The Best Master's in Business Analytics Programs for 2026

NYU Stern's MS in Business Analytics and AI (MSBAi) is built around a single idea stated directly on the program page: data as a strategic asset, paired with AI methods advanced enough to act on it. Rather than splitting into named concentrations like the other programs in this set, MSBAi folds deep learning, reinforcement learning, and generative AI into the core analytics curriculum, aiming to produce graduates who can both build predictive models and apply current AI tools to decision-making. The program is based at NYU Stern in Manhattan and runs an active calendar of admissions events and mailing-list sessions for prospective applicants.

NYU's Hakia Score is 96.6, tied with Boston University's mark though ranked fourth in this list, supported by an 88% graduation rate and a 9% admit rate, roughly 1 in 11 applicants gets in, according to IPEDS. Tuition is $62,796 a year, the lowest of the top four profiled here: $7,108 less than USC, $3,926 less than Columbia, and $3,874 less than BU. That combination, the lowest sticker price plus a single integrated AI-and-analytics curriculum rather than elective tracks, fits applicants who want the New York analytics market without paying the premium of a multi-concentration program. The $103,755 median salary BLS reports for management analysts nationally is the same baseline figure for every school in this set, not a measure of NYU-specific outcomes.

The Business Analytics major inside Wharton's full-time MBA is not a standalone master's; it sits inside the 19-course-unit MBA curriculum. Students complete a core sequence in regression analysis (STAT 6130) and Business Analytics (OIDD 6120), then choose 4 course units from a defined list spanning STAT 7220 Predictive Analytics for Business, STAT 7230 Applied Machine Learning in Business, FNCE 7370 Data Science for Finance, MKTG 7520 Marketing Analytics, and OIDD 6430 Analytics for Revenue Management. Up to one additional unit can come from Penn's engineering side, including CIS 5450 Big Data Analytics or CIS 5200 Machine Learning. Students can also add a Global Experience Concentration, spending two course units at a partner school such as INSEAD, LBS, or HKUST.

Wharton's Hakia Score of 95.6 ranks it fifth nationally, built on a 97% graduation rate and a 5% admit rate, one of the tightest in this ranking. Tuition is $60,920 whether a student is a Pennsylvania resident or not, since Penn is private; there is no in-state discount to chase. Near-universal completion once admitted, paired with a five-in-100 acceptance rate, makes this major fit candidates who already have a strong MBA application built and want a quantitative credential layered onto the Wharton brand, not applicants shopping for the easiest entry point into analytics.

McCombs' MS in Business Analytics is a STEM-designated degree offered in two formats from one application: a 10-month full-time program on campus in Austin, or a 23-month part-time MSBA for Working Professionals that pairs online coursework with five in-person Austin immersives. The curriculum centers on predictive and prescriptive analytics, generative AI workflows, and turning model output into business decisions; admissions are holistic but expect calculus, statistics, and programming preparation.

The program carries a Hakia Score of 95, sixth nationally, with an 89% graduation rate and a 27% admit rate, well above Wharton's 5%. The number that matters most: $11,688 in-state versus $44,908 out-of-state, a $33,220 gap for the identical degree. That makes McCombs a strong option for Texas residents, or for anyone weighing the slower, cheaper part-time track against a faster out-of-state commitment. McCombs cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 600,000-plus new analytics and IT jobs; check current figures directly against the BLS Data Scientists outlook.

Babson's MSBA runs 9 or 16 months with no GRE or GMAT required, built on 18 core credits and 12 elective credits. Core coursework covers Machine Learning for Business, Programming for Business Analytics (a Python-focused course), Modern Econometrics for Business, and Storytelling/Communication with Data, capped by a Consulting Field Project where student teams execute analytics work for an outside organization and present findings to its executives. Babson states the college is AACSB accredited and the degree is STEM-designated, qualifying international graduates for a 24-month OPT extension.

The program's Hakia Score of 93.5 places it seventh nationally, with a 93% graduation rate and a 17% admit rate. Tuition is a flat $57,152 regardless of residency, since Babson is private. Babson also cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 228,200-plus data scientist jobs by 2032, worth checking against the BLS Data Scientists outlook directly. The school's own class data shows 44% women, 65% international students, and an average incoming GPA of 3.43; Babson reports that 93% of 2025 graduates seeking employment had an offer within six months, at an average reported salary of $78,868 for that class. This fits applicants without a strong standardized-test file who want an entrepreneurship-flavored analytics degree and a client project on the resume rather than a thesis.

