The second time Rachel Zhang (BS ’12, MS ’25) graduated from UW–Madison, getting to her commencement ceremony was just a bit more complicated. Because this time around, it meant traveling over 6,000 miles to get there.
“It’s been years since I was last on campus, and I wanted to meet everyone from my program in person,” says Zhang, who lives and works in Tokyo—and after officially finishing her last class later this summer, will be one of the first 18 students to complete the Wisconsin School of Business’ first fully online graduate degree program.
Launched in 2023, the Master of Science-Business: Data, Insights, and Analytics (MSDIA) offers a flexible, asynchronous degree for working professionals—no matter their geographic location—looking to break into analytics or advance their careers.
“We have a really great group of students who come from very diverse business backgrounds,” says Suzanna Park Hogendorn (JD ’95), the program’s student services specialist. She works closely with each student who comes through the two-year program to ensure their success as they learn the analytics skills that today’s businesses need more than ever.
“Our students are experiencing machine learning, data visualization, cloud computing, and much more,” says MSDIA Program Director Cody Baldwin. “In their first semester, students learn things that are almost immediately applicable, which make them more marketable and better at their job. They don’t have to wait until graduation to have an impact.”
“Students learn things that are almost immediately applicable.”
—Cody Baldwin
For Zhang, that meant putting her new skills to work immediately at Amazon, where she’s worked as a program manager since 2022. “I was looking for a program to expand my knowledge in data science from a top-ranked school, and given my current work responsibilities, it needed to be 100% online,” says Zhang. “The MSDIA program enabled me to enhance Amazon’s planning process and equipped me with the knowledge to identify and hire the right talent for my organization.”
In some cases, that influx of new skills leads directly to new employment opportunities. Just ask Cara Lemirande (MS ’25), a Madison-based MSDIA participant who landed a position as a data engineer with Blain’s Farm & Fleet less than a year into the program.
“I’m already applying the SQL and Python skills that I acquired in a few of the courses,” says Lemirande. “This program really broadened my opportunities and exposed the many ways that I can put my passion for data to use.”
Online analytics programs have emerged at universities across the country, and WSB’s MSDIA program stands out for its exceptional student support. From personalized welcome cards to one-on-one advising services, both Baldwin and Park Hogendorn have cultivated a welcoming, supportive, and thriving culture. They also host a live, online meetup before each semester, giving new students a chance to connect with faculty and staff.
“It’s a chance for students to see us, talk to us, and to ask us questions,” says Park Hogendorn. “We want them to see that we’re real people that they can connect with.”
So far, their approach is working. Since 2023, the program has maintained a 95% student retention rate—an impressive figure for an online degree program. Enrollment is also on the rise, with the Spring 2025 cohort welcoming 42 students, doubling the Fall 2023 class.
Now, as the program’s first students become its first alumni, both Baldwin and Park Hogendorn have high hopes that their involvement with WSB will continue. “We certainly want to bring them back to campus, either virtually or in person, to speak to our analytics students,” says Baldwin. “We also hope they’ll engage with the general UW–Madison alumni base. We want them to feel like a Badger during the program and after it.”
And while the MSDIA program continues to evolve based on industry trends and student needs, its commitment to launching students into exciting new careers will remain unchanged.
“There’s a lot of demand out there for folks with a business background and technical skills on top of it,” says Baldwin. “I’m very optimistic about the future for graduates of this program.”