Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Analytics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Iowa State University

Program Overview

The Business Analytics program at Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business combines business knowledge with statistics, technology and data analysis, preparing students to turn complex data into useful insights for business decision-making. It is well suited to students who enjoy working with numbers, technology and problem-solving and want to develop skills in programming, databases, analytics, data visualization and evidence-based business strategy.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their business and quantitative foundation through courses such as ECON 1010 Principles of Microeconomics, STAT 2026 Introduction to Business Statistics and COMS 1130 Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases. They also develop mathematical, communication and business fundamentals through courses including MATH 1500 Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences, preparing them for more specialized analytics study.

Year 2: Students begin moving more directly into technology and analytical business coursework. MIS 2070 Fundamentals of Programming for Business and Analytics introduces programming concepts relevant to business data, while STAT 3226 Intermediate Business Statistics strengthens statistical reasoning and MIS 3010 adds to their information-systems foundation.

Year 3: Students apply their quantitative and technology skills to dedicated analytics subjects. MIS 3200 Database Management Systems develops their ability to work with structured business data, while MIS 4360 Introduction to Business Analytics introduces the analytical process and prepares students to identify patterns and generate insights for decision-makers.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced analytics and specialized applications. MIS 4460 Advanced Business Analytics allows students to deepen their analytical capabilities, while Business Analytics electives can extend their interests into areas such as Data Visualization and Storytelling, Analytics for Marketing Strategies, Supply Chain Analytics, Quantitative Investment Analysis or Decision Tools for Logistics and Operations Management.

Focus areas: Business analytics, quantitative modeling, data analysis, programming, database management, data visualization, business statistics, data mining, marketing analytics, financial analytics, supply chain analytics and evidence-based decision-making.

Learning outcomes: Students develop effective communication and collaboration skills, problem-solving ability, business knowledge, awareness of ethical and legal responsibilities, and knowledge of data analysis and computation.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Ivy College of Business curriculum is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), providing an internationally recognized quality framework for business education.

Reputation (employability rankings/statistics): Iowa State’s 2023–24 Business Career Services data reports that 85% of Business Analytics graduates were engaged within six months of graduation, including professional employment, graduate school, additional education and temporary employment/seeking permanent employment. Among reported bachelor-level salaries, the average was $65,106, with reported salaries ranging from $37,500 to $78,000; 61 internships were also reported.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students develop practical analytics capabilities by working with programming, databases, statistics and business analytics throughout the curriculum. Iowa State specifically identifies Power BI and Tableau as data-visualization tools employers want students to know, while the major also encourages students to strengthen their experience through internships, case competitions, the ISBA student organization, Gerdin Leadership Academy and LinkedIn Learning.

The Ivy College of Business also connects students with employers through career fairs, major-specific events and classroom-based industry activities. Students can build professional experience through the college’s career infrastructure, including CyHire, employer events, internships, case competitions and career coaching:

Power BI and Tableau: The Business Analytics major specifically identifies Power BI and Tableau as data-visualization tools that employers want students to know.
Programming and databases: MIS 2070 Fundamentals of Programming for Business and Analytics and MIS 3200 Database Management Systems give students hands-on exposure to programming and business data systems.
Data visualization and storytelling: Students can select MIS 3116X Data Visualization and Storytelling as a Business Analytics elective, developing the ability to communicate analytical findings visually.
Analytics applications: Electives include MIS 4680 Analytics for Marketing Strategies, SCM 4300 Supply Chain Analytics, FIN 4260 Quantitative Investment Analysis and MGMT 4730 Evidence-Based Decision Making in Human Resource Management, allowing students to apply analytics across different business functions.
Internships and co-ops: The 2023–24 Business Analytics outcomes report records 61 internships and provides reported internship wage data, demonstrating an established pathway for students to gain workplace experience.
Ivy Hackathon: Business Analytics students are encouraged to participate in the Ivy Hackathon, providing an opportunity to develop analytical and problem-solving skills through a competitive setting.
ISBA Club: Students can join the Information Systems Business Analytics (ISBA) Club to complement their academic studies and engage with the business analytics community.
Fin + Tech Career Night: The ISBA Club collaborates with Business Career Services on Fin + Tech Career Night, where employers connect with students interested in finance and technology careers.
Career fairs and employer engagement: The Ivy College of Business hosts the Business, Industry and Technology Career Fair, along with employer information sessions, career nights and Mass Interview Day for internship and full-time opportunities.
Gerdin Leadership Academy: Students can develop leadership, ethics, professional development and community-engagement skills through the Gerdin Leadership Academy microcredential program.
Career technology: Students can use CyHire to research internship and job postings, while LinkedIn Learning is available for additional technical and professional skill development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Business Analytics graduates can move into data-driven roles across technology, finance, marketing, consulting, operations and other business functions. Iowa State’s recent Business Analytics graduate data lists roles including Data Analyst, Business Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer, Business Systems Analyst, Marketing Analyst/Consultant, Financial Services Consultant, Solutions Analyst, Technology Risk Associate and Sports Performance Analyst.

Typical career roles include Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer and Marketing Analyst:

Business Career Services: Students receive individualized, major-specific support through professional Career Coordinators, including help with resumes, cover letters, interviewing, job searches, career fairs and employer networking.
Employment outcomes: In the 2023–24 Business Analytics report, 85% of graduates were engaged within six months of graduation, with 70% employed professionally, 10% pursuing graduate school, 5% temporarily employed/seeking permanent employment and 15% seeking employment.
Salary information: Among 16 reported bachelor-level Business Analytics salaries, the average was $65,106, with a low of $37,500 and a high of $78,000. Reported internship wages averaged $18.98 per hour.
Employer connections: Ivy Career Services provides employers with opportunities to participate in course projects, case competitions, guest speaking, career fairs, internships, recruiting events and information sessions.
Industry engagement: The Business, Industry and Technology Career Fair connects students with hundreds of employers, while the Fin + Tech Career Night specifically connects students interested in finance and technology with employers.
Career preparation: Students can use CyHire for internship and job opportunities, receive individualized career coaching, participate in mock interviews and attend career-preparation events.
Professional development: The Gerdin Leadership Academy, ISBA Club, case competitions and LinkedIn Learning provide additional ways to develop leadership, technical and professional capabilities alongside the academic curriculum.
Accreditation value: The Ivy College of Business curriculum is AACSB-accredited, giving students a business education within an internationally recognized accreditation framework.
Graduate outcomes: The program's combination of business, statistics, programming, databases and analytics prepares graduates for employment or further study, while the curriculum allows students to specialize their analytics interests through electives in areas such as marketing, finance, supply chain and human resources.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the undergraduate Business Analytics degree, students can pursue graduate-level study in areas such as business analytics, information systems, data science, business intelligence, finance, marketing analytics or related business and technology disciplines. Iowa State also notes that students can complement the major with a second major, minor or certificate, giving them additional options for building a specialized academic profile before entering graduate study or professional employment.