Master of Science in Business Analytics

Business analytics is the application of statistical, computational, quantitative, econometric and management techniques to the information flows of an organization for the purpose of addressing business needs and improving decision making. ​

The MSBA program aims to give students the knowledge, training and skills required to fulfill a broad spectrum of business analytics roles. ​

The Anderson MBA programs offer a more extensive core curriculum and then allow students to choose a specialty in a particular area — strategy, marketing, finance, operations, entrepreneurship, high-technology management — with an aim to work in generally less technical or nontechnical management and leadership roles. MBA programs are longer in duration (two to three years) and require three to five years of work experience for admission.​

The MFE program differs from the MSBA program in that quantitatively focused MFE students take only courses directly related to modern finance theory and practice, such as stochastic calculus.​

The MSBA Curriculum is held on-campus from Fall 2023 through Fall 2024, and it’s cohort based with two sections.

The 15 month program begins in Fall 2023 quarter ( September 28, 2022 - December 15, 2023). Winter quarter ( January 3, 2024 - March 22, 2024) continues through Spring quarter (March 27, 2024 - June 14, 2024) followed by a summer internship (June 2024- September, 2024). The final segment of the program begins in the Fall 2024 quarter (September 2, 2024 - December 13, 2024) . During the Fall 2024 quarter, continuing MSBA students must take campus-based classes. Upon successful completion of all requirements, students graduate from the program in December 13, 2024.

Please note: Students cannot accelerate their studies and graduate early. This is a 15-month program, and the courses are only offered once a year.

No, you cannot apply to both programs. However, if you apply to the MFE program and do not receive an offer of admission, the MSBA program may consider your application provided you meet the minimum qualifications. Alternatively, if you only wish to be considered for the MSBA program this year, you will have to withdraw your MFE application first before applying to the MSBA program.

MSBA graduates land a wide range of roles across multiple industries, often based upon the level of technical ability and programming skills they bring to the program. Students with stronger technical backgrounds, if interested, are more likely to land roles like “data scientist” or “data engineer.” Students who are less experienced and/or interested in the programming aspects of analytics land roles like “data analyst,” “business analyst,” and “product manager.”

For an in-depth overview of career outcomes and the career services support we offer, please see the Career Impact page.

The average base salary for the Class of 2021 was $115,568. This does not include additional compensation, such as year-end bonuses and stock. The average signing bonus for the Class of 2021 was $14,821, with 41% of the class receiving a signing bonus.​

All prospective students are expected to have a strong quantitative background, including linear algebra, multivariate calculus, statistics and probability. In addition, applicants should have some experience or coursework in computer programming (e.g., C, Java, or Python), plus statistical and econometric modeling (e.g., R, SAS, STATA, or MATLAB). It is important to demonstrate competence in analytical skills in your application, through undergraduate math courses and/or your GMAT or GRE score.

Program Prerequisites

The total program cost for the MSBA Class of 2023 is anticipated to be $70,771. This does not include living expenses, transportation, parking, books, health insurance, campus fees or a laptop computer. The cost is subject to change on an annual basis.​

The UCLA Anderson MSBA office will accept an unofficial electronic copy of the transcript submitted with your application for admissions consideration, but will require an official copy sent directly from your university upon admission.

Transcripts can be mailed to:

UCLA Anderson MSBA Program
110 Westwood Plaza
Suite B201
Box 951481
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481

Yes, the UCLA Anderson MSBA program qualifies as STEM, which can extend an international student's Optional Practical Training (OPT) by 24 months - for a total of 36 months. OPT is temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student's major area of study. OPT rules may be found here.

Work experience is not required but it is recommended for admission to the UCLA Anderson MSBA program. It is important for you to assess your own readiness when deciding to apply. Recent college graduates who have exceptional academic records and test scores, as well as strong demonstrated leadership in college, are encouraged to apply to the UCLA Anderson MSBA program. We seek to admit students at different points in their professional lives. Please note that it is not the quantity, but the quality of your experience (and how it fits with your goals) that counts.

High. The Master of Science in Business Analytics program is intersectional in its goals to educate with a cutting-edge research-based curriculum offered by our ladder faculty plus the applied training offered in our technical, industry, and career courses. In combination, UCLA Anderson MSBA courses prepare our graduates to answer questions of strategic importance, often early in their careers. Our recruiters have high expectations of you, and so do we. If you are a hiker who pays attention to the difficulty of your hike in advance, know that this one is hard. You will earn your accolades. We expect a lot of you and expect you to set and adhere to a high standard of excellence and academic integrity along the way.

