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UCLA MSBA Overview

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Introduction to UCLA MSBA

The Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a dynamic and cutting-edge initiative designed to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving field of business analytics. 

This program integrates rigorous academic training with practical, real-world applications, preparing graduates to make data-driven decisions in various business contexts. With a curriculum that encompasses statistical analysis, machine learning, and data management, MSBA at UCLA fosters a collaborative and innovative learning environment. 

Students engage with renowned faculty members and industry experts, gaining valuable insights and hands-on experience. The program not only focuses on technical proficiency but also emphasizes the strategic application of analytics to solve complex business challenges, ensuring that graduates are well-positioned for success in today’s data-driven business landscape.

733

Avg. GMAT

2 Yrs

Work Experience

$114K

Avg. Cost of Study

15

Months Duration 

$116K

Avg. Salary

What is a good GMAT score for UCLA MSBA?

Short Answer – All in all, the prestigious UCLA MSBA course has an average GMAT score of 733. Therefore, If you score above 733, you have a fair shot and you will receive an encouraging response to your profile evaluation from the admission committee. 

Long Answer – However, there is no such thing as a safe score, higher is always better. In our years of consulting experience, we have seen our clients with 690 getting selected into top schools like MIT and on the other hand, someone with a 770 getting rejected too. Basically, a good benchmark that we advise all our clients to beat is the average GMAT score of the last entering class as mentioned in the Class profile published every year. Scoring above the average gets you a fair shot; 

“The higher your score, the better is it for your interview or admission chance.” 

As a matter of fact, if you plan to apply with a score below the average, then you are starting a fight with one hand tied behind your back or, say, starting a few yards behind your competitors. You can catch up in other application sections by writing outstanding essays or performing well in an interview later. But it is always nice to start ahead of the competitor. A higher GMAT score helps one gain a competitive advantage.

“What if you are from the over-represented Indian or Asian Pool?”

As has been noted, the over-represented candidate pool of Indian or Chinese applicants usually goes through a rigorous preparation process for GMAT, with a lot of Indian applicants scoring quite high increasing the overall competition. Hence, correspondingly, we recommend candidates within the most over-represented profiles shoot at least 20 points higher than the school’s class profile average. 

Why Study MSBA at UCLA?

2

QS Ranking

  1. Top-Ranked Program: UCLA’s Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) is consistently ranked among the top programs globally, ensuring a high-quality education and access to cutting-edge knowledge in the field of business analytics.

  2. Industry Connections: The program at UCLA fosters strong ties with industry leaders, providing students with unique opportunities for internships, networking, and exposure to real-world business challenges, ultimately enhancing their career prospects.

  3. Expert Faculty: MSBA students benefit from a faculty comprising accomplished experts and professionals in business analytics, ensuring that they receive guidance from leaders in the field and gain insights from practical experiences.

  4. Innovative Curriculum: UCLA’s MSBA curriculum is designed to be dynamic and responsive to industry trends, equipping students with the latest tools, techniques, and methodologies in data analysis, machine learning, and business intelligence.

  5. Access to Silicon Beach: Situated in Los Angeles, students have proximity to the vibrant tech and business scene of Silicon Beach, providing opportunities for collaboration, internships, and exposure to a diverse range of industries, fostering a holistic learning experience.

Course Curriculum of MSBA at UCLA

All MSBA classes are held on campus at UCLA (Fall #1, Winter, Spring, and Fall #2). The summer is dedicated to a 4-unit internship. During the second quarter, students may continue their internship or begin a new one on a part-time basis, or participate in a capstone consulting project supervised by an Anderson faculty member.

The UCLA Anderson MSBA program offers a rigorous curriculum aimed at providing students with a comprehensive understanding of business analytics and its applications.
 
Fall #1 (September–December):
 
Statistical Foundations for Analytics (R): Introduces essential statistical concepts and techniques using the R programming language.
R Programming Essentials: Provides practical skills in data manipulation and analysis using R.
SQL and Basic Data Management: Covers fundamental data management techniques and SQL querying for effective data handling.
Optimization: Explores mathematical methods for optimizing decision-making processes.
Winter (January–March):
 
Business Fundamentals for Analytics: Applies analytics to finance, marketing, and strategy domains for informed decision-making.
Data Management: Advanced techniques for organizing and managing large datasets efficiently.
Prescriptive Models: Develops models to recommend optimal actions based on data analysis.
Industry Seminar – I: Practical insights from industry experts, connecting theory to real-world applications.
Spring (March–June):
 
Customer Analytics: Techniques for understanding and predicting customer behavior.
Competitive Analytics: Analyzes market dynamics and competitor strategies.
Operations Analytics: Optimizes processes and resource allocation within organizations.
Fall #2 (September–December):
 
Capstone Analytics Project: Collaborative project with industry partners to solve real-world analytics challenges.
Advanced Workshop on Machine Learning: In-depth knowledge of advanced machine learning algorithms and techniques.
Data Visualization: Communicates insights through visual representations of data.
Elective Courses: Range of specialized topics including Entertainment Analytics, Fraud Analytics, Forecasting and Time Series, Internet Customer Analytics, and Healthcare Analytics.
Final Project Presentations and Graduation: Showcases students’ skills and achievements to industry professionals and peers, preparing them for successful careers in business analytics.
The Applied Analytics Project (AAP) serves as the culmination of the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) curriculum at UCLA Anderson. It provides students with a practical opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to real-world business problems, thereby bridging the gap between academia and industry.
 
