7 Best Excel Courses for Data Analysis in 2025
Excel has remained a powerhouse in the world of data analysis, thanks to its versatility, accessibility, and ability to handle diverse datasets. Whether you’re a seasoned business professional, a budding data analyst, or simply looking to refine your Excel expertise, learning advanced data analysis techniques is a critical step in your career.
However, with so many online courses available, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the best Excel courses for data analysis in 2025 to help learners make an informed decision. Below, we’ll break down what makes each course stand out, who it’s best suited for, and why you should consider taking it.
What is Data Analysis?
Before diving into the courses, let’s first define data analysis. Simply put, it is the process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to discover useful information and support decision-making. Data analysts use various tools and techniques to extract insights from large data sets, often using Excel as a primary tool for organizing and analyzing data.
Career in Data Analysis
A career in data analysis can be both rewarding and dynamic, offering opportunities across various industries. Data analysts are crucial in helping organizations make data-driven decisions by turning raw data into actionable insights. They work in fields such as finance, healthcare, marketing, technology, and more, analyzing trends and patterns to solve problems and optimize performance.
To build a successful data analytics career, individuals typically need strong analytical skills, proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, Python, or R, and a solid understanding of statistics and data visualization. Many entry-level roles require a bachelor’s degree in fields such as data science, computer science, or business analytics, though certifications and bootcamps can also help aspiring data professionals gain the skills they need.
Why Learn Advanced Data Analysis in Excel?
As a data analyst, you’ll collect, organize, and analyze large sets of data to provide insights and inform decision-making. This means working closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and using various tools like SQL, Excel, Python, or R to extract and manipulate data.
Some common responsibilities of a data analyst include:
- Collecting and cleaning raw data from various sources (e.g., databases, websites)
- Organizing and storing data in structured formats (e.g., spreadsheets)
- Applying statistical techniques to analyze data trends and patterns
- Creating visual representations of data through charts, graphs, and dashboards
- Identifying key insights and presenting findings to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner
- Monitoring data quality and resolving any issues or discrepancies
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to support decision-making processes
Benefits of Advanced Excel in Data Analysis
Microsoft Excel has been a staple tool for businesses and organizations for decades, primarily used for storing and manipulating data in Excel spreadsheets. However, with the increasing amount of data being generated and collected, basic spreadsheet tasks and Excel skills are no longer sufficient to handle complex data analysis tasks.
Advanced Excel techniques provide powerful features that help users analyze large datasets, uncover insights, and make informed decisions more efficiently. Here are some benefits of mastering advanced Excel for data analysis:
- Efficient Data Organization: Advanced techniques let you quickly organize large datasets, saving time for analysis and insight extraction instead of manual sorting.
- Powerful Insights: Features like pivot tables help summarize and visualize data, making it easier to spot trends and patterns for smarter decision-making.
- Time-Saving Automation: Tools like macros and conditional formatting automate repetitive tasks and apply formatting to large datasets in seconds.
- Collaboration: Excel’s collaborative features enable real-time teamwork, allowing you to share workbooks, track changes, and communicate through comments seamlessly.
- Accessibility: With its intuitive interface and widespread use, Excel is easy to adopt across businesses of all sizes, regardless of technical expertise.
By mastering advanced Excel, you can boost your productivity and make smarter, faster, data-driven decisions.
Selecting the Best Excel Course for Data Analysis
Not all Excel courses are created equal. To ensure you get the best learning experience, we based our selections on the following key criteria:
- Instructor Expertise: Courses taught by experienced professionals with proven credibility in data analysis and Excel mastery.
- Comprehensive Content: Does the course cover beginner to advanced topics and provide the essential skills required for data analysis?
- Hands-On Projects: Practical, real-world projects and exercises that allow you to apply learned concepts effectively.
- Student Feedback: Positive reviews and ratings from previous participants
Now, without further ado, here are the top Excel courses for data analysis in 2025.
Top Excel Courses for Beginners and Intermediate Users
1. Excel Charts, Formatting, and Reporting Course
Overview
Learn the essentials of creating effective visualizations in Excel. Master the art of building charts, customizing them with styles and templates, and applying advanced worksheet formatting to make your data stand out. Discover how to present information clearly and professionally, making your spreadsheets functional and visually impactful.
Best For
This course is designed for professionals seeking to present spreadsheet data with clarity, create impactful visualizations, and use conditional formatting to elevate advanced reports, empowering them to excel in their roles.
2. Excel Database Features and PivotTables
Overview
Learn the essentials of data management and statistical analysis with PivotTables in Excel. This comprehensive course will teach you how to create tables, import and modify data, perform detailed analyses, and design and customize PivotTables for maximum impact.
Best For
This course is tailored for professionals who manage data and create PivotTables, providing the expertise needed to optimize workflows and harness the full power of Excel.
3. Excel Workbooks, Formulas, and Functions
Overview
Master the art of handling large worksheets, building dynamic models, and leveraging advanced Excel formulas, including financial, date, and logical functions, to enhance your productivity and expertise.
Best For
This course is ideal for professionals building and managing intricate spreadsheets and models. It provides the essential skills you need to excel in your role confidently and efficiently.
4. Excel Power User
Overview
This fast-paced, dynamic course provides a comprehensive overview of Excel’s most powerful and time-saving techniques. As part of your enrollment, you’ll receive a complete 5-volume set of Excel resources, including accompanying data files, to enhance and support your learning experience.
