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Graduate Certificate Program in Business Analytics

Learn how to capture and interpret data to inform business strategies and improve results with this flexible and affordable online graduate certificate program.

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Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics Online

With the increasing importance of data-driven decision-making in today's fast-paced business environment, mastering the art of data analysis has become essential for professionals looking to stay competitive. UMass Lowell's four-course online Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics offers a flexible and convenient way to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in this field. You'll delve into advanced techniques for interpreting and analyzing data, learning how to extract meaningful insights and make informed business recommendations.

The graduate certificate program will enhance your analytical abilities and boost your marketability. With a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics from our AACSB-accredited Manning School of Business, you'll have the expertise to stand out in the job market and excel in roles such as management analyst, data scientist and analytics consultant.

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Complete in 9 Months

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One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation

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Apply Anytime

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Variety of Financial Aid and Scholarships Available

Career Outlook

114,526
Jobs (2022)
+2.9%
% Change (2022-2023)
$89.6K/yr
Median Earnings
13,841
Annual Openings
Source: Lightcast (2023) Target Occupations in New England

Occupations

  • Management Analysts
  • Market Researchers and Specialists
  • Data Scientists
  • Statisticians
"Employment of management analysts is projected to grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for the services of these workers should grow as organizations continue to seek ways to improve efficiency and control costs."
— U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2020
AACSB Badge This program is offered through UMass Lowell's Manning School of Business, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) — an elite distinction earned by less than five percent of business schools worldwide.

Learn more about AACSB accreditation »

Manning School of Business faculty and instructors are dedicated to excellence in teaching and research, and the program’s challenging, relevant curriculum is aligned with current industry trends and employer needs.

Key Takeaways

Deepen your knowledge of a range of topics, including:

  • Descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics
  • The modeling, design, implementation and management of database systems for operational and strategic purposes
  • Ethical issues related to data mining
  • Data-oriented business intelligence techniques including classification, clustering, association analysis and prediction
  • Principles and techniques of applied mathematical modeling for managerial decision making

One Success Leads to Another

Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:

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Graduate Certificate Program in Business Analytics
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Master of Science in Business Analytics
OR
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Graduate Certificate Program in Business Analytics
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Master of Business Administration

Curriculum Outline

- 4 Courses / 12 Credits

Required Courses (Choose 2 from each group)

Group 1

Group 2

Course Descriptions

MIST.6030 Database Management (3cr)

This course provides students with in-depth knowledge for modeling, designing, implementing, and managing database systems for operational and decision support purposes. Topics covered include relational database model, entity-relationship modeling, normalization, SQL language, data warehousing, data quality and integration, data and database administration, and object-oriented database.

Requirements:

MIST.6010 Management information systems, and Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or Permission of Program Coordinator.

MIST.6060 Business Intelligence and Data Mining (3cr)

This Course introduces the concepts and technologies of business intelligence and data mining. The course studies how data-oriented business intelligence techniques can be used by organizations to gain competitive advantages, as well as how to design and develop these techniques. Topics include classification, clustering, association analysis, prediction, and text and web mining. Data-mining related ethical issues will also be discussed.

Requirements:

MIST.6010 Management information systems, and Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or Permission of Program Coordinator.

MIST.6150 Data Quality for Business Analytics (3cr)

This course provides students with knowledge and skills to process data for business analytics. Topics include data quality requirement and data preparation for business analytics, impact of data quality on analytics, and methods for assessing and improving data quality in the context of business analytics.

Requirements:

MIST.6010 Management information systems, and Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or Permission of Program Coordinator.

POMS.6120 Statistics for Predictive Analytics (3cr)

This course introduces statistical methods and techniques for predictive analytics. This is part of the business-analytics umbrella of courses. The main focus of this course is on regression, a powerful and widely used predictive method. Topics covered include simple linear regression, multiple regression, variable selection, model diagnostics, and systems of regression equations. The course also covers classification techniques using statistical methods such as linear discriminant function and logistic regression. Spreadsheet software, such as MS Excel, and statistical software, such as SAS and R, will be heavily utilized.

Requirements:

POMS.6010 Operations Management, or Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or matriculated MS Engineering Management, or permission of program coordinator.

POMS.6220 Decision Analytics (3cr)

This course covers the three main facets of business analytics: descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Students will gain the knowledge of managerial decision-making (commonly referred to as data analytics, decision support systems-DSS, data mining). Some of the business analytic topics covered include neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, k-means, association rule mining, Analytical Hierarchy Process, Data Envelopment Analysis, expert systems, optimization, and simulation.

Requirements:

POMS.6010 Operations Management, or Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or matriculated MS Engineering Management, or permission of program coordinator.

POMS.6240 Analytical Decision Making Tools (3cr)

This course covers principles and techniques of applied mathematical modeling for managerial decision making. Emphasis is on the methods of prescriptive analytics, including optimization models, decision analysis, simulation modeling, and risk analysis. Problems studied will include applications in finance, health care, marketing, operations, and management. Cases studies will be used extensively to demonstrate the practical use of models to improve managerial decision making. In addition to developing and applying models, emphasis will be placed on explaining the models and interpreting their results.

Requirements:

POMS.6010 Operations Management, or Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or matriculated MS Engineering Management, or permission of program coordinator.