Gies College of Business runs a STEM-designated MS in Business Analytics over 9 to 15 months, built around two full semesters of hands-on consulting projects with real clients rather than classroom simulations alone. Students take 16 to 24 credit hours of analytics electives plus up to 8 credits of general electives, and the degree stacks toward Gies' iMBA for students who want to continue into a full MBA later.

Illinois carries a Hakia Score of 93.2, eighth nationally, with an 85% graduation rate, on the lower end among the top-ranked programs here, and a 42% admit rate, the most accessible. The tuition gap is steep: $14,975 in-state against $36,804 out-of-state, a $21,829 difference, still below McCombs' out-of-state rate and far under Wharton's or Babson's flat private tuition. Gies cites its 2024 Illini Success Report showing 100% of domestic graduates reporting a successful career outcome within six months of graduation. A 42% admit rate paired with sub-$15,000 in-state tuition makes this the entry point for Illinois residents, or for applicants prioritizing cost over selectivity.

Lehigh University's MS in Business Analytics is a full-time, on-campus, STEM-designated program built around 34 credits and six concentrations, completed in 11 to 18 months. Admission is capped at applicants with no more than two years of professional experience, GMAT/GRE scores are optional, and cohorts start in spring, summer, and fall. Graduates can add an optional internship and the school's NextYOU co-curricular track for structured professional development.

Lehigh carries a Hakia Score of 91.8, the ranking basis behind its #9 spot on this list. The program graduates 88% of students and admits just 26% of applicants, one of the tighter admit rates on this list. Tuition is a flat $63,930 regardless of residency, since Lehigh is private; there is no in-state discount to chase. Lehigh's own program page puts 2024 graduates' average starting salary at $72k, a figure worth weighing against that sticker price. (IPEDS)

This program fits applicants early in their career who want a fast, one-year specialization with a defined concentration, and who can absorb private-school tuition without a public-school fallback rate.

Florida State's MS in Business Analytics (MS-BA) is a full-time, one-year, STEM-designated program run as a lock-step three-semester sequence: 33 credit hours starting each summer, with core courses in machine learning, data mining, data management, and visualization tools (Python, SQL, Tableau), one elective (options include supply chain, healthcare, or fintech analytics), and a professional-development credit every term. The program admits only once a year, in summer, and GMAT/GRE scores are optional.

FSU posts a Hakia Score of 91.7, good for #10 on this list, with an 86% graduation rate and a 24% admit rate, highly selective for this list. Tuition splits sharply by residency: $4,640 in-state versus $19,084 out-of-state per year (IPEDS). FSU's own 2026-2027 program estimate for the full 33-credit MS-BA comes to $15,817.56 for Florida residents and $42,175.32 for non-residents, a $26,357.76 gap that makes Florida residency the single biggest cost lever on this list.

Best fit: applicants with an undergraduate quant background (calculus, statistics, a programming course) who can commit to one locked-step cohort and, ideally, Florida residency.

Trine University's MS in Business Analytics (delivered through TrineOnline) is a fully online, 30-credit-hour program with new terms starting every eight weeks, so a student who stacks courses back-to-back can finish in about a year. Coursework spans project management, statistics and quantitative methods, operations analytics, data mining and visualization, data science and big data, corporate finance, and financial modeling, closing with a business analytics capstone (or a Curricular Practical Training capstone track). Several courses layer in third-party certificates, including an IBM Data Analytics with Excel and R Professional Certificate and exam prep for the Certified Data Science Practitioner credential through uCertify.

Trine's Hakia Score of 89.9 places it #11 on this list. It has relatively open admissions, at a 40% admit rate, and lists tuition at $7,176 with no residency split since the program is fully online. The program's own cost table works out to $575 per credit across 30 credits, or $17,250 total, which Trine positions against named competitors: below Grand Canyon University's $21,166 online MBAN and above Southern New Hampshire's $12,000 program. No graduation rate is published for this specific program track.

This is a value and access play here: working adults who need an asynchronous format, a lower price point, and a faster on-ramp will fit best.

The University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School builds its MS with Business Analytics around five named tracks: Accounting and Business Analytics, Finance and Business Analytics, Management and Business Analytics, Marketing Science and Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics. Each pairs core analytics training, data mining, data programming, database management, with discipline-specific coursework, for example valuation and pro-forma financial statements in the finance track, or sourcing and inventory planning in supply chain. The Accounting and Business Analytics track is STEM-designated and built around CPA-exam preparation; Katz states its graduates pass the CPA exam at higher rates than peers across Pennsylvania and nationally, without publishing a specific pass-rate figure.

