The MIT Sloan Master of Business Analytics (MSBA) program is a fast-paced, 12-month STEM degree designed for students who aim to master advanced tools in data science, optimization, and machine learning for business application. Positioned as a doctoral-level program, it empowers participants to tackle complex, real-world business challenges using cutting-edge analytical methodologies.
In this in-depth analysis of MIT Sloan MSBA program, we cover:
Class Profile
The MIT Sloan MSBA Class of 2025 comprises 80 students, creating a focused environment for academic and professional interaction. The class represents 22 countries, with international students making up 60% of the cohort, highlighting the program’s global reach.
Work Experience
The average work experience is 15 months, indicating that many students join the program early in their professional journey.
Women Representation
Women make up 40% of the class, showing progress toward gender representation.
Entry Criteria
Academically, the class holds a median GRE score of 169 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.93, illustrating the rigorous selection process that prioritizes strong quantitative and academic backgrounds.
| Class Profile | MIT Sloan MSBA Class of 2025 |
| Class Size | 80 |
| Countries Represented | 22 |
| International Students | 60% |
| Average Working Experience | 15 months |
| Women % | 40% |
| Median GRE | 169 |
| Median Undergraduate GPA | 3.93 |
Undergraduate Majors
The MIT Sloan MSBA Class of 2025 exhibits a strong foundation in quantitative and technical fields. Students with backgrounds in Science and Mathematics form the largest group, comprising 37% of the class, reflecting the program's focus on analytical rigor.
Engineering majors represent 27%, indicating the value placed on problem-solving within a technical context.
Business and Computer Science majors each account for 12% of the class.
Economics graduates make up 10% of the cohort, emphasizing the importance of analytical and strategic thinking in economic contexts.
Humanities majors constitute 2%, illustrating a wider trend of the rise of STEM, business, and Economics majors in Master’s degrees.
| Undergraduate | % of Students in the Class of 2025 |
| Science/ Mathematics | 37% |
| Engineering | 27% |
| Business | 12% |
| Computer Science | 12% |
| Economics | 10% |
| Humanities | 20% |
Tuition Fees and Scholarship
The total cost of pursuing the MIT Sloan Master of Business Analytics (MBAn) program for the 2024-2025 academic year includes tuition and various living expenses, amounting to $140,921 for the 12-month period.
The tuition fee alone is $91,250, which covers all required course packs, though students are responsible for the purchase of textbooks separately.
In addition to tuition, students should account for $3,603 in health insurance, a mandatory expense.
Housing is estimated at $21,600 for the year, reflecting the cost of living in the Cambridge area. Food expenses are projected at $9,720, while personal expenses—covering non-academic needs such as clothing and leisure—are estimated at $9,744.
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment add an additional $1,452 to the total. Finally, transportation expenses are anticipated to be $3,552, contributing to the overall cost of attendance.
| Expenses | 12-month MIT MSBA Cost |
| Tuition | $91,250 |
| Health Insurance | $3,603 |
| Housing | $21,600 |
| Food | $9,720 |
| Books, course materials, supplies & equipment | $1,452 |
| Personal | $9,744 |
| Transportation | $3,552 |
| Total | $140,921 |
Financing Your Education
Financing for the MIT Sloan MBAn program can come from personal savings, loans, scholarships/fellowships, or sponsorships.
Admitted students receive detailed financial aid information through the admitted student website, with different processes for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students.
Fellowships: A limited number of merit-based fellowships are available for admitted students of all backgrounds based on academic excellence, achievements, and professional potential.
Assistantships: MBAn students may apply for competitive teaching or research assistantships that offer stipends and help with expenses. These roles provide experience in educational research and responsibilities like mentoring, research assistance, and grading.
Curriculum
The MIT Sloan Master in Business Analytics (MBAn) program combines a rigorous curriculum with immersive experiential learning, equipping students with the technical and strategic skills needed for impactful careers in analytics. The program’s comprehensive structure ensures mastery of data science, machine learning, optimization, and practical problem-solving.
