Data analytics has been booming lately. That growth and excitement has lots of people wondering how to become a data analyst. It's a great career to consider! Whether you want to change careers or just set your life on a new track, data analysis could be the dawning of a whole new era in your life.
But learning data analysis takes training, effort and time. We asked data analytics professors to explain how to become a data analyst, along with some important things you'll want to keep in mind as you decide. Before you make any concrete plans, get a bird's eye view of the steps you'd need to take to get into the data industry. You might also be wondering "is data analyst a good career?".
Step 1: Consider your ideal career outcome
Data analysis isn't just one job.
In the same way that a teacher's job looks totally different if they teach preschoolers vs. college undergraduates, a data analyst will need different skills depending on where they want to work.
While you will definitely learn more about the field if you enroll in a data analytics program, doing a little preemptory research can help you narrow down those program options to make sure you choose a good fit.
"I think students need to have a clear understanding of the type of work a prospective degree program offers, and if it’s in the line of work they want to pursue," says Kevin Watts, Data Analytics Lead and Professor of Technology at Rasmussen University.
"There’s a difference between business analytics, data analytics and data science, for example," Watts points out. "These terms have been used quite loosely in the industry. But if data scientists will be doing heavy programming." In contrast, Watts says students in a data analytics program will focus more on tools and techniques to analyze data.
Of course, lots of crossover happens in data roles. "I find, just in looking at the job market, that students have to have some basic programming skills for a lot of data analyst jobs, even in a business analyst role, Watts says.
"Plan on taking at least an introductory course in tools like Tableau® (a data visualization platform) and Python® (a programming language)."
If you lean toward the work of a data scientist or would love to learn multiple programming languages, choose a data science or computer science program over a data analytics program.
If you see yourself in the corporate world giving presentation about findings to help guide your company, look into programs that will give you some exposure to business analytics.
If you want to graduate with solid, technical data analyst skills, choosing a data analytics program is your best bet. Be sure to research enrollment requirements and prerequisites for any program you are considering.
For example, at Rasmussen, Data Analytics Bachelor’s degree program applicants must already have conferred associate’s or bachelor’s degree or completion of at least 60 quarter or 40 semester credits of college-level coursework with a grade of C or higher in each course.
Step 2: Decide the level of education you need
Now that you have an idea of what type of data analyst you might want to be, you should start researching program options.
There are so many jobs out there that you can definitely find a variance in what employers require, but for marketing analyst roles (a type of business analyst) the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) writes that a bachelor's degree is the most common education requirement.1
Since data analysts need a thorough understanding of how to work with huge volumes of data, as well as the technical skills to collect, refine, evaluate and explain data insights—these degree programs are pretty crucial. Data analysis tools make a lot more sense when you understand how a successful data analyst uses them.
If you already have a bachelor's degree in another field, it's worth asking if you can transfer some credits over into a data analytics program. Or you could look into certifications that would give you the training data professionals need to pair with your current degree.
If you don't yet have a bachelor's degree, choosing a bachelor's program in data analytics is your next step.
Step 3: Vet your data analytics program options (contact them directly)
Data analytics programs at different schools will all be a bit different, with their own nuances. Here are a few things to consider as you research.
*Note, since some of these things might be hard to find online, call any school program you are serious about to ask your questions. Or at least contact the program directly. It's extra effort, yes, but when you consider the expense of a university program, ten minutes on the phone or filling out a "tell me more form" to decide if program leaders know what they're doing is probably worth it.
What is the cost of tuition?
These are often the two most important questions at the beginning. It's awesome when you can find tuition information online, but some schools don't post tuition prices because their programs will have different costs depending on each student.
Admissions representatives also know about the different aid options available to students, so contacting a program directly can help you work out a more accurate true cost than the numbers they post online.
How long does the data analytics program take?
The same kind of thing can be true for how long programs take. But with full time enrollment, the bachelor's degree program in data analytics at Rasmussen can be completed in as few as 18 months.2
How often do they evaluate the data analytics curriculum?
If you think about how quickly data analysts need to adjust to change and new technologies, you'll understand that data analytics programs need to stay on their toes to keep curriculum current.
"One thing I like about the program at Rasmussen is that it’s constantly evolving," Watts says. "We look at courses on a frequent rotation, taking in student and faculty feedback." Watts explains that they make changes to data analytics courses when technology changes, as well as when something isn't working well for the students.
