The Online MBA in Data Science and Business Analytics

Turn Analytics Into Executive Influence

Data science expertise opens doors. The ability to translate data into strategy, communicate insights to decision-makers, and lead analytics initiatives that drive business outcomes—that's what accelerates careers into leadership.

Santa Clara University's Online MBA with a concentration in Data Science and Business Analytics develops professionals who operate at this level. You'll master the technical foundations: statistical modeling, machine learning, database architecture, and predictive analytics. Then you'll learn to apply those tools where they matter most—in guiding capital allocation, optimizing operations, validating market strategies, and supporting the high-stakes decisions that determine organizational success.

Many analytics professionals can build models. SCU prepares you to be the leader who interprets what those models mean, advocates for evidence-based decisions in executive meetings, and builds analytics functions that create measurable value. The program immerses you in Silicon Valley's data-driven culture while Jesuit values guide your approach to ethical analytics. You'll develop both the technical expertise and strategic perspective that distinguish analytics leaders from analytics specialists.

The results are compelling: 92% of Santa Clara Online MBA alumni report salary increases within six months of graduation.1

Get a Program Brochure

This will only take a moment.
By clicking "Get Program Brochure" and submitting this form, I agree to receive text messages, emails and other communication regarding educational programs and opportunities, and to be contacted by Santa Clara University and Everspring, its authorized representative. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. View our privacy policy and disclosures.
Smiling woman with a whiteboard that has colorful sticky notes on it blurred in the background.

Program Snapshot: Online MBA in Data Science and Business Analytics

  • Four start dates: fall, winter, spring, and summer
  • Graduate in as little as two years
  • Two on-campus residencies
  • AACSB-accredited

Review the Admissions Requirements

Double the Advantage: Technical Excellence and Strategic Vision

Most MBA programs offer introductory analytics coursework. SCU's Online MBA with a concentration in Data Science and Business Analytics provides rigorous, comprehensive training in both disciplines—preparing you to leverage data as a competitive tool.

The curriculum starts with core MBA courses in finance, operations, marketing, and leadership, deepening your understanding of how businesses function across all dimensions. Your concentration then layers on advanced training in statistical modeling, machine learning, database architecture, and predictive analytics: the quantitative capabilities that transform raw data into actionable business intelligence.

Why pursue both? Because organizations need more than skilled analysts—they need leaders who interpret complex findings for executive audiences, connect data insights to strategic priorities, and drive evidence-based decision-making across functions. SCU's Online MBA in Data Science and Business Analytics develops exactly this dual proficiency.

Data Science and Business Analytics Concentration Course Highlights

ECON 3430: Game Theory (4 units)

Master theoretical tools for analyzing strategic business situations including conflict, bargaining, and organizational dynamics. Study game theory concepts such as Nash and Bayesian Nash equilibrium, subgame perfection, and strategic commitment—frameworks that inform competitive strategy and decision-making in complex business environments.

ISBA 2400: Math for Business and Analytics With R (4 units)

Build the mathematical foundation essential for quantitative finance and business analytics. Cover calculus, linear algebra, and probability theory with hands-on application in R programming. Learn to apply these mathematical concepts to real business contexts throughout the MBA curriculum.

ISBA 2401: Data Analytics With Python (4 units)

Develop comprehensive programming skills for data science using Python and industry-standard tools including Jupyter Notebook, NumPy, Pandas, and scikit-learn. Master the complete data analysis workflow: importing and cleaning data, transformation, visualization, statistical modeling, and communicating results. Apply these skills through a final project using real-world data.

ISBA 2402: Database Management Systems (2 units)

Gain technical and managerial skills in database planning, design, implementation, and maintenance. Learn to design and develop reliable databases that support organizational decision-making using relational database management systems, with hands-on training in database development.

FNCE 2404: Introduction to Time Series Forecasting (2 units)

Learn forecasting methods essential for analyzing time series data. Study modeling techniques including ARIMA, SARIMA, and GARCH to produce forecasts. Develop the analytical language and tools to describe time series patterns and generate predictions that inform business planning.

FNCE 2408: Analytics for Finance (2 units)

Master panel data analysis methods used in empirical corporate finance research. Learn econometric techniques including linear regression, pooled and fixed effect models, instrumental variables, differences-in-differences, and regression discontinuity. Develop skills to identify causal relationships in financial data through academic research and hands-on empirical analysis.

ISBA 2418: Machine Learning with Finance (4 units)

Explore quantitative techniques and algorithms for analyzing large numerical and textual datasets. Study machine learning models and data analytics methods currently used across business applications. Prepare for rigorous analysis of big data throughout the MBA curriculum while building business intelligence capabilities.
Customize your Online MBA in Data Science and Business Analytics around your career goals.

The MBA curriculum offers electives across business disciplines including global business perspectives, strategic change management, and enterprise platform design.

View the Full Curriculum

The Advantages of SCU's MBA Concentration in Data Science and Business Analytics

Access to Silicon Valley's Data-Driven Ecosystem
You'll learn from experts in the heart of the world's most analytics-intensive business environment. Silicon Valley's technology companies, data science teams, and AI-driven organizations set the standard for leveraging data as competitive advantage. Through faculty connections and the broader SCU network, you'll have access to data leaders and analytics professionals who understand what it takes to build high-impact analytics functions. And because this is distance learning, you’ll bring this Silicon Valley expertise to your role wherever you work.
Ethical Analytics and Responsible AI
Santa Clara's Jesuit foundation integrates a distinct perspective into data science education. You'll examine the ethical dimensions of algorithmic decision-making, data privacy, bias in machine learning models, and responsible AI deployment. This grounding prepares you to lead analytics initiatives that balance business performance with stakeholder trust—increasingly essential as organizations face growing scrutiny over how they collect, analyze, and apply data.
A Network of Analytics Leaders Across Industries
Your faculty bring real-world experience from companies like Apple, IBM, and CitiBank. Your classmates are analytics professionals from diverse industries across the country. You'll build relationships with peers, mentors, and industry professionals who become your professional network for decades.
Request More Information
Schedule a Call
Woman in a business suit presenting data on a large screen, pointing to a pie chart.