Core Courses
The program features eight required core courses that form the foundation of analytical expertise:
• Machine Learning Under a Modern Optimization Lens: Offers insights into machine learning algorithms through an optimization perspective.
• Optimization Methods: Covers algorithms for various optimization types, essential for tackling complex analytical problems.
• Advanced Analytics Edge: Demonstrates the transformative role of data analytics in business through real-world case studies in sectors like e-commerce and healthcare.
• Analytics Capstone Project: A key experiential learning project spanning seven months, allowing students to solve real-world business problems.
• Software Tools in R, Python, SQL, and Julia: Provides hands-on training in vital programming languages and analytics tools.
• Communication and Persuasion through Data: Enhances data-driven communication strategies.
• Ethics & Data Privacy: Covers ethical implications and privacy concerns in data use.
• From Analytics to Action: Focuses on applying analytics within organizational contexts, emphasizing teamwork and decision-making.
Elective Courses
Students choose 3–6 focused analytics electives to tailor their learning experience and deepen their expertise:
• Courses include Hands-On Deep Learning, Marketing Analytics, Investment Management, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Analytics of Finance, and Power & Negotiations.
• Electives like Digital Product Development and System Dynamics offer strategic insights into product innovation and complex systems analysis.
Experiential Learning: Analytics Capstone Project
A hallmark of the MBAn program is the Analytics Capstone Project, an intensive, seven-month engagement where students partner with industry leaders to address real-world data challenges.
Notable sponsors include Accenture, BMW, CVS Health, and Unilever.
Students work in pairs, supported by faculty advisors, applying their classroom knowledge to practical problems from February through August. The capstone culminates in a full-time internship during the summer and a comprehensive presentation upon completion.
Independent Activities Period (IAP)
The IAP is a distinctive aspect of the program, offering students a dynamic period for required coursework, capstone project preparation, and company pitch events. This phase ensures students are well-prepared for their capstone responsibilities and industry engagements.
Spring and Summer Term Highlights
In addition to continuing with the Analytics Capstone Project, students complete their elective coursework during the spring. They must fulfil a minimum of 27 units from analytics-focused courses and may take up to 48 elective units. The summer term emphasizes practical, hands-on learning through the full-time capstone internship.
Research Opportunities and STEM Designation
MBAn students have the opportunity to participate in research assistantships, collaborating with over 50 faculty and senior staff affiliated with the MIT Operations Research Center. This research spans various domains, including election polling, public health, and national policy systems, providing deep exposure to high-impact analytics research.
The STEM classification of the MBAn program offers significant benefits for international students, allowing them to extend their training in the U.S. by up to 24 months post-graduation, further enhancing their career prospects.
Employment Statistics
Graduates of the MIT Sloan Master of Business Analytics (MBAn) program consistently secure strong employment outcomes supported by robust academic training and career resources.
For the Class of 2023, 95.3% of job-seeking graduates accepted job offers within six months post-graduation. The average base salary for these graduates was $133,928, complemented by an average signing bonus of $14,134, ranging between $5,000 and $50,000.
Notably, 93.4% of accepted job offers were within the United States. These impressive results highlight the program's effective blend of coursework, practical experience, and career support.
The Analytics Capstone project plays a pivotal role in preparing students for real-world data challenges.
In 2023, 24.6% of the accepted employment offers were from companies that sponsored capstone projects, showcasing how hands-on, experiential learning translates directly into career success. This experiential component, along with courses in machine learning, data visualization, and business analytics, equips students to excel in various high-impact roles across industries.
By Industry
MIT Sloan's MSBA graduates secure positions across a variety of industries, showcasing the versatility of their analytical skill set. The technology sector leads in employment, absorbing 39.3% of graduates with a median base salary of $130,000. This reflects the program’s emphasis on advanced data science and machine learning, which are essential for roles in tech-driven environments. Following closely, finance is the second most popular industry, hiring 29.5% of graduates with a higher median base salary of $139,500. The curriculum's training in quantitative analysis and data-driven decision-making aligns well with the demands of the financial industry.