"There was a class I taught where the assignments required students to go to an external website's data set, but the site was creating constant frustrations," Watts recalls. "After the course, I gave my feedback that the site was causing extra work and aggravation, so we changed the course to build on a data set we provided."
While he was rewriting that course, Watts also adjusted the assignment parameters to make the whole experience more intuitive.
As you can imagine, programs that frequently evaluate their course material wind up incorporating all sorts of learning improvements—from the specific data analytics tools and objectives to the overall student experience.
How will the data analytics courses work?
In the old days, academia had a pretty template routine. Show up to lectures, take exams, write papers. But technology and more awareness of what succeeds in different areas of study (thank you data analytics!) has changed education in a major way.
You can find online programs, in-person programs, maybe even some that are a mixture of both.
You can also find programs that keep a tight, synchronous schedule (ex: everyone has to log in or show up at the same times throughout the week, assignments are all due at midnight on a Sunday, etc...).
Or you can choose programs that allow students more leeway to work through course content. Ex: Log in once a week, watch recorded lectures, complete course content as you go, etc...
The last thing you want is to go through all the work to enroll in a program, then find out the pace is totally incompatible with your other responsibilities—or find out the format is making everything harder because of the way you learn.
Ask about it ahead of time, then you can prepare accordingly.
Step 4: Enroll in a program and make the time count
Once you choose, apply and gain acceptance to a program, whether that's a bachelor's degree program or a certificate program to add skills to your current background, it's time to rock. (Rasmussen does not offer certificate programs in data analytics.)
Pay attention to the type of work you like best as you learn. There are so many ways data analysts can specialize in their careers. And whether you gravitate toward quantitative work, like statistical analysis or the critical thinking and creative thinking components—push yourself to become a well-rounded data analyst.
Giving students transferable skills like communication and professionalism on top of the technical skills data analysts need is a priority at Rasmussen.
"Degree programs should give you broad exposure to the industry," Watts explains. "It's when you get into the field in corporate America that you'll see more specified roles and the chance to pursue areas of interest."
While he's teaching, Watts loves to bring in examples from his own work experience, to help students make further connections to their future careers. "A lot of my work experience comes through in my lectures. I bring that content in, and I considered those real-life experiences while I wrote these courses," Watts says.
In one of his courses, he gives students data that is flawed, intentionally. "They only have a sample and have to do some math, make some assumptions to statistically forecast what things would be like." This mirrors some of Watt's work experience where the analysts lacked access to all the raw data for every client.
"We came up with ways to make sound business decisions based only on samples," Watts recalls. These problem-solving skills are the bread and butter of data analysis.
Step 5 extra credit: Do an internship or volunteer your skill
Doing the actual work of a data analyst as soon as possible will only strengthen your competitive advantage in this field. Ideally, your program assignments involve real world scenarios, but if you can take on an extra project to add to your resume, you'll impress potential employers.
"Take advantage of internships or volunteer to use what you are learning," says Asia Anuwa, Data Analytics Professor at Rasmussen University. Reach out to a local business or a friend or family member and see if they'd want some free data-driven insights. (Wouldn't the answer always be a yes?)
A data analyst collects data, refines it, analyzes it and presents it. Offer to do that for someone, and add the project to your resume or portfolio.
Step 6: Find a data analyst job
When you graduate, you should have a skill set that is valuable in many different countries. Data analysis skills are so useful that it's hard to imagine any medium to large company going without them. Update your LinkedIn profile, check out job postings for companies that interest you, and keep networking with other people from your program.
You never know when a connection with a peer or a professor might blossom into career opportunities. This is a good reason to truly connect with people in your program. "Stand out while still in school, don't isolate yourself," Anuwa says.
Afterall, you are working and paying for this program. Don't limit yourself to analyzing data and completing the coursework. Ask questions, connect with fellow students and let your network grow.
Is a data analyst role on your radar?
If you want to become a data analyst, one of the best things you can do is contact a data analytics program to ask some questions and evaluate if they are the right fit for you.
If you already have a degree in another field, Rasmussen's data analytics program might fit your needs.
Check out the Data Analytics Bachelor's program degree page for more information on start dates, program structure and a form you can use to hear directly from a admissions advisor.
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1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Market Research Analysts, (accessed May 2024), Market Research Analysts : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)
2Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term