If you are seeking a quick and easy path to a top tier graduate school diploma, UCLA Anderson MSBA is not the right program for you. If our admissions process is successful, no student will be here “just for the paper/diploma.”  We seek the top leaders, communicators and analysts among a very large pool of applicants. Rise to the opportunity!

We have been surprised in recent years to find that despite being a degree focused on data integrity and thoughtful and complete analysis, a small percentage of admits have had to learn the hard way that shared work, plagiarism and all other academic integrity violations are a violation of the UCLA Honor Code.

UCLA Anderson MSBA is a challenging program, but it is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop a skillset that will pay important dividends for you and those lucky to hire you. Cutting corners is almost always discovered and when it is, it creates a very challenging experience for the student and program. It also results in your falsely offering the marketplace what is in reality an under-developed skillset—which will ultimately be uncovered and damage your career, possibly irreparably.

You will soon represent the integrity of the data as well as the organizations who hire you. Character counts to them and to us   We take integrity seriously and recommend all cases to the University Ombudsman when discovered. If you are seeking a lenient program on issues of cheating, the UCLA Anderson MSBA program is not for you.

No, there is no set quota for any type of student in our class; our aim is to recruit the best qualified students for our program.

There is no foreign language requirement; only English proficiency is required. This is consistent with all of the graduate degree programs offered by UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Yes! UCLA Anderson is home to many international students and faculty members. Applicants who do not have U.S. citizenship or permanent residence at the time of applying are considered as international. Please direct all your visa-related inquiries to the Dashew Center for International Students & Scholars website for the most up-to-date information.

International students who have been admitted to the MSBA program will receive an email notification from the Dashew Center. This email will be sent shortly after paying the enrollment deposit and will have instructions on how to request an I-20.

Applicants who hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university located in the United States or in another country (e.g., Australia, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom) in which English is both the primary spoken language of daily life and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from the TOEFL / IELTS requirement. Applicants who were educated in countries where English is not the primary spoken language of daily life are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS, no matter the language used at their school.  This includes applicants with degrees from multi- lingual countries such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan, etc. 

The overall minimum required band score on the IELTS is 7.0.

There are two different types of TOEFL tests you may take. The minimum score requirement for each is as follows:

• Internet-based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT): 87
• Paper-based TOEFL (TOEFL PBT): 560

Please note  For the TOEFL iBT, the following are expected passing scores for each section and the minimum total passing score:

• Writing: 25
• Speaking: 24
• Reading: 21
• Listening: 17

Total minimum passing score: 87

Bear in mind that these are minimum scores, and that few applicants have been admitted with scores below 100 on the iBT, 260 on the TOEFL-CBT, or below 600 on the paper-based version. For more information, visit the TOEFL web site or call (609) 771-7100. 

TOEFL test scores are valid for two (2) years.
To report the TOEFL score to us electronically, you must select institution code 4837 - UCLA ANDERSON SCHL OF MGMT and then choose "Graduate Schools of Management" as the department code.

UCLA Anderson's MSBA Program is a full-time program. Part-time student status is not permitted. Students may work full-time (up to 40 hours per week) during their summer internship the quarter prior to graduation, and may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during Winter, Spring, and the final Fall quarter with program approval. Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 each quarter and cumulatively, prioritizing academics over employment. 

At a minimum, students must satisfy the UCLA Graduate Division admissions requirements:

The general requirement for admission for a U.S. student is a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor's degree from the University of California. A scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is required (or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used) —for the last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units of undergraduate study and in any post-baccalaureate study.

Degrees which are not considered comparable include those granted on the basis of work completed at institutions which are not fully accredited and those granted on the basis of non-academic prior learning, test scores, or other than organized supervised coursework in academic subjects.

An international student whose post-secondary education is completed outside of the U.S. is expected to hold a degree representing completion of at least four years of study with above average scholarship from a university or university-level institution.

No, you cannot apply to both programs. However, if you apply to the MFE program and do not receive an offer of admission, the MSBA program may consider your application provided you meet the minimum qualifications. Alternatively, if you only wish to be considered for the MSBA program this year, you will have to withdraw your MFE application first before applying to the MSBA program.

The UCLA Anderson MSBA office will accept an unofficial electronic copy of the transcript submitted with your application for admissions consideration, but will require an official copy sent directly from your university upon admission.