Healthcare, pharma, and biotech attracted 9.8% of graduates, offering a median salary of $127,500, highlighting the increasing value of data analytics in driving innovation in these sectors. Meanwhile, consulting firms hired 6.6% of graduates, with a median salary of $111,000, reflecting the adaptability of Sloan’s analytics graduates to solve complex business challenges. Lastly, retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) employed 4.9% of graduates, offering a median base salary of $124,000, showcasing the diverse opportunities available for data-centric problem-solving in various consumer-focused industries.
| Industry | % Hired | Median Base Salary |
| Technology | 39.3% | $130,000 |
| Finance | 29.5% | $139,500 |
| Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech | 9.8% | $127,500 |
| Consulting | 6.6% | $111,000 |
| Retail/CPG | 4.9% | $124,000 |
By Function
When it comes to job functions, nearly all graduates from the MIT Sloan MSBA program—98.4%—secured roles in data science, a testament to the program's specialized focus on equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in analytical and technical positions. The curriculum’s comprehensive approach, including courses in machine learning, statistical modeling, and big data, ensures graduates are prepared to take on complex data-centric roles immediately upon graduation.
A smaller yet notable 1.6% of graduates pursued product management roles, showcasing the versatility of the MSBA program in preparing students for strategic positions that blend data insights with business operations.
| Function | % Hired |
| Data Science | 98.4% |
| Product Management | 1.6% |
Top Employers
MIT Sloan MBAn graduates are highly sought after by top-tier companies known for their innovation and commitment to data-driven growth. Notable employers and the number of students hired include:
• Comcast (5 hires)
• TikTok (4 hires)
• Benefits Science Technologies (3 hires)
• Holistic Hospital Optimization – H2O (3 hires)
• Palantir (2 hires)
• CVS Health (2 hires)
• Visa (2 hires)
Application Process
Applicants to the MIT Sloan Master of Business Analytics (MBAn) program are evaluated based on their academic and professional achievements. Eligible candidates must have completed or expect to complete a bachelor’s degree by the time of enrolment, including those with a three-year international degree.
Deadlines
• Application Deadline: January 3, 2025
• Decision Released: March 3, 2025
Application Components
1. Resume:
a. Submit a one-page resume focusing on academic and professional milestones.
b. Include education, work experience, internships, projects, and additional skills in reverse chronological order.
c. Format: Times New Roman, size 10, in Word or PDF.
2. Essay Question:
a. Respond in 500 words or less to explain why you’re pursuing the MBAn degree at MIT Sloan, your goals for the program, and future career aspirations.
3. Short Answer Question:
a. In 250 words, share how your background (family, culture, community) has shaped your life experiences and perspective.
4. Video Questions:
a. Video 1: Introduce yourself to your future classmates (1 minute max, single take).
b. Video 2: Answer a randomly generated, open-ended question to assess fit with MIT Sloan’s culture. (60-second response after 10 seconds of prep time).
5. Letters of Recommendation:
a. Submit three letters, including one attesting to quantitative skills.
b. Recommenders should provide specific examples related to the applicant's skills and impact.
c. Recommendations are submitted online and must meet a two-page limit.
6. Academic Transcripts:
a. Upload scanned transcripts from all colleges attended. Ensure they are legible and in English (with certified translations if applicable).
7. Relevant Coursework & Certifications:
a. List completed or current courses in computer programming, linear algebra, math, and statistics/machine learning.
b. Include any relevant professional certifications (e.g., CFA, CPA).
8. Test Scores (Optional):
a. Submission of GMAT or GRE scores is optional. Applications without test scores are reviewed without penalty.
9. Application Fee:
a. A $150 non-refundable fee is required before submission.
Interview Process:
• Interviews are by invitation only and indicate advanced consideration but do not guarantee admission.
• The interview includes behavioral and technical questions covering math, probability, statistics, and computer science.
• Interviewees must submit a recent analytics project summary with up to two presentation slides (PDF format) showcasing relevant work.
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