Lead Analytics Initiatives That Shape Business Strategy

An MBA in Data Science and Business Analytics from the Leavey School of Business positions you for leadership roles in which data drives organizational success:

  • Chief data officer (CDO) / VP of analytics: Guide enterprise data strategy, build analytics functions, and align data initiatives with business objectives across the organization
  • VP of operations / general management: Lead business units or functional areas where data-driven decision-making creates competitive advantage, using analytics expertise to optimize performance, guide strategic planning, and drive organizational growth across diverse teams and initiatives
  • Director of business intelligence: Lead teams that transform data into actionable insights, develop reporting frameworks, and support executive decision-making
  • Analytics manager: Oversee analytics projects, translate complex findings for stakeholders, and drive data-informed strategies across departments
  • Data science lead: Build and lead data science teams, develop predictive models that guide business decisions, and communicate technical insights to non-technical executives
  • Financial planning & analysis (FP&A) manager: Apply advanced analytics to forecasting, budgeting, and financial planning that guides business strategy and operational decisions in corporate finance
  • Director of product analytics: Guide product strategy through data analysis, A/B testing, user behavior insights, and metrics that inform product development
  • Analytics consultant / advisor: Guide organizations on data strategy, analytics capability building, and evidence-based decision-making frameworks

What Success Looks Like

#3
Online Business Analytics MBA2
—U.S. News & World Report
92%
of alumni report salary increases within six months of graduation1

Beyond immediate compensation, you'll build career resilience in an economy increasingly driven by data. Organizations across every industry need leaders who can navigate AI implementation, establish ethical data governance, and build analytics capabilities that create competitive advantage. The skills you develop position you not just for your next role, but for sustained leadership as data's influence on business continues to expand.

Start Your Application

Woman sitting on a wooden bench outdoors using a laptop.

24/7 flexibility. Uncompromising quality.

Santa Clara designed this Online MBA concentration in Data Science and Business Analytics for working professionals who can't relocate or step away from their careers.

Complete your MBA in as little as two years while working full-time. Four annual start dates let you begin when it serves your situation. All classes are conducted online with asynchronous and synchronous elements—watch lectures and complete assignments on your schedule while joining live sessions for real-time collaboration.

Two short on-campus residencies bring you to campus for intensive, face-to-face experiences. You'll participate in workshops and networking events that transform your cohort from online connections into lasting professional relationships.

The online format helps you maintain career momentum throughout your program. You'll apply new knowledge to your current role as you study—often increasing your value and visibility at your company.

Explore the Online Experience

View Tuition and Financial Aid

FAQs for the Online MBA in Data Science and Business Analytics

Does a concentration take longer than a general MBA?

No. Santa Clara's Data Science and Business Analytics concentration follows the same timeline as the general MBA—completion in as little as two years. The concentration means you'll choose specialized classes for a portion of your coursework while completing the full core MBA curriculum. You gain deep expertise without extending your time to graduation.

Who should pursue an MBA in Data Science and Business Analytics?

This concentration is ideal for professionals seeking leadership roles in analytics, business intelligence, data science, or strategic decision-making. The combination of technical skills and business leadership training prepares you for impact across industries including technology, finance, consulting, healthcare, and operations—anywhere organizations leverage data to drive competitive advantage.

How does an MBA in Data Science compare to a master's in data science?

An MBA with a data science concentration provides significantly broader business leadership and strategy training than a specialized master's degree. While master's programs dive deep into technical methods, the MBA develops your strategic thinking across all business functions—finance, operations, marketing, and organizational leadership. This makes you valuable not just in analytics roles, but in general management positions where you'll guide enterprise strategy. For professionals seeking long-term leadership trajectory, the MBA offers substantially more value.
Smiling man in a light-colored button-down shirt facing the camera in a professional setting.

Take Command of Your Analytics Future

Tomorrow's analytics leaders will be those who transform complex data into strategic direction, who bridge technical expertise with business context, and who lead with both analytical rigor and ethical responsibility.

Santa Clara University's Online MBA with a concentration in Data Science and Business Analytics equips you to be that kind of leader. The program combines Silicon Valley's data-driven innovation culture with Jesuit principles and rigorous technical training, building your capability to extract insights that drive decisions, lead analytics initiatives that create value, and navigate the ethical challenges of AI and algorithmic systems.

Start Your Application

Lynn and Junaid

Need more info? That’s what we’re here for.

There’s so much to know about Leavey’s online programs that you’re bound to have questions. We’re here to help. For information and support, schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable, friendly admissions outreach advisors. They’ll make sure you get all the answers.

Schedule a Call
Send an Email

Admissions Deadlines for the Online MBA Program

Aug
10
Priority Deadline
August 10
Fall 2026 Term
Aug
30
Application Deadline
August 30
Fall 2026 Term
Sept
21
Next Start
September 21
Fall 2026 Term
Admissions Information
Start an Application
Sources

1. As of June 30, 2025. Based on self-reported data from Online MBA program alumni, in graduating cohorts between 2021 and February 2025, at six months post-graduation.
2. Retrieved on March 27, 2026, from usnews.com/education/online-education/mba/online-business-analytics-rankings