Why Choose the Eller Part-Time Master of Science in Business Analytics?

Data is reshaping every industry. The professionals who thrive are not just those who can collect and clean it. They are the ones who can interpret it, communicate it, and use it to drive decisions that matter. You’re already building a career. The question is whether your analytics skills are keeping pace with where business is headed. 

Whether you are early in your career and looking to build a competitive edge, mid-career and ready to move into analytics leadership, or beginning your transition into a data-driven field, the Eller College of Management Part-Time Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) is designed to meet you where you are.

Delivered in the heart of Chandler, Arizona, surrounded by the Greater Phoenix technology and business corridor, this program lets you advance your skills without stepping away from your career.

What Will I Gain from the Part-Time MSBA through the Eller HSLopez School of Business Analytics?

In-Demand Analytics Skills

The business landscape increasingly rewards those who can turn complex data into clear, actionable strategy. In the Eller Part-Time MSBA, you will learn how to:

• Apply advanced analytical tools and techniques to real business problems
• Turn raw data into decisions your leadership team will act on
• Build and interpret predictive models that inform strategic decisions
• Translate data insights into compelling narratives for non-technical audiences
• Apply machine learning, data visualization and statistical methods in practical settings

Coursework is designed for immediate application. You will not simply study analytics frameworks, you will use them on problems drawn from real organizations, building a portfolio that demonstrates your capabilities to employers.

A Business-First Perspective on Data

What sets the Eller MSBA apart is its grounding in business strategy, application and communication of results. The program strengthens your ability to:

• Connect data analysis to organizational goals and decision-making
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate findings across all levels
• Lead analytics initiatives within your organization
• Present results to executives, peers, and clients
• Build the credibility needed to lead data initiatives, not just support them

Through the Part-Time MSBA program, you won’t just become a better analyst. You’ll become the person who understands how to translate data into intentional decision making and leadership. 

What Makes the Part-Time MSBA Program Unique?

A Format Built for Working Professionals

The Eller Part-Time MSBA is intentionally structured, so you never have to choose between advancing your education and excelling in your current role. Classes are scheduled to accommodate full-time work schedules, giving you the flexibility to grow professionally while remaining fully present in your career. You’ll have class once a week in the evenings at most and you choose the pace. You can complete the program in as few as 16 months, or as many as 33 months.

Your Peers Are Your Competitive Advantage

The collaborative environment allows you to tackle complex business challenges alongside professionals who understand the nuances of the current market. Ultimately, you will walk away with more than just a degree; you will possess a powerful professional network that spans the entire Phoenix metro area, connecting you to Arizona’s fastest-growing corporate landscape.

You will learn alongside a cohort of peers who bring diverse professional backgrounds. From finance and healthcare to technology, marketing, operations, and beyond. As you work through complex analytics challenges together, you will:

• Develop the ability to collaborate across industries and functions
• Build a professional network rooted in Greater Phoenix's dynamic business community
• Gain insight from peers who bring different lenses to the same data problems

For many graduates, the cohort network becomes one of the most enduring professional assets of the degree. It connects and builds a community of analytics-minded leaders connected to one of America's most vibrant and fast-growing regional economies.

Built for the Phoenix Market

Strategically placed in the center of Arizona’s tech and innovation hub, the program offers unparalleled convenience, by providing direct access to the regional employers and thriving industries currently driving the massive demand for top-tier analytics talent. By understanding the complexities of your daily life, the program features a customized schedule specifically designed for working professionals, to ensure you can advance your career while effectively managing full-time jobs, family and personal commitments.

Learning That Goes Beyond the Classroom

We move beyond theory to ensure you are career-ready from day one, by prioritizing the practical application of the skills you learn in the classroom. You will engage in projects with actual companies and real-world datasets, allowing you to solve tangible business problems rather than working with hypotheticals. By learning from industry practitioners who bring current market insights into the classroom, you will gain hands-on exposure to the specific platforms and tools that are dominating job descriptions right now.

At the HSLopez School of Business Analytics, learning from industry does not stop at the classroom door. Throughout the year, we connect students directly with the professionals and executives who are defining the future of analytics, data science and AI across industries.

Each year, the HSLopez School hosts two flagship events within Arizona, the Eller Business Analytics Summit and the Business Analytics & Data Leadership Forum, where students engage with keynote speakers and panelists from organizations such as the Chicago Bears, Apple, Meta, American Express, Amazon Web Services, Sony Pictures, and Honeywell Aerospace. These summits feature keynote presentations, interactive panel discussions, breakout sessions, and dedicated networking time, giving you the opportunity to learn from and build relationships with leaders who are applying analytics at the highest levels.

Beyond the summits, the HSLopez Speaker Series brings a steady stream of industry practitioners to campus throughout the academic year. Recent guests have included analytics leaders from the Phoenix Suns, Ernst & Young, NBCUniversal, Amazon, First American Data & Analytics, SAS, and Carvana, as well as entrepreneurs, career coaches, and researchers pushing the boundaries of AI and automation in business. These sessions offer practical exposure to how analytics is being used right now, and where it is headed next.

This level of ongoing industry engagement means you are not just learning analytics in theory, you are building the professional connections and market awareness that accelerate careers.

What’s the Return on Investment for an Eller MSBA?

The program’s curriculum is structured to allow you to see a direct return on your investment, even before you graduate, by applying new insights to your work in real-time. Because you can remain employed throughout the program, the impact begins immediately. As you build new skills, you may begin to:

• Take on analytics projects and responsibilities within your current organization
• Contribute more directly to data-driven decision-making at your company
• Expand your professional visibility and positioning for advancement
• Open doors to new roles in analytics, data science, business intelligence, and strategy

The return is not only financial. You gain a richer toolkit, a broader professional network, and the confidence to lead with data in any business environment. Whether you are aiming for analytics leadership, senior strategy roles, or a deliberate industry pivot, this program positions you for both significant personal and professional growth. 

Is this program right for you? 

This program may be an ideal fit if you:

• Are early in your career and want to build a strong analytics foundation
• Are mid-career and ready to transition into analytics leadership or a data-focused role
• Are changing careers and need a rigorous, credential-backed path into business analytics
• Want to make a pivot into analytics or accelerate your current data skills
• Want to continue working full time while earning a graduate degree
• Are already located in or can easily access the Greater Phoenix area

If your next career chapter is defined by data, the Eller Part-Time MSBA provides the skills, the network, and the Eller name to help you get there.

Are you ready to take the next step? Learn more about the Eller Part-Time MSBA