Master of Science
OVERVIEW
Dominate the Analytics Product Lifecycle with a Master's Degree in Data Analytics
Make your next career move and maximize your earning potential with WGU’s Master of Science, Data Analytics. This online degree program provides a depth of skills for your data analytics career in the following areas:
- Data Analytics Lifecycle
- Data Science and Advanced Analytics Applications
- Data Mining Techniques
- Machine Learning
- Data Management
We use cutting-edge technology to help you learn about machine learning, modern analytic tools & languages (Python, R, SQL, and Tableau), and more! Additionally, this unique program allows you to choose from a variety of datasets representing different industry-specific themes to completely customize your degree. Learn exactly what you want and need for your career!
At WGU, we use a‘three-lever’ approach to data analytics, surgically incorporating programming, math, and business influence skills throughout the program.Our game-changing approach to data analytics means that you will be equipped with the experience you need to create change and make an impact inany industry.
Have questions?Attend our prospective student webinar to learn more about our programs.
This data analytics degree program focuses on both theory and application, allowing you to “learn by doing” as you complete data science and analytics projects in stages, known as the data analytics lifecycle. The Master of Science in Data Analytics program dives deeply into each of these lifecycle stages(sourcing data, cleaning data, data mining, descriptive & predictive analytics, and visualization).
61%of graduates finish within
20Months*
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
*WGU Internal Data
Flexible Schedule
Tuition per six-month term is
$4,055
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps students control the ultimate cost of their degree. Finish faster, pay less!
Certifications that may transfer
1
Your Oracle SQL Expert certification may waive course requirements.
Certifications
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?
Next Start Date: {{startdate}}
Start Dates the 1st of Every Month
COURSES
Data Analytics Courses
Program consists of11 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
Program Guide
The WGU M.S. Data Analytics degree program was designed, and is regularly updated, with input from the experts on our Data Analytics Advisory Board. This ensures that you learn best practices for the latest developments in data analytics.
This data analytics degree program is composed of the following courses. You will typically complete them one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.
The M.S. Data Analytics degree program is an all-online program that you will complete through independent study with the support of WGU faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 8 competency units (WGU's equivalent of the credit hour)each 6-month term. (Each course is typically 3 or 4 units).There’s no limit on the number of units you can complete each term, so the more courses you complete, the quicker you can finish your program.
Data Analytics
Advanced Data Analytics
Advanced Data Analytics prepares students for career-long growth in steadily advancing tools and techniques and provides emerging concepts in data analysis. This course hones the mental and theoretical flexibility that will be required of analysts in the coming decades while grounding their approach firmly in ethical and organizational-need-focused practice. Topics include machine learning, neural networks, randomness, and unconventional data sources. Data Mining II is a prerequisite for this course.
Data Cleaning
Data Cleaning continues building proficiency in the data analytics life cycle with data preparation skills. This course addresses exploring, transforming, and imputing data as well as handling outliers. Learners write code to manipulate, structure, and clean data as well as to reduce features in data sets. The following courses are prerequisites: The Data Analytics Journey, and Data Acquisition.
Predictive Modeling
Predictive Modeling builds on initial data preparation, cleaning, and analysis, enabling students to make assertions vital to organizational needs. In this course, students conduct logistic regression and multiple regression to model the phenomena revealed by data. The course covers normality, hom*oscedasticity, and significance, preparing students to communicate findings and the limitations of those findings accurately to organizational leaders. Exploratory Data Analysis is a prerequisite for this course.
Exploratory Data Analysis
Exploratory Data Analysis covers statistical principles supporting the data analytics life cycle. Students in this course compute and interpret measures of central tendency, correlations, and variation. The course introduces hypothesis testing, focusing on application for parametric tests, and addresses communication skills and tools to explain an analyst’s findings to others within an organization. Data Cleaning is a required prerequisite for this course.
The Data Analytics Journey
The Data Analytics Journey gives an overview of the entire analytics life cycle. Learners gain fluency in data analytics terminology, tools, and techniques. The course contextualizes the data analytics journey firmly with organizational metrics and requirements to position graduates to answer key questions for businesses and other employers. This course has no prerequisites.
Data Visualization
Representation and Reporting
Representation and Reporting focuses on communicating observations and patterns to diverse stakeholders, a key aspect of the data analytics life cycle. This course helps students gain communication and storytelling skills. It also covers data visualizations, audio representations, and interactive dashboards. The prerequisite for this course is Data Mining I.
Data Mining
Data Mining II
Data Mining II adds vital tools to data analytics arsenal that incorporates unsupervised models. This course explains when, how, and why to use these tools to best meet organizational needs. The prerequisite for this course is Advanced Data Acquisition.
