Boston University - Data Management Degrees, Accreditation, Applying, Tuition, Financial Aid

Boston University Data Management Degrees

Big Data at Boston U

Boston University appears in our ranking of the Top 15 Online Master’s in Marketing Analytics.

Boston University offers its computer science and data management degree programs through Metropolitan College. Most classes can be taken online or on campus and some programs are offered in the blended format.

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Boston University offers two degrees in Data Analytics and a graduate certificate. The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems with a Concentration in Data Analytics is offered on campus or online. The Master’s in Computer Science Degree with a Concentration in Data Analytics is only offered on campus and the Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics is offered on campus or online.

A degree in computer science involves more theoretical studies and entails research, while a degree in computer information systems is focused more on the application of the information to business practice. The certification can be applied to degrees in other disciplines to give students tools they need to use analytical technology over many fields. Some courses are shared, like Business Analytics Foundations, Financial Concepts, and Enterprise Risk Analytics.

The Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics is also offered through Metropolitan College. This degree program contains 40 credit hours contained in 10 courses. The curriculum includes coverage of concepts, tools, and techniques used in the analysis of business data to make decisions. The degree program includes opportunities for students to gain experience in “marketing, operations, product and technology innovations, financial services and others.” As in other data analysis programs, students must maintain a B minus average to continue.

Boston University’s Metropolitan College is unique in its Data Science Initiative. The school is investing financial and human resources into data management in diverse fields on a global scale. Another unique quality of the school is its non-credit pre-analytic lab course that allows students to test whether they have an aptitude in analytics before they commit to the major.

About Boston University

This university ranks as number 37 in the US News and World Report listing of National Universities. Boston University is a private school affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1839, it began in Vermont as the Newbury Biblical Institute. The school eventually relocated to Massachusetts, becoming a non-sectarian university. It has an undergraduate student body of nearly 18,000 and is highly selective with an acceptance rate of only about 30 percent.

Boston University has two Massachusetts campuses that house seventeen schools, as well as campuses in London, Paris, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Sydney, Australia. The main campus is in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood. The other Massachusetts campus is the Boston University Medical Campus.

The university is classified as an R1 Doctoral Institution, which means it allocates a large percent of its budget to research. In 2012, it was invited to join the prestigious Association of American Universities, an organization of leading research schools. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in a lab on the Boston University campus.

Boston University Accreditation Details

Boston University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Accreditation ensures that schools meet not only the self-imposed standards listed in their documents but peer-recognized milestones that indicate compliance with quality and value-based indicators. Metropolitan College (MET), the college that houses the business and computer degree programs, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The Computer Science degrees are accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC).

Boston University Application Requirements

Applications to Boston University are accepted for starting dates in September, January and May. Online start dates are in October, March, and July. The application requirements for graduate students seeking admission to Metropolitan College begin with an official graduate application form. This can be completed online. Applicants must include three letters of recommendation, one of which is from an academic source. Prospective students must submit the names and addresses of all recommenders. Students must also complete the self-evaluation essay. Applications must include a resume and the transcripts from every college or graduate school attended. Additionally, there is a non-refundable $85 application fee.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Graduate tuition at Boston University for a full-time student is $25,490 per semester, or $50,980 a year. Fees are $736. Books and supplies are estimated at $1,036 and room and board at $13,375. Incidentals are estimated at $4, 170. That brings the total for a year of graduate study in the Metropolitan College to $70,319.

Part-time and online students pay $860 per credit plus a $60 technology fee per credit hour for online courses, and there is an additional $200 lab fee.

The cost of an advanced degree is high, and most scholarships target underclassmen. There are some scholarship opportunities for graduate students, however. In addition, there are grants funded by organizations and corporate sponsors. These can be located through an Internet search. Companies often subsidize graduate education for employees returning to school. This information can be found by contacting the human resources department or employer directly.

Finding financial aid to help pay an education bill begins with completing the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students might qualify for a Stafford Graduate Direct Loan if they have low income. They could also qualify for a Graduate PLUS Loan. This is a loan taken out by parents to pay a student’s education bill. There are also graduate loans available through the school. Students who find they don’t qualify for enough aid to pay their expenses might take out private loans. Those who are veterans or active military personnel also will b able to utilize veteran’s benefits.

Each college or school within the university offers some type of graduate assistantship as well. This usually involves a waiver of tuition or at least a reduction in the amount, and sometimes additional pay.

For additional information or ideas about getting financial assistance and managing student finances, students can access Smart Money 101, which is Metropolitan College’s student financial information website. The school website also includes forms, loan calculators, and net-price calculators to assist students in planning their repayment strategies. Like many schools, Boston University strives to make education affordable for its students.

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