Transcripts can be mailed to:

UCLA Anderson MSBA Program
110 Westwood Plaza
Suite B201
Box 951481
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481

Two. It is suggested that letters of recommendation be written by individuals who can evaluate your quantitative skills and your management potential (e.g., professors, employers and managers).

The third recommendation letter is optional. If you do not wish to submit a third recommendation with your application, then enter any (arbitrary) email address and it will be ignored.

Applicants are required to submit three essays as part of the online application to the MSBA program. These application essays help the Admissions Committee become acquainted with applicants as individuals, and they demonstrate an applicant's ability to write concisely and economically.

REQUIRED ESSAYS:

Essay 1:

Business analytics requires a combination of mathematical/quantitative abilities and creative thinking. Describe a project you worked on, either as a student or professional, that demonstrates your analytical and creative problem-solving skills. Tell us why this project was interesting to you. (Maximum 750 words)

Essay 2:

Statement of purpose: Share academic and professional background, skills, accomplishments; research interests; academic/career goals. Describe why this graduate program is a good fit for you. 

Essay 3:

Personal Statement: Personal motivation for applying to UCLA Anderson. Please share any relevant experiences, challenges, or accomplishments.

The total program cost for the MSBA Class of 2023 is anticipated to be $70,771. This does not include living expenses, transportation, parking, books, health insurance, campus fees or a laptop computer. The cost is subject to change on an annual basis.​

The non-refundable application fee is $200 for all applicants.

Yes, admitted students who want to reserve a space in the incoming class must complete the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and must pay the enrollment fee. This fee is expected to be $2,000 for Fall 2021. This fee is non-refundable and counts as a deposit towards the total program fees.

Components of an application are not weighted — all of the factors are important aspects of the application and we do a comprehensive review and look at the total application holistically.

Please ask the letter writer to send a copy of the letter directly to msba.admissions@anderson.ucla.edu.

Applications for and information concerning the GRE may be obtained by calling 609-771-7670, or by visiting the GRE website. Be sure to send GRE scores to institution school code 2216.

Applications for and information for the GMAT can be found on the GMAT website. The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test (CAT) that is administered three weeks per month, six days per week throughout the year at approximately 400 computer-based testing sites in North America and many other parts of the world. To obtain further information and/or to make testing arrangements, visit the Graduate Management Admission Council website. Our school code to send test results to UCLA Anderson is 2NZ-2F-84.

GMAT: Online testing will continue to be available through December 31. 2020. Nearly 80% of global test centers are open, including almost 100% of centers located in China. However, certain centers will operate at limited capacity to comply with social-distancing rules and new health and safety measures. For more information regarding the online exam format, please visit the following page: https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat-online.

GRE: Online testing will continue to be available through September 30, 2020. The test is identical in format and experience to the physical test. This is a home-based exam monitored by a human proctor online. Eligibility is determined by whether the traditional GRE exam is offered in your location or country. For more information regarding the online exam format, please visit the following page: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/at-home/.

We are now accepting the GMAT Focus Edition. The minimum score for this test is 665.

We accept valid GMAT scores achieved through either the classic or new Focus edition equally. Scores will be assessed using the percentile tables published by GMAC.

More information on the GMAT Focus Edition can be found at The GMAT Focus Edition Website.

There is no foreign language requirement; only English proficiency is required. This is consistent with all of the graduate degree programs offered by UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Applicants who hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university located in the United States or in another country (e.g., Australia, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom) in which English is both the primary spoken language of daily life and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from the TOEFL / IELTS requirement. Applicants who were educated in countries where English is not the primary spoken language of daily life are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS, no matter the language used at their school.  This includes applicants with degrees from multi- lingual countries such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan, etc. 

In general, UCLA requires a degree from a 4-year program or better. However, exceptions can be made for 3-year degrees from universities in Commonwealth countries. As mentioned before, the degree should demonstrate a quantitative background.

No, for purposes of confidentiality, we will not give information regarding your application status via telephone or e-mail. You will be able to check your application and admission status through the online application system when it is available.

Please send an email letting us know about your deadline and we will try to update the status of your application in time for you to make a decision. In the email, please include a proof of admission to the other program.

Unfortunately, we do not accept updates to the application once it has been submitted. If you must add information after your application has been submitted, then your application will be moved to a later round for consideration.

Statement of purpose: Share Academic and professional background, skills, and accomplishments; research interests; academic/career goals. Describe why this graduate program is a good fit for you.

Personal Statement: Personal motivation for applying to UCLA Anderson; share any relevant experiences, challenges, or accomplishments.

