Online Master's in Data Analytics and Data Science Programs in Massachusetts

There are currently four schools offering online master’s in analytics programs in the state of Massachusetts: Bay Path University; Boston University; Brandeis University; and Northeastern University. OnlineEducation.com evaluates programs based on their curricula, and classifies them according to set criteria. Based on these criteria, Bay Path University, Boston University, Brandeis University, and Northeastern University all offer online master’s in data analytics programs. In addition, Boston University offers an analytics degree that OnlineEducation.com classifies as an online master’s in business intelligence program. All four schools offer programs that are 100% online, and do not require any campus visits.

The Master of Science in Applied Data Science offered by Bay Path University has a curriculum that targets core data analytics skills in mathematics and statistics, as well as data mining tools and technologies. This 12-course online master’s program includes a capstone project, and is designed to be completed in 12 months by students who enroll full-time. Students who opt for part-time enrollment can expect to finish in 24 months. (As noted above, OnlineEducation.com classifies this program as a master’s in data analytics program based on the curriculum.)

Bay Path University utilizes a learning management system that supports asynchronous instruction, which gives students on-demand access to videotaped lectures and other course materials. Online discussion boards are used to facilitate peer-to-peer interactions, and instructors hold regular online office hours. The online MS in Applied Data Science has two start dates each year, in October and in February.

The Department of Computer Science at Boston University offers an online Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (MSCIS) with a Data Analytics concentration, and a Database Management & Business Intelligence concentration. Students in the program have the option of choosing a master’s in data analytics or a master’s in business intelligence curriculum. Both concentrations require the completion of ten courses, which can be done in 18-24 months of part-time enrollment.

Boston University’s online MSCIS program relies primarily on asynchronous instruction, which gives students on-demand access to videotaped lectures and other course materials. However, some courses may incorporate real-time elements, like live-streamed lectures and/or discussion sessions. The MSCIS program has six start dates per year.

The Graduate School of Professional Studies at Brandeis University offers an online Master of Science in Strategic Analytics program that focuses on the technical aspects of data analysis, and the organizational leadership and communication skills associated with business management. The program includes seven core analytics courses and three electives. It can be completed in roughly two-and-a-half years of part-time enrollment, but students have up to five years to finish the requirements.

The online courses offered through Brandeis University’s Graduate School of Professional Studies are capped at 16 students. They utilize a learning management system that supports asynchronous instruction, while encouraging peer-to-peer interaction through class discussion boards. The program has three start dates per year, in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Northeastern University offers two online masters’s in data analytics programs: an online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), and a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Analytics. The MSBA program, which has a marketing analytics track, is offered through the D’Amore-McKim School of Business, and it targets business-specific applications of analytics tools and technologies. Students in the program typically graduate in 18-24 months, but full-time students can complete the program in one year. The MSBA program has two start dates per year in the fall and spring.

The MPS in Analytics program is administered by Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies, and it focuses on a broader range of analytics applications for data-driven decision-making. Students who enroll in this program full-time can graduate in one year, while part-time students generally take two years to complete the requirements. The MPS in Analytics program has three start dates per year, in the fall, winter and spring sessions.

Both of Northern University’s online master’s in data analytics programs utilize NU Online, a learning management system that supports asynchronous instruction.

In addition to the four in-state schools offering online master’s in analytics programs, there are 73 schools that offer a total of 90 programs in other states that accept applicants from Massachusetts. This may be of particular interest to students who are looking for an online master’s in data science program. Of the 73 out-of-state schools with online master’s in analytics programs, 59 offer programs that are 100% online. The remaining 14 schools offer programs that require no more than two campus visits per year. Many schools charge the same tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state online students, but, prospective students should confirm total tuition costs with each school before applying.

Online Data Analytics and Data Science Programs in Massachusetts

Online Data Analytics and Data Science Programs that Accept Students from Massachusetts

*Programs with fully online instruction do not require students to visit the campus during the program. Programs marked “No” require students to visit the campus two or fewer times per year for on-campus orientations or intensive sessions.