Online Master of Business Analytics program ranked best in Ohio by Fortune

Ohio University’s Online Master of Business Analytics program ranked eighth in the nation as one of the best programs of its kind by Fortune.

The Online Master of Business Analytics program looks to the emerging field of business data, which is one of the nation’s fastest-growing emerging jobs, according to LinkedIn’s Emerging Jobs Report. The program teaches how to analyze business data and apply it to strategy. Students enrolled in the program examine and interpret data sets by using analysis tools to identify business trends and solve organizational challenges, while creating unique data models and databases to support business solutions.

“The field of business analytics is growing rapidly, and we’re proud to be able to offer this extremely versatile, relevant option for working professionals to put them in a position to succeed,” College of Business Dean Jackie Rees Ulmer said. “This is a relatively new program for us and we’re excited to see it getting this kind of recognition.”

It’s a rapidly emerging field because of its versatility, program director Bill Young, Ph.D., said. It can be applied to a multitude of careers, ranging from national defense to banking. Moreover, because of our modern digital landscape, data is available in droves and businesses need someone who can sift through the data to identify trends and mitigate risks.

“The application of analytics is so wide we have students going into many different areas and that’s really what we try to do as a program,” Young said.

This marks the first time Ohio University has been recognized exclusively for its Online Master of Business Analytics, which is notable because the program only first launched in spring semester of 2017.

Because it is entirely online, the program is designed to be conducive to working professionals who can’t afford to quit their jobs to attend grad school. To be as flexible as possible, students only take one course at a time, totaling two a semester.

The program may be virtual, but the coursework is designed to be an immersive, hands-on experience. “What we are really focused on is application of analytics,” Young said. “It is a very applied program.”

Even though it is all online, students are still getting just as rigorous of an education as they would receive in person, Young said. To ensure quality, the program has been fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or AACSB. The accreditation maintains notoriously high academic standards and is attained by less than 5% of business schools globally.

“When [students] leave, they have to learn certain outcomes and goals to maintain that accreditation,” Young said.

Though students are held to a high standard, the program is accessible to students from all backgrounds; it is one of the most affordable programs ranked by Fortune. Moreover, traditional barriers to graduate school, such as the GMAT and the GRE, aren’t required to enroll.

For more information about Ohio University’s Online Master of Business Analytics program, visit the Online Master of Business Analytics page.