How to Learn Data Analytics Online: The Best Resources for Newbies & Pros

Looking for info on how to learn data analytics quickly and easily? Wondering what a career as a data analyst looks like?

A career as a data analyst can be very rewarding. Data analysts are in high demand and earn a good salary (the median data analyst’s salary was over $82,000 in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Businesses have more interest than ever in harnessing their data for decision-making. They need experts who can interpret and make sense of it, which is where data analysts come in.

Data analysts apply analytical methods to business data in order to find trends and develop new understandings.

There are lots of great career opportunities for data analysts, from working in marketing to finance to healthcare to education and a whole lot more.

Simply put, data drives everything in business today and data analysts are the ones responsible for making sure that data is accurate, timely, and insightful.

There has never been a better time to learn data analytics. The demand for skilled data analysts is higher than ever before, and the field is only expected to grow in the years to come.

So how can you learn data analytics quickly and easily…without going to school for 4 or more years?

Let’s get started…

Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.

 

What is Data Analytics?

Data analysis is the process of organizing and examining vast amounts of disorganized data to obtain valuable insights that drive informed decisions in organizations.

Data analysis is an essential component of business decision-making processes in companies of all sizes. By sifting through vast volumes of unstructured data, analysts can find patterns, trends, and relationships that lead to valuable insights. These insights can then be used to make decisions that impact the organization’s bottom line.

The data analysis process involves:

• Defining the question or goal behind the analysis: what are you trying to discover?
• Collecting the right data to provide an answer.
• Cleaning and preparing the data to improve its quality, such as getting data into the right format and eliminating unnecessary data.
• Manipulating data using tools such as Excel or Google Sheets, including plotting data out and creating pivot tables.
• Analyzing and interpreting the data by using statistical tools to identify correlations, trends, and outliers.
• Presenting the data in useful ways through creating graphs, visualizations, charts, tables, etc.

It’s important to note that data science and analysis are not interchangeable terms.

While data science is more advanced and includes tasks such as programming, creating algorithms, and developing predictive models, data analysis is more focused on extracting insights from existing data sets.

Regardless of the intricacies, both data science and data analysis are critical to organizations seeking to gain a competitive edge in today’s data-driven business environment.

 

Why Learn Data Analytics?

There are lots of reasons you might want to learn data analytics.

Maybe you’re looking to change careers and data analytics seems like a good fit. Data analysts are in high demand, and you can make a great living in the field. Data professionals with the skills and expertise to help businesses make informed decisions can work in virtually any industry.

Data analytics can also give you an edge when it comes to making decisions. With the right data analysis and insights, you can make smarter decisions that get better results, whether it’s for a business or personal project. Plus, data analysts have excellent problem-solving skills, which can help them identify new solutions and opportunities.

Either way, learning data analytics can help you reach your goals.

Data analysts are responsible for making sense of data, and they do this by using analytical methods to find trends and develop new understandings.

This is a critical role in any business because it allows businesses to make better decisions based on data.

If you’re looking for a career that is in high demand, pays well, and offers lots of room for growth, data analytics is a great option.

 

Online Courses Offer the Best Way to Learn Data Analytics

In today’s fast-paced world, learning data analytics can be tough, especially if you’re juggling work or family commitments.

Online courses have revolutionized the way we learn, offering a plethora of benefits that traditional, in-person classes cannot.

For starters, you can get world-class instruction, previously only available at top universities, without ever leaving your house. This alone saves valuable time and money that would have otherwise gone into commuting and accommodation costs.

Additionally, online courses offer unparalleled flexibility in scheduling, allowing you to study at your own pace and balance your personal and professional obligations. Need to repeat a lesson to make sure you’ve got it? Need to catch up on the material? Just pull up the lecture and watch it again as many times as you need to.

So if you’re looking for the best way to learn data analytics, online courses are the way to go.

There are lots of great online course websites with classes that can teach you everything you need to know about data analytics. Let’s take a look at some of the best platforms below…

 

Emeritus: The Best Online Platform for Learning Data Analytics

If you’re interested in becoming a data analyst or advancing your career, Emeritus is the premier platform to help you achieve your goals.

They have partnered with over 60 renowned universities worldwide — across Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, India, China, and the United States — to provide affordable and accessible online courses and certificate programs that  will help you gain the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the data analytics industry.

Emeritus employs cutting-edge technology and world-class instruction from top educators and experts to deliver innovative, first-class curricula. They have assisted more than 250,000 individuals in gaining valuable knowledge and skills, across 80 countries, and in fields that are currently in demand.

Emeritus empowers individuals, companies, and organizations through a range of educational offerings – such as short courses, degree programs, professional certificates, and senior executive programs. These opportunities provide learners with the chance to learn new skills and transform their lives and careers.

Some of our favorite data analysis courses on Emeritus include:

Click here to explore everything Emeritus has to offer.

 

Other Platforms for Taking Data Analytics Courses

While we believe Emeritus offers the best resources for those interested in learning data analysis, there are other options out there you might want to consider.

 

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning website aimed at professionals.

LinkedIn is a well-known website for networking and job-hunting, and LinkedIn Learning is a great resource for learning new skills to help you in your career.

LinkedIn Learning offers courses on data analytics and just about any other professional skill you could ever want to learn.

All of the 18,000+ courses are taught by top experts, so you can learn with confidence that you’re getting accurate, up-to-date information.

LinkedIn Learning has a monthly subscription model that gives you access to all of the courses on the website, giving you ongoing options to grow your data analytics skills.

Check out our LinkedIn Learning pricing article to learn more about how the platform works and how much it costs.

Click here to try LinkedIn Learning free for 30 days.

 

Skillshare

Skillshare is a popular online course website with a wide range of courses on data analytics and just about any other subject you can imagine.

With over 30,000 classes (including a number of data analysis courses), you have plenty of options to choose from and learn the skills you need, whether for professional or recreational purposes.

All of the courses on Skillshare are taught by experienced professionals, so you can be sure you’re learning from the best.

Skillshare uses a subscription model that gives you access to all of the courses on the website for one annual price.

This makes it a great option if you want to take multiple courses or if you’re not sure which course you want to take.

Our Skillshare review has more information about the website and how it works.

Click here to try Skillshare free for one month.

 

Coursera Plus

Want to learn from some of the world’s top universities without spending a fortune on tuition? Coursera Plus is a new subscription service from Coursera that gives you access to over 7,000 courses from top universities like Stanford, Duke, and Yale.

You can learn anything from data analytics to computer science to business. From technical skills to soft skills, Coursera Plus has you covered.

Coursera Plus is a great option if you want to commit long-term to learning and want access to courses from multiple universities.

Our Coursera Plus review has more information about how the subscription works and how much it costs.

Click here to try Coursera Plus free for 7 days.

 

Final Thoughts on How to Learn Data Analytics Online

You have more options than ever before when it comes to learning data analytics online. From learning the basic, essential data analysis skills to the more advanced methods, there’s no shortage of resources available online to help you out.

And with data analyst jobs in high demand, it’s a great time to learn how to analyze data.

Whether you want to take courses from top universities, get hands-on practice with data science projects, or learn how to build out your data analyst portfolio, you have plenty of options.

So what are you waiting for? Get started learning today!

Have any questions about our guide on how to learn data analytics? Let us know by commenting below.