Pitt carries a Hakia Score of 89.5, ranking #12 on this list, with an 85% graduation rate and a 58% admit rate, relatively open admissions for this list. Tuition runs $20,556 in-state versus $40,060 out-of-state, nearly double, so a Pennsylvania resident saves $19,504 over the degree versus an out-of-state peer. (IPEDS)

Fits applicants who already know which business function they want to specialize in, accounting, finance, management, marketing, or supply chain, and want analytics skills layered onto that specific track rather than a generalist analytics degree.

Based in Amherst, MA, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a public institution. Its Master's in Business Analytics program lands at #13 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 89.1 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 83% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. University of Massachusetts-Amherst admits 60% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, University of Massachusetts-Amherst charges $17,006 a year in-state, roughly 2.3x the $39,683 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $34,012 in tuition for residents, against $79,366 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Based in Storrs, CT, University of Connecticut is a public institution. Its Master's in Business Analytics program lands at #14 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 89.0 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 83% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. University of Connecticut admits 52% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, University of Connecticut charges $17,010 a year in-state, roughly 2.3x the $39,678 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $34,020 in tuition for residents, against $79,356 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Based in Fairfield, CT, Fairfield University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Business Analytics program lands at #15 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 87.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. Fairfield University admits 33% of applicants, more selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, Fairfield University charges $57,450 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $114,900 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Fordham University is a private, nonprofit institution in Bronx, NY. Its Master's in Business Analytics program ranks #16 of the 25 analyzed here with an 87.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 82% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. Fordham University admits 59% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, Fordham University charges $62,990 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $125,980 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Business Analytics program lands at #17 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 87.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 86% of its students, above the 85% average across the ranked schools. Texas Christian University admits 44% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, Texas Christian University charges $61,650 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $123,300 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.

University of San Diego is a private, nonprofit institution in San Diego, CA. Its Master's in Business Analytics program ranks #18 of the 25 analyzed here with an 86.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. University of San Diego admits 52% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, University of San Diego charges $58,420 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $116,840 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, nonprofit institution in Worcester, MA. Its Master's in Business Analytics program ranks #19 of the 25 analyzed here with an 86.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 90% of its students, above the 85% average across the ranked schools. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits 60% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, Worcester Polytechnic Institute charges $59,700 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $119,400 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.

Baylor University is a private, nonprofit institution in Waco, TX. Its Master's in Business Analytics program ranks #20 of the 25 analyzed here with an 85.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 80% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. Baylor University admits 51% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, Baylor University charges $58,100 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $116,200 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Based in New York, NY, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is a public institution. Its Master's in Business Analytics program lands at #21 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 84.7 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 72% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College admits 48% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College charges $6,930 a year in-state, roughly 2.1x the $14,880 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $13,860 in tuition for residents, against $29,760 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public institution in Minneapolis, MN. Its Master's in Business Analytics program ranks #22 of the 25 analyzed here with an 84.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 85% of its students, above the 85% average across the ranked schools. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities admits 80% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities charges $15,148 a year in-state, roughly 2.4x the $36,296 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $30,296 in tuition for residents, against $72,592 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.

The University of Texas at Dallas is a public institution in Richardson, TX. Its Master's in Business Analytics program ranks #23 of the 25 analyzed here with an 84.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 76% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. The University of Texas at Dallas admits 65% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, The University of Texas at Dallas charges $10,639 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $36,139 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $21,278 in tuition for residents, against $72,278 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Newark, DE, University of Delaware is a public institution. Its Master's in Business Analytics program lands at #24 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 82.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 81% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. University of Delaware admits 71% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 72% to 97%.

On cost, University of Delaware charges $14,600 a year in-state, roughly 2.7x the $39,190 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $29,200 in tuition for residents, against $78,380 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, nonprofit institution in Chicago, IL. Its Master's in Business Analytics program ranks #25 of the 25 analyzed here with an 81.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 89.9 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 75% of its students, below the 85% average across the ranked schools. Illinois Institute of Technology admits 55% of applicants, less selective than the 40% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Illinois Institute of Technology charges $50,636 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $101,272 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,640 at Florida State University to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $103,755 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.