Data Mining I
Data Mining I expands predictive modeling into nonlinear dimensions, enhancing the capabilities and effectiveness of the data analytics lifecycle. In this course, learners implement supervised models—specifically classification and prediction data mining models—to unearth relationships among variables that are not apparent with more surface-level techniques. The course provides frameworks for assessing models’ sensitivity and specificity. D208 Predictive Modeling is a prerequisite to this course.
Data Management
Data Acquisition
Data Acquisition builds proficiency in Structured Query Language (SQL) and the initial stages of the data analytics lifecycle. The course introduces relational databases. Students gain concrete skills in data transference and database manipulation. There are no prerequisites.
Advanced Data Acquisition
Advanced Data Acquisition enhances theoretical and SQL skills in furthering the data analytics life cycle. This course covers advanced SQL operations, aggregating data, and acquiring data from various sources in support of core organizational needs. The prerequisite for this course is Representation and Reporting.
Capstone
Data Analytics Graduate Capstone
The Data Analytics Graduate Capstone allows students to apply the academic and professional abilities developed as a graduate student. This capstone challenges students to integrate skills and knowledge from several program domains into one project. Advanced Data Analytics is a prerequisite for this course.
11 Courses
Program consists of11 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
Program Guide
Capstone Project
Special requirements for this program
At the end of your program, you will complete a capstone project that represents the culmination of all your hard work—this project consists of a technical work proposal, the proposal’s implementation, and a post-implementation report that describes the graduate’s experience.
Request Info
Skills For Your Résumé
As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for.
- Data Modeling: Successfully designed a comprehensive conceptual data model, laying the foundation for efficient data management and analysis.
- Big Data: Ensured the structure, accuracy, and quality of data.
- Business Intelligence: Created diverse types of charts tailored to various business scenarios, enhancing data visualization and interpretation capabilities.
- Data Quality:Optimized data quality to support operations, decision-making, and strategic planning.
- Business Intelligence:Developed intuitive dashboards featuring key performance indicators, providing actionable insights for organizational performance monitoring.
- Big Data:Developed data processing models encompassing sourcing, loading, transformation, and extraction stages, streamlining data workflows.
“Ijust completed my master's program at WGU, and overall I had a very positive experience. The online degree program was extremely flexible, and that was critical for my success in the program because of other work and family demands. The program mentors were just as flexible and provided helpful guidance along the way, and I feel like I learned a lot during the program. Also, the cost for the program was very reasonable, and they even worked with my employer to provide a tuition discount and deferral program. I would definitely recommend WGU!!”
—Andrew
M.S. Data Analytics
WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 2 years
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay some fees for membership to complete their certification requirements.
Traditional Universities
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 2 years
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay some fees for membership to complete their certification requirements.
Why WGU?
Earning Potential
According to a 2023 Harris Poll, just two years after graduation, WGU grads report earning $22,200 more per year, and that amount increases to $30,300 four years after graduation.
On Your Schedule
No class times, no assignment deadlines. You are in charge of your learning and schedule. You can move through your courses as quickly as you master the material, meaning you can graduate faster.
Entirely Online
The data analytics master's degree at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
“Analytics is the creative use of data and statistical modeling to tell a compelling story that not only drives strategic action, but also results in business value”
-Joe Dery,Dean of Data Analytics, Computer Science, and Software Engineering | WGU
IT CERTIFICATIONS
Data Analytics Certificates Included in this Degree
Completing this degree program includes several WGU certificates: Data Preparation, Data Analytics Fundamentals, and Advanced Data Modeling. Earning certificates on the path to your degree gives you the knowledge, skills, and credentials that will immediately boost your résumé—even before you complete your degree program.
- Data Preparation Certificate
- Data Analytics Fundamentals
- Advanced Data Modeling
COST & TIME
An Affordable Online Data Analytics Degree
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
Tuition Calculator
Pay less by completing your program faster
TOTAL COST:
$
.
5
1
1
.
5
2
2
.
5
3
3
.
5
4
YEARS
Cost Breakdown
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Responsible Borrowing Initiative
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Financial Aid
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
Scholarships
*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to theInstitute for College Access and Success (2022).
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
A Different Way to Learn: Degree Programs Designed to Fit Your Life—and All the Demands on Your Time
Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for adult students. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how education should be. No rigid class schedules. Just a solid, career-focused teaching program that meshes with your current lifestyle. You'll be challenged. You'll work hard.But if you commit yourself and put in the hours needed, WGU makes it possible for you to earn a highly respected degree as a busy working adult.
"I have dreamed about completing my master's degree for many years now and it became a reality only because of WGU. I am so thankful to WGU administration. Many thanks to my mentors and course instructors along the way. Thank you so much WGU!!!”
—Naga Satya Srivani
M.S. Data Analytics
CAREER OUTLOOK
Data Leadership Careers Start with a Master's Degree in Data Analytics
When properly analyzed, every transaction—commercial, medical, social, or academic—can help lead to better business decisions and outcomes in your industry. WGU is key in helping you gain the critical skills and experience you need to thrive in your professional sector. Increase your earning potential, boost your résumé with valuable credentials, and find a career you love with the help of a data analytics master's degree.