During the AAP, students collaborate with a client organization to tackle complex analytical challenges. They begin by thoroughly understanding the organization’s objectives and the specific analytics question at hand. Concurrently, the client organization gathers and organizes relevant data for analysis.
 
Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students select the most appropriate business analytics approach to address the problem. They then apply this methodology to analyze the provided data, utilizing advanced analytical techniques and tools.
 
The culmination of the project involves the presentation of findings and any newly developed analytical practices to the client organization. Outputs of the AAP may include new statistical insights, novel metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs), recommendations for process optimization and models, predictive and prescriptive analytics approaches, data management recommendations, as well as suggestions for enhancing people and processes to support the organization’s data science practice.
 
Overall, the AAP not only enables students to demonstrate their analytical prowess but also enhances their communication skills and provides valuable experience in collaborating with industry partners. This hands-on experience prepares MSBA candidates for successful careers in quantitative analysis and data science, while also benefiting the client organization by providing actionable insights and solutions to pressing business challenges.
*Industry Seminar Class*
The Industry Seminar class, facilitated by Career Services, offers a unique opportunity for students in the Master of Science in Business Analytics program at UCLA Anderson. Each week, representatives from different companies’ analytics teams lead the class, sharing insights into how analytics is applied within their respective industries, companies, and teams. This exposure allows students to gain firsthand knowledge of real-world applications of analytics across diverse sectors.
 
Throughout the seminar, student teams engage in hands-on learning by working on data challenges provided by the guest companies. These challenges present students with authentic business problems to solve using their analytical skills and knowledge gained from the program curriculum. At the end of each challenge, student teams present their recommendations to the guest speakers, providing an opportunity for valuable feedback and interaction.
 
As an added perk, a select group of students have the privilege of joining the analytics leaders for a private dinner after the class, offering an informal setting for networking and further discussion. The 2023 lineup of guest companies included industry giants such as Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, TikTok, Dell, Paramount, Airbus, Capital Group, BCG X, Juniper Networks, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, and ID.me, providing students with a diverse range of perspectives and experiences in the field of analytics.
 
*Industry Nights*
Industry Nights offer a platform for students in the Master of Science in Business Analytics program at UCLA Anderson to engage with analytics leaders from various industries. Student teams take charge of recruiting and moderating live panels featuring industry-specific analytics leaders. These panels provide valuable insights into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities within each sector.
 
Following the panel discussions, students, panelists, and other professionals in the analytics and recruiting fields gather for a networking dinner. This informal setting allows for meaningful connections to be made, fostering relationships between students and industry professionals.
 
Industry Nights occur four or five times throughout the year, covering a wide range of industries such as technology, entertainment, finance/fintech, consumer products/e-commerce/retail, healthcare, and consulting. This diverse lineup ensures that students gain exposure to a variety of career paths and industries within the analytics field.
 
*Company treks*
In an exciting initiative, the MSBA program at UCLA Anderson organized its inaugural company trek to the San Francisco Bay Area during the spring semester. The trek included visits to the headquarters of prominent firms such as Google, Intuit, Wells Fargo, Tesla, and LinkedIn. This immersive experience provided students with invaluable opportunities to engage in one-on-one conversations with high-level executives and practitioners from each company.

Program Costs + Living Expenses : MSBA at UCLA

$70,771.00

Tuition Fee

+ 

 $43,734.00

Living Cost

114K

Avg. Cost of Study

UCLA Master in Business Analytics Tuition fees is altogether-$70,771.00 and an additional $43,734.00(approximately)  living cost is required to be paid.

With a 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio in UCLA MSBA,  students have access to world-renowned leaders in business analytics and hence, the program is worth the cost.

Important Scholarships

  • Google SVA Scholarship
  • Henaac Scholars Program

Employment Prospects : MSBA at UCLA

100%

Employed within 3 months of graduation

116K

Avg. Salary

    Most Sought-after Jobs

Quantitative Analyst

Operations Analyst

Marketing Analyst

Supply Chain Analyst

Fraud Analyst

For complete Emplyment report Click Here

The average salary at UCLA MSBA for the last graduating class was $116,000.00. Almost 100% of the class was employed within 3 months of graduation with the majority of the class going into consulting (21%), Finance (23%) and technology (29%) oriented functional roles. 

The program- UCLA MSBA requires professionals who can perform powerful analytics and understand business. 

 

Key Employers

  • Microsoft
  • Amazon
  • Apple
  • Mckinsey
  • Google
  • Meta
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Scholarships Available : MSBA at UCLA

UCLA is committed to making quality education accessible, and the university offers a range of scholarships to support deserving students in their academic journey. The UCLA Scholarships program encompasses various opportunities, including need-based scholarships, merit-based awards, and specific scholarships for different disciplines and programs. 

Prospective and current students can explore the UCLA Scholarships homepage to find detailed information about eligibility criteria, application procedures, and deadlines. These scholarships not only help alleviate the financial burden of education but also recognize and reward academic excellence and achievements. For more information on UCLA scholarships and how to apply, please visit the UCLA Scholarships homepage.

FAQs About MSBA at UCLA

You may start a new application or return to an in-progress application here.

While knowing programming languages such as Python and SQL has advantages for students, they are not required for admission to UCLA Business Analytics program.

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.

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. 

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