Microsoft Excel: Learn Modern Excel for Data Analysis (Udemy.com)
Build foundational Excel skills for data analysis: Learn formulas, charts, and pivot tables with fun, hands-on projects!
Created by: Maven Analytics
Last updated June 2026
Our take
Based on the ratings of 743 