Analytics Degree Programs in Illinois

Illinois is a gold mine for serious analytics students. Our listings of IL analytics degrees & certificates contain programs from major public research universities, affordable state schools, and well-respected private names. You can focus on data analytics or business analytics. You can pursue a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree. Or you can opt for a graduate certificate in a niche field like accounting or sports analytics. The choices are almost endless.

Research & Career-Building

Once you have a shortlist of Illinois programs, be ask about their analytics centers & institutes. Almost every major Illinois school has some kind of data-driven initiative—find the one that matches up to your career goals. For example, the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO) and the Data Science Initiative at Northwestern are deeply involved in big data research projects. Meanwhile, over at UChicago, you’ll find the Data Science Institute, Urban Center for Computation and Data (UrbanCCD) and Center for Spatial Data Science (CSDS). If you’re interested in business, UIUC’s University of Illinois-Deloitte Foundation Center for Business Analytics in the Gies College of Business can supply you with course materials, case studies, symposia, and workshops. And the Center for Applied Analytics at UIC has helpful ties to industry partners across the country.

Networking Opportunities

Large analytics conferences frequently find their way to Chicago (e.g. IEEE meetings), so keep an eye on industry websites. The Chicago Chapter of INFORMS hosts an annual Regional Analytics Conference in the Windy City and many Illinois universities organize their own data science & analytics events. If you’d like to hone your skills or connect with fellow analytics professionals, try a Meetup group (e.g. Machine Learning and Data Science Chicago). There are plenty to go around!