The Rise of the Data MBA

Business schools are betting big on data. Just two years ago, 61% of business schools surveyed by MBA Roundtable said they were planning major upgrades to their curriculum in the next five years, with a main focus on analytics.

Fortune recently looked into how B-schools—from Wharton to Utica University—are embracing data in their curricula.

ANALYTICS-FOCUSED MAJORS

In Wharton’s case, the school has beefed up ots curricula to offer more of a focus in data and analytics. Part of the reason for a focus on data, experts say, is because of student demand.

“Five years ago, there were no data-focused majors, but now it’s the second-most popular major at Wharton,” Eric Bradlow, vice dean of analytics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, tells Fortune. “We have more than 60 courses that are analytics-based,” he says, adding that thousands of students are also part of the school’s analytics club.

But the addition of data-focused majors, Bradlow says, is also in part due to the growth in data-related professions across the global economy.

“More and more fields and jobs require data science skills,” he says.

It’s a similar sentiment at other schools, such as Utica University—which introduced a business analytics specialization for its management MBA program several years ago.

“We’re seeing more and more interest every year, there’s more awareness and discussion in society, in general, about the role that data plays in our lives,” Stephanie Nesbitt, dean of the School of Business & Justice Studies, and associate professor at Utica University, says.

Nesbitt says the program has high student interest and that interest has only increased in recent years.

“The proliferation of cheap and easy data demands that you have people who can work with it—gather it, clean it, and meld it together in a sensible way, and analyze it,” Nesbitt says.

POST GRAD OPPORTUNITIES

The job outlook for titles such as management analysts is expected to grow 11% between 2021 and 2031. For titles, such as data scientists, the outlook is also positive with an expected growth of 36%.

Data skills are in demand—and many MBAs are hoping their MBA can open up more job opportunities.

“You can find positions utilizing data and MBA skills in any sector or industry,” Nesbitt says. “Having some level of tech skill isn’t a bad thing, especially in data and analytics—but do it in combination with an MBA because you can layer in those skills and have a firm skill set, like the ability to manage data.”

Sources: Fortune, Find MBA

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