Graduate Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs through UMass Lowell must complete all courses indicated in the curriculum outline. Students may complete the certificate program at their own pace by registering for and successfully completing one or more courses each semester, depending upon his/her personal time constraints. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.000 with no more than one course grade below B to receive the certificate.

Online courses meet throughout the year during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (see Calendar for details). Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course. For more information on online courses, visit our online program home page .

Completing a Graduate Certificate Program

Graduate certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.000 grade point average and no more than one course with a grade below B. Once all courses for a graduate certificate have been completed, students must complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form. Students must submit their clearance form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.

Summer 2025 Tuition

 Cost Per Credit Cost Per 3-Credit Course*

Graduate
Online $600 $1,800
Online Business1 $655 $1,965
All other On Campus courses2 View Here
*Tuition is priced on the listed credit hour unless the contact hour is different. Tuition is then based upon the listed contact hour.
1Applies to ACCT, BUSI, ENTR, FINA, MGMT, MKTG, MIST and POMS courses.
2Applies to graduate on campus courses excluding select courses

Additional Costs

 Cost
Term Registration Fee $30
Returned Check Fee $30
Graduate Engineering and Business Degrees and Certificate Applications $75

Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Tuition Calculator

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Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator

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Looking for Financial Assistance?

UMass Lowell offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship options.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Earning a business analytics certificate is worth it if you're looking for an affordable way to succeed or enter the rapidly evolving and lucrative analytics field. In today's data-driven world, businesses increasingly rely on analytics to make informed decisions and gain a competitive edge. In terms of salary potential, professionals with business analytics skills are well-compensated. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for management analysts was $93,000 in May 2021.

    Earning a business analytics certificate has several benefits that can significantly boost your career prospects. It enhances your credibility and marketability as a professional, and having this credential demonstrates to potential employers that you have the necessary skills to leverage data effectively and contribute to their business objectives.

    Additionally, a business analytics certificate provides a competitive edge in the job market. As more companies recognize the value of data-driven decision-making, the demand for professionals with strong analytics skills continues to rise. In fact, the BLS states, “employment opportunities for management analysts to grow 11 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.”

    Finally, a business analytics certificate equips you with the tools to solve complex business problems. You'll develop the ability to analyze large data sets, identify patterns and trends, and extract actionable insights. These skills allow you to make informed decisions that drive business performance and improve operational efficiency.

    So, a business analytics certificate may be worth the investment if you want to expand your job prospects in the analytics field or increase your impact within your current organization.

  • Completing a business analytics certificate offers a comprehensive understanding of statistical analysis, data management, predictive modeling and data mining techniques. These skills are highly sought after in today's job market, as organizations across industries increasingly rely on data to drive their strategic initiatives.

    With a business analytics certificate, you can explore career paths such as data analyst, business intelligence analyst, data scientist, market researcher and management consultant. These roles typically involve analyzing data, creating reports and visualizations, and providing insights to support decision-making.

    A business analytics certificate gives you the skills, credibility, and competitive edge needed to excel in various industries. By analyzing data, providing valuable insights and making data-driven decisions, you can contribute to the success of organizations and advance your career.

  • You can use student loans to complete the online business analytics certificate at UMass Lowell. We strongly encourage you to complete the FAFSA first to learn which federal loans or scholarships you are eligible for. However, you may also consider alternative private loan options if you require additional funding.

    You may also apply for UMass Lowell's zero-interest payment plan and break your tuition into several payments. Please note that the sooner you sign up for a payment plan, the smaller your monthly payments will be.

  • The Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics at UMass Lowell, offered through the highly acclaimed AACSB-accredited Manning School of Business, is a well-respected credential that will help you a land a job in the analytics field. One of the most compelling reasons to pursue a business analytics certificate is the broad range of job opportunities it opens up. Almost every industry, from finance and health care to retail and marketing, relies on data analysis to improve operations and drive growth. As a result, professionals with business analytics skills are in high demand across many sectors.

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Prerequisite Undergraduate Courses

Introductory-level business course prerequisites are required in the following areas: statistics and management information systems.

Statistics

  • ECON.2110 Statistics for Business and Economics I (3cr)
    • OR
  • MATH.2830 Introduction to Statistics (3cr)
    • OR
  • Equivalent

Management Information Systems

  • MIST.2010 Business Information Systems (3cr)
    • OR
  • MIST.6010 Management Information Systems (3cr)
    • OR
  • Equivalent

For Graduate Certificate Programs, Please Submit:

  • An application
  • An application fee*
  • An official transcript indicating a completed bachelor's degree. If your bachelor's degree is from outside the United States, you may be required to take the TOEFL examination.
  • No Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for graduate certificate programs

F1 student visas are not issued for this program. Applications can be completed and submitted at any time during the year. Your application will be processed as soon as all admission materials have been received. You may apply to more than one certificate program but can only take 12 credits maximum before enrolling in an advanced degree. Learn more about specific application requirements for your program of interest.

*There is a $75 application fee to apply to this graduate program.

Count Your Graduate Certificate Toward a Master's Degree

Credits earned from a graduate certificate may be used toward a related graduate degree.

Graduate Program Admissions Requirements

Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before formally applying to the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.

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Graduate Application Questions

Please check your application status emails. Still have questions? Contact Graduate Admissions at Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or 800-656-4723. International students: Please call 978-934-2390.

For General Assistance:

For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!

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