8-module online program that will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a data analyst. In this program, you’ll learn about business analytics, including how businesses use data to make informed decisions about products and services, how companies work with analytical models and algorithms, and how businesses use common data science tools.

Best For

This certificate program is ideal for anyone looking to advance their career as a manager or consultant or anyone else who works within a company where decisions are based on data analysis.

Duration

The course lasts nine weeks, with around 6 hours of study per week.

Price

The program fee is $2,600. You can also get 10% off with a referral. 

Statistics for Business Analytics and Data Science A-Z™ – Udemy

Rating

4.5/5 on Udemy

Overview

The Statistics for Business Analytics and Data Science A-Z course from Udemy is a comprehensive introduction to essential statistics and data science concepts. You will learn to use spreadsheets and other tools to analyze data, interpret results, and make effective business decisions.

Best For

The Statistics for Business Analytics and Data Science A-Z course from Udemy is perfect for anyone who wants to master and learn statistics for business analytics from the ground up.

Duration

The course includes six hours of on-demand video, which you can complete at your own pace.

Price

The Udemy course costs $13.99 with an 86% discount.

Business Analytics Specialization – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Coursera

Rating

4.7/5 on Coursera

Overview

The Business Analytics Specialization on Coursera is an online course that provides the tools you need to analyze data successfully. You’ll learn about how to collect, clean, and model data, as well as how to communicate results to stakeholders. The specialization covers everything from statistics and probability to machine learning and AI.

Best For

This specialization is ideal for anyone who wants to enter the world of analytics with a solid foundation in the skills needed to succeed.

Duration

The course takes six months to complete.

Price

You’ll need to pay the $59 Coursera monthly subscription fee to access this course. 

Business Analytics Nanodegree Program – Udacity

Rating

5/5 on Class Central

Overview

The Business Analytics online course from Udacity is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of the skills necessary to be an effective business analyst. The course covers everything from data visualization and exploratory data analysis to forecasting models and predictive analytics. You’ll learn how to use tools like Excel, R, and Tableau, as well as how to use SQL for querying databases. The class also includes a capstone project where you’ll apply all of your knowledge in a real-world scenario.

Best For

The Udacity Business Analytics online course is perfect for beginners who want to leverage data to make better business decisions.

Duration

You will complete the course in three months, dedicating around ten hours per week to learning.

Price

The entire program costs $1,017 upfront or $399 per month.

Applied Business Analytics – MIT Sloan Executive Education

Rating

N/A

Overview

The online course from MIT’s Executive Education is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of business analysis. You will explore topics such as creating a data-driven culture, using data for business insights, and building a data science team that can execute the company’s vision. You’ll also learn to use statistical analysis tools, including Excel and R, to gain insight from your data. In addition, this course will help you understand how to use machine learning for business insights and decision support.

Best For

The course is designed for people who want to use data and analytics in their careers but don’t have the time or money for an MBA.

Duration

The course duration is six weeks, with 4-6 hours of study per week.

Price

The entire program fee is $2,576. Different flexible payment options are available. 

How Do You Choose a Business Analytics Certificate?

You’ve decided to pursue a business analytics certificate, but which program is right for you? Here are some factors to consider.

Curriculum

Each school’s program will have its own set of courses, which vary widely in topics and difficulty. Some programs offer an introductory course, while others dive right into advanced material. If you’re new to this field or want to learn more about data analytics or business intelligence, look for a program with an introductory-level course.

Career Goals

Think of whether you’re hoping to boost your salary or get a job in the field. The certificate you pursue should ideally offer opportunities for networking and mentorship. You might also want to look at programs that offer internship opportunities or provide an easy pathway into the workforce.

Expert Instructors

The industry experts teaching your classes will be a huge factor in whether the program is worth your time and money. Look for instructors with extensive experience in the field who can guide you through more than memorizing key concepts.

Reviews and Ratings

You should always take reviews and ratings into consideration when choosing any kind of course or program. If multiple people have had positive experiences with the school’s programs, yours will likely go well too.

Pricing and Payment Options

The cost of a certificate varies based on the school and program you choose. Additionally, some programs will offer scholarships or other financial aid opportunities. Make sure you can commit to the course and payment plan before enrolling.

Schedule

The schedule must work with your current commitments while giving you enough time each week or month to focus on learning in-demand skills. Consider how many hours per week you can devote to studying and whether there are any prerequisites before enrolling in this program.

Certificate Value

What will it mean for your career? Is it something employers will recognize? Will it give you a leg up on other applicants who don’t have it? Think about what additional skills or expertise this certificate will give you that makes it worth investing in.

Job Readiness or Salary Boost

Do you want a certificate to help you get a job in the field? If so, consider choosing a program with positive reviews from students who efficiently landed a job after graduating. At the same time, consider a course that guarantees a job upon completion.

If you don’t plan to change your job, but want to earn more money, then look for a program that provides opportunities for career advancement and management roles within an organization.

Making the Most Out of Your Business Analytics Certificate

A business analytics certificate program is a great way to jump-start your career in data science, but it can be hard to know how to prepare for the program, what you’ll learn, and what analytical skills you’ll need. 

Let’s look at how business analyst certifications work and how you can make the most of yours.

How Do Business Analytics Certificates Work?

Business analytics certificates are designed to give you a broad overview of various aspects of business analytics—the practice of using data to make decisions in business. They’re typically meant to give you an idea of what kind of work is involved in the field, what practical skills are needed, and what companies might look for when hiring someone with these skills. Because they’re primarily designed for beginners, they don’t require any previous experience or knowledge of business analysis—you just need an interest in learning more about data science.

What Will the Schedule Look Like?

The typical schedule for a business analytics certificate is flexible, with most courses available in hybrid or online formats and lasting from as little as two weeks to as long as six months. However, it’s important to note that most certificate programs are designed for working professionals who need flexibility in their schedule, so you’ll be able to work around other commitments like family and work.

How Can You Prepare for a Business Analytics Certificate?

Look into the different types of schools that offer business analytics certifications. Do they focus on software development or data analytics? Is there any flexibility in their curriculum? Are there special requirements for admission? Once you’ve decided which school is right for you, make sure that it offers an online program so that you can continue working while studying for your certificate.

FAQs About Business Analytics Certificates

We’ve got answers to your most frequently asked questions.

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