From sports to entertainment, every industry is going digital. Organizations need experts who can maximize that data. When you’ve completed your data analytics degree program online, your skills will already be in high demand. The knowledge and techniques you’ll gain as you complete your degree will provide you with all the tools necessary for a successful career.
Return on Your Investment
On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation
Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source:2023 Harris Poll Surveyof 1,655 WGU graduates.
Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.
36%
The number of positions for data scientists is projected to grow by an astounding 36% from 2021 to 2031.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Learn About All the Job Opportunities in Data Analytics
Students who earn a master’s degree in data analytics will be prepared to maximize leadership opportunities in careers including:
- Data Analyst
- Data Administrator
- Business Analyst
- Data Engineer
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Information Research Scientist
- Advanced Analytics Expert
WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers
Explore More
ADMISSIONS
Data Analytics Admissions Requirements
To be considered for enrollment in this program, you must:
1. Possess a bachelor’s degree in aSTEM field,Business degree (Quantitative Analysis, Accounting, Economics, Finance, or degree with similar quantitative focus).
OR
2. Possess any bachelor’s degree PLUS one of the following:
- Two years of related work experience
- Relevant and current IT certification
- Related IT coursework
NOTE: You do not need to take the GRE or GMAT to be admitted to this program.Learn why we don't require these tests.
Transfer Credits
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
FAQs about Master's in Data Analytics Programs
General IT Program Questions
Master in Data Analytics Questions
Data Analytics Advisory Board
You should speak with an Enrollment Counselor. WGU can often provide advice or resources to help a prospective student fulfill enrollment prerequisites.
When you enroll in a WGU degree program, our goal is to see you through to graduation. Admission requirements are designed to increase your likelihood of success. Years of data and experience with the nontraditional students WGU serves have shown us how various types of academic and professional experience can be highly important in helping a student persist to graduation. Industry certifications are one of many ways a student can meet eligibility.
WGU has an obligation to our graduates—and their current and future employers—to ensure WGU alumni have mastered the most up-to-date, current competencies and skills needed in the workplace. Recency of certifications helps us ensure that students have demonstrated competency in skills as they are needed in today's working world.
As a full-time student, you will be required to maintain a minimum pace of 12 competency units (CUs) per term for undergraduate programs or 8 CUs per term for graduate programs. However, there is no maximum speed—once you complete a course, you move immediately to the next, and you complete a course not by waiting for the syllabus, the professor, or the rest of the class. You progress by learning the material and proving it—so you can move through your coursework at the speed of your own learning and experience.
Instructors are highly educated, experienced experts in the subject matter of a course. Unlike in a traditional university where going to class means listening to an instructor lecture while you take notes and try to learn in a group setting, WGU's Instructors provide one-on-one instruction and support when you need it—tailoring the instruction to your precise needs when you need it. Instructors also provide additional resources, lead topical discussions in online communities, and find countless other ways to bring a specific course to life for students.
Absolutely. Data makes our world go round, and every business in every industry needs data to help make decisions. You can work in any field with the help of a degree in data analytics. A master's in data analytics will prepare you to convert raw data into meaningful information that can help business leaders make decisions. Become a great influence with the help of an master's degree in data analytics.
An MS in data analytics is a Master of Science in Data Analytics. This degree helps students learn how to do the many tasks associated with taking raw data and turning it into meaningful information. This includes data mining, programming, analyzation, and more.
A master's degree in data science or data analytics is a great option for IT professionals who are looking to take their career to the next level. Experience in the IT field will be extremely helpful as you pursue a master's degree in data analytics. If you're looking to start a career in IT, a bachelor's degree or certifications can help you begin.
Common careers for those with a master's degree in data analytics include:
- Data analyst
- Business analyst
- Data engineer
- Business intelligence analyst
- Information research scientist
- Advanced analytics expert
A master's degree in data science or data analytics can be challenging, but if you have a solid background and understanding in IT, you'll be able to excel. Experience, education, and certifications in IT can help you be better prepared for this master's degree.
Data Analytics Advisory Board Members
- Boaz Hillebrand,Senior Data Manager, Talent Acquisition – Expedia Group
- John Smits, VP of Worldwide Revenue Operations – Juniper Networks
- Ken Yu Zhang, PhD, Executive Director of Research Technology Data Science – Morgan Stanley
- Mandy Plante, former Senior Director of Global Analytics – eBay
- Mohican Laine,Customer Engineer, Google
- Nolan Hill,SVP of HR Analytics & Data Governance – Bank of America
- Stephen Gatchell,Director of Data Advisory – BigID
- Martijn Theuwissen,CCO and Co-Founder of DataCamp
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?