If you’re an experienced Excel user with a solid foundation, you don’t need a basic class or a narrow focus on a single feature. You need an efficient, high-impact refresher that quickly updates your skills with Excel’s latest tools and functionalities.
This course covers various advanced topics, including enhanced charting techniques, database tools, pivot tables, managing multi-worksheet workbooks, advanced functions, and an introduction to Macros. It’s designed to bring you up to speed and empower you to work smarter with Excel.
Best For
This course is perfect for experienced Excel users who want to regain their edge and master the latest features. If you’ve been using Excel for years and others have even turned to you for help, but you feel your skills haven’t kept up, this fast-paced overview is exactly what you need.
Covering everything from charting and database features to pivot tables, advanced functions, multiple worksheets, and an introduction to Macros, this course will bring you up to speed across all key areas.
Advanced Excel Training Programs
If you’re looking to enhance your Excel skills for data analysis, there are plenty of training programs available to help you achieve your goals. These programs cover key topics like advanced formulas, data visualization, pivot tables, and automation with macros, catering to various skill levels. Some popular options for advanced Excel training focused on data analysis include:
5. Power BI Introduction for Excel Users
Overview
This course is designed to help you master the essential skills for transitioning data from Excel to Power BI while enhancing your data analysis capabilities. You’ll learn to transform and organize raw data, build powerful data models, design insightful, actionable reports, and leverage the Power BI cloud service to share your findings effortlessly.
Best For
Designed for non-IT professionals, this course equips you with the skills to effortlessly create and share polished, professional-quality reports using Power BI.
6. Excel Forecasting and What-If Analysis
Overview
Excel provides a robust suite of tools and add-ons designed to streamline the creation of complex models. Features like What-If Analysis, Scenarios, Solver, and Data Tables make it easy to explore various scenarios and outcomes. Its Forecast functions simplify the process of projecting trends and creating customized forecasts with efficiency and precision.
The course also delves into Excel’s powerful Data Model feature, which allows users to seamlessly manage and analyze large datasets directly within the platform, enhancing productivity and analytical capabilities.
Best For
This course is designed for professionals tasked with creating forecasts and performing What-If Analyses. It equips participants with essential skills to harness Excel’s advanced features effectively and confidently.
7. Excel Macros
Overview
Advanced Excel users frequently encounter repetitive tasks like generating reports, updating data, or formatting tables. However, with the power of Macros, these routine processes can be automated, saving both time and effort. In this course, you’ll discover how to harness Excel’s advanced features to record your most common tasks and execute them seamlessly with a single click, making your workflow faster, more efficient, and hassle-free.
Best For
This course is tailored for frequent users of Excel 2016, 2013, or 2010 who want to streamline their daily tasks through automation. The best part? You don’t need any prior programming experience to begin.
On-Demand Excel Courses Online
Looking to master Microsoft Excel at your own pace? ONLC offers an online self-paced training course, Excel On-Demand: Comprehensive (Basic, Intermediate & Advanced self-study), designed to help you learn Excel step by step. This course covers everything from beginner to advanced Excel skills, making it perfect for professionals and students alike.
With expert-led video lectures, engaging PowerPoint visuals, and hands-on demonstrations, this Excel training ensures you gain practical knowledge. The course also includes quizzes and exams to test your progress and solidify your understanding. No need to own the software—you can follow along directly on any internet-connected device. However, you’ll need either a purchased version of Excel or a free trial to use the downloadable practice files provided.
When you enroll, you’ll receive a printed Learning Guide and downloadable practice files to enhance your experience (Note: printed materials are not included in certain bundles, such as the Office On-Demand Comprehensive bundle or the All You Can Learn package).
Microsoft Excel Certification for Data Analysts
Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool used for data analysis and visualization. With its wide range of features and functions, it has become the go-to program for professionals in various industries such as finance, marketing, and healthcare.
In order to showcase your proficiency in using Microsoft Excel, you can obtain a certification from Microsoft. This certification demonstrates your skills and knowledge in using Excel for data analysis purposes, making you stand out in a competitive job market.
EXCEL MOS Certification
Microsoft offers a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification for Excel, which is recognized globally as a standard for validating proficiency in the program. This certification can be obtained by passing the corresponding exam, which tests your knowledge and skills in using Excel to organize, analyze, and visualize data.
The MOS certification for Excel covers various topics such as creating and managing worksheets and workbooks, formatting data and content, creating charts and tables, performing calculations with formulas and functions, and analyzing data with Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts. By becoming certified in these areas, you will have a thorough understanding of Excel’s capabilities and be able to effectively use it for data analysis.
EXCEL MOS EXPERT
The Excel MOS Expert certification is the highest level of certification offered by Microsoft for Excel. It is designed for individuals who have an advanced understanding of Excel and are able to work with complex data sets, create advanced formulas and functions, and utilize advanced tools such as macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).
To become an Excel MOS Expert, you must first pass the Excel MOS Core exam, which covers the basic and intermediate features of Excel. Once you have passed this exam, you can then move on to taking the Excel MOS Expert exam.
Becoming an Excel MOS Expert not only demonstrates your proficiency in Excel, but it also shows employers that you have a deep understanding of the software and can use it for complex tasks in data analytics.
Gain the Edge with Advanced Excel Skills
Mastering Excel data analysis is no longer an optional skill for professionals; it’s a necessity. Whether you’re creating compelling dashboards, refining business operations, or tackling data science problems, Excel remains one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal.
Each course is thoughtfully selected to address specific needs, whether you’re a business analyst or an aspiring data scientist. If you have any questions or need more details about a course, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help!