We will see all of your scores but will take your higher score if you take the test twice. If you take the test more than twice, we consider all scores, but will not average them.

GPA: 3.0+ (on 4.0 scale), or the equivalent of a B average on the undergraduate school’s scale
GMAT: 710 overall (above 90%)
GRE: Quantitative score of 167 (above 92%)

The overall minimum required band score on the IELTS is 7.0.

There are two different types of TOEFL tests you may take. The minimum score requirement for each is as follows:

• Internet-based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT): 87
• Paper-based TOEFL (TOEFL PBT): 560

Please note  For the TOEFL iBT, the following are expected passing scores for each section and the minimum total passing score:

• Writing: 25
• Speaking: 24
• Reading: 21
• Listening: 17

Total minimum passing score: 87

Bear in mind that these are minimum scores, and that few applicants have been admitted with scores below 100 on the iBT, 260 on the TOEFL-CBT, or below 600 on the paper-based version. For more information, visit the TOEFL web site or call (609) 771-7100. 

TOEFL test scores are valid for two (2) years.
To report the TOEFL score to us electronically, you must select institution code 4837 - UCLA ANDERSON SCHL OF MGMT and then choose "Graduate Schools of Management" as the department code.

If you are an admitted applicant who has not met UCLA’s English language requirement, you must, upon arrival at UCLA, take the UCLA English as a Second Language Placement Examination (ESLPE). The ESLPE is an English diagnostic test.

If you achieved a score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL iBT, or 7.5 or higher on the IELTS, the ESLPE requirement is waived!

If you scored below 100 on the TOEFL iBT, or below 7.5 on the IELTS, you must sit for the ESLPE upon arrival at UCLA.  Depending on your results on the ESLPE, you may be required to complete English as a Second Language courses beginning in your first term at UCLA. If English courses are required, you should enroll in them right away, and you should also anticipate spending a longer period of time at the University.

Admission is canceled for those who do not pass the ESLPE.

Please disregard the exam status on the application, as we have the data at the departmental level. The IT department at UCLA is aware of the issue and making adjustments. If documents or information are missing from the application, we will contact you directly to request for the materials. Otherwise, if you do not receive a request for additional materials via email, your application is considered complete. Thank you for your patience.

What you need to know:  

TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Indicator and IELT Online test scores can count towards UCLA minimum admission requirements for graduate degree programs for the 2023-24 application cycle. 

Work experience is not required but it is recommended for admission to the UCLA Anderson MSBA program. It is important for you to assess your own readiness when deciding to apply. Recent college graduates who have exceptional academic records and test scores, as well as strong demonstrated leadership in college, are encouraged to apply to the UCLA Anderson MSBA program. We seek to admit students at different points in their professional lives. Please note that it is not the quantity, but the quality of your experience (and how it fits with your goals) that counts.

Yes. Interviews are done on an invitation-only basis. The MSBA office will contact you after an application has been submitted if you are invited for an interview.

Yes. Direct Unsubsidized Loans ($20,500 per academic year) are available. Direct Graduate PLUS and Private Loans (list of lenders used by Anderson students) for amounts in excess of $20,500 are also available. Please see UCOP's Preferred Private Lender List and UC Code of Conduct for Preferred Lender Arrangement. To obtain more information about private loans, please refer to the Private Loan Guide.

For more information and to apply for federal student loans, please submit a FAFSA application: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The school code for UCLA is 001315.

Private loans (Prodigy Finance and Quorum) for international students (U.S. co-signers not required) are also available. Please be advised that international students may only borrow up to mandatory program charges and health insurance. Aggregate loan limits apply. All international private loans are made by the specific lending institutions and not by the University. For more information, please contact connie.beaumont-field@anderson.ucla.edu.

All UCLA Anderson students are assigned a budget for the cost of education, including student charges, living expenses, books and supplies, and more. Typical Housing Costs information is also compiled by UC Office of the President and can give you an idea of housing costs in areas close to UCLA. You may receive fellowships and/or loans up to the amount of your expected budget for the academic year.

¹Budget listed is for one academic year.

²Students pay program charges each quarter that covers all class enrollments. Program charges listed are above are estimates for the 2023-24 academic year and are subject to change.

Merit scholarships of varied amounts are awarded to students based on the overall strength of their admission application and relative strength in the pool of admits. Awards are made by the UCLA Anderson MSBA Program at the time of admission or at any point during the admissions cycle.