University of St. Thomas

Three St. Thomas Programs Perfect for Big Data Careers

The University of St. Thomas appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable Online Certificates in Business Analytics.

At O’Shaughnessy Center, the College of Arts & Sciences awards a 132-credit, four-year BS in Data Analytics overseen by Dr. Matthew Kim for University of St. Thomas undergrads to sharpen statistical skills with interdisciplinary Twin Cities courses like Data Visualization and Introduction to Econometrics. Chaired by Dr. Don Weinkauf, the School of Engineering has delivered a 36-credit, non-thesis MS in Data Science since Spring 2015 with 12 St. Paul courses, such as Big Data Management and Machine Learning, plus Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence practice. The MS in Business Analytics builds a 30-credit, AACSB-accredited Opus College of Business curriculum led by Dr. John Olson with 16 months of 600-level courses from Spreadsheet Modeling to Database Design and an experiential capstone project. Tommies may also intern with Ameriprise Financial, pursue the Online Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics, join Minne Analytics, win the Fowler Business Challenge, and visit Rome.

About the University of St. Thomas

The University of St. Thomas originated in 1885 when Archbishop John Ireland founded the St. Paul Seminary to affordably train Catholic immigrants for the priesthood. In 1903, the College of St. Thomas split from the seminary to deliver liberal arts education. In 1906, St. Thomas was classified as a military college by the United States War Department. One decade later, the College of St. Thomas launched its first four-year bachelor’s option. Hit by the Great Depression, St. Thomas was taken over by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1929. After World War II, St. Thomas acquired 26 new buildings to serve hundreds of GI Bill veterans. In 1950, the first master’s program was launched for teaching. In Fall 1977, an inaugural group of 211 women enrolled for coeducational academics. In 1990, the University of St. Thomas name was finally adopted. In 1992, St. Thomas erected a Minneapolis campus for the Opus College of Business.

Endowed for $436.2 million, the University of St. Thomas now employs 429 full-time and 414 part-time faculty inspiring 10,035 Tommies from 71 countries online, on its 78-acre Saint Paul campus, or at three extensions with 220+ clubs like Women in Business for 88 percent retention. In 2019, St. Thomas received a CASE District V Circle of Excellence Award. In 2018, St. Thomas won an NABC Team Academic Excellence Award. The University of St. Thomas earned the 1999 USASBE Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Thomas the 139th top college and 99th best for vets school. On Niche, St. Thomas boasts America’s 15th best Catholic education and 177th top business degrees. Money declared the University of St. Thomas the 274th top value. The Wall Street Journal placed St. Thomas 303rd overall. Forbes named St. Thomas the Midwest’s 34th best.

The University of St. Thomas Accreditation Details

On March 24, 2014, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) issued a new Institutional Status Report for the University of St. Thomas that extended Level V accreditation through the next 2023-24 evaluation visit under President Julie H. Sullivan, Ph.D., who accepted an Ashoka U Changemaker Champion Award. Located 404 miles east via Interstate 90 in Chicago, Illinois, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to review the 140 baccalaureate, 56 master’s, and three doctoral degrees. Further, the Opus College of Business was accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) on January 5, 2011.

The University of St. Thomas Application Requirements

Admission at the University of St. Thomas is classified as “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 5,583 of the 6,819 Fall 2018 applicants were selected for 82 percent acceptance. First-year Tommies entering the BS in Data Analytics must achieve a high school diploma or its GED equivalent. The recommended curricula include four English, four math, and four foreign language units. The Class of 2022 reported an average GPA of 3.64. Mid-range admitted SAT scores were 1080-1290. The middle 50th percentile of freshmen had ACT scores of 24-29. Transfers with 12-75 college-level credits graded C or higher for minimum 2.0 GPAs are welcome. Foreign students must complete ELS Level 112 or exceed the 80 TOEFL iBT, 53 PTE, and 1200 GTEC marks. Graduate programs require completion of at least 120 bachelor’s credits at regionally accredited colleges. The MS in Data Science mandates an overall GPA of 2.70 or higher. The Opus College of Business accepts an average GMAT score of 538.

The University of St. Thomas has freshman deadlines of November 1st for Early Action and January 15th for Regular Decision. Priority BS in Data Analytics transfer dates are April 1st for Fall and November 1st for Spring. Hopeful MS in Data Science and MS in Business Analytics cohorts must file before August 1st, January 1st, or May 1st. International students must apply by May 1st or October 1st. Accordingly, complete the St. Thomas or Common Application online for free ($50 if graduate). Mail transcripts to Mail Stop 5017 at 2115 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, MN 55105. Send official tests using SAT/TOEFL code 6110, GMAT code B7L-4N-81, or ACT code 2102. Fulfill checklist items, such as the one-page essay, 1-2 recommendation letters, resume or CV, and passport. Contact (651) 962-6150 or admissions@stthomas.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, the University of St. Thomas is billing full-time BS in Data Analytics majors $22,390 per term or $44,780 annually. Studying part-time incurs $1,357 per credit. Some business and statistics courses are priced at $1,425 per credit. The J-Term is discounted to $678 per credit. Undergrads pay the $225 technology fee, $125 activity fee, $70 health fee, and $80 facilities fee each term. Living at the St. Paul campus dorms like Brady Hall adds $3,406 to $4,446 for semester rent. Unlimited meal plans for Anderson Student Center are $2,175 extra. St. Thomas budgets $1,000 for books and $2,516 for personal supplies. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals $56,664 on-site or $46,252 at home. The Opus College of Business charges MS in Business Analytics cohorts $1,218 per credit. MS in Data Science students spend $1,139 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Murray-Herrick Campus Center Room 152 links 98 percent of new full-time Tommies to tuition assistance averaging $23,120 each for $33.29 million total. Institutional funds include the Rev. Dennis Dease Scholarship, Schulze Innovation Scholarship, Willis Drake Young Entrepreneur Scholarship, Fauth Business Scholarship, Habiger Institute Latino Scholarship, Transfer College Access Scholarship, Frey Opportunity Grant, #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship, Father James Whalen Scholarship, Ruth Davies Ann Scholarship, and Frances Miller Scholarship. The GHR Fellows Program covers full tuition for Opus College of Business majors with minimum 3.70 GPAs. The Board of Trustees Academic Scholarship gifts $3,000 yearly to freshmen meeting the 25 ACT or 1210 SAT requirement by February 19th. FAFSA applications coded 002345 open federal resources like the Pell Grant and Work-Study Program. Minnesotans also apply for the State Grant, Achieve Scholarship, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Public Safety Officer’s Survivor Grant, White Earth Tribal Council Scholarship, and more.

Keep reading about the University of St. Thomas at the Data Analytics Department website.

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