{"id":54899,"date":"2023-10-30T19:02:42","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T19:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.collegeconsensus.com\/?p=54899"},"modified":"2023-10-30T19:03:14","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T19:03:14","slug":"what-degree-do-you-need-to-be-a-data-analyst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.collegeconsensus.com\/degrees\/what-degree-do-you-need-to-be-a-data-analyst\/","title":{"rendered":"What Degree Do You Need to be a Data Analyst?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Data analysts are some of the most in-demand workers in today’s numbers-driven world. They take large, seemingly opaque data sets and analyze them to draw conclusions. The information they glean helps businesses make decisions on everything from marketing to hiring. Although becoming a data analyst doesn’t have rigid licensing requirements like are found in law and medicine, most companies are looking for candidates with certain degrees.
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There are generally no strict educational prerequisites to becoming a data analyst. It’s not like becoming a lawyer where you have to obtain a juris doctor and then pass the Bar exam. That said, most employers want candidates with educational backgrounds that show they have mastered certain skill sets needed for the job. Applicants who majored in fields such as mathematics, statistics, computer science and information systems often go to the front of the line, as these majors tend to produce graduates with high-level quantitative and analytical skills. Although a college degree in a STEM major can show employers you have the abstract skills needed to succeed as a data analyst, success in the theoretical world of a classroom doesn’t guarantee success in the field. For this reason, employers want to see more than a diploma. They also want to know you can take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in a way that benefits them.
You can get an entry-level job as a data analyst with only a bachelor’s degree, especially if you graduate with a high GPA from an elite STEM school like MIT or Georgia Tech. Some highly motivated candidates have even entered the field without a formal degree by attending data science boot camps or even by learning on their own using free online resources. But as Big Data becomes more complex and intricate, candidates with master’s degrees and even Ph.D.s are likely to become even more appealing to employers. As of 2017, a little over a third of job postings for data analysts<\/a> stated that an advanced degree was required.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nBesides a Degree, What Else Do Aspiring Data Analysts Need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you can demonstrate real-world readiness along with your degree, you’ll be a much more competitive candidate. One of the best ways to do this is by getting as many internships as you can during college. An internship not only allows you to sharpen your skills and apply your classroom knowledge, but it also lets you start making connections that can benefit you throughout your career. Instead of waiting until the summer before your senior year to try to snag an internship, try to do it earlier. There are even companies that will hire summer interns with only one year of college under their belt.
In addition to internships, contributing to open-source data analysis projects is another way to demonstrate both your knowledge and your passion for the field. These projects, many of which you can find online, let you work on real-world data sets and network with people already working in the field. They also give you a ready-made portfolio to show off to potential employers.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Much Do Data Analysts Make Out of School With a Bachelor’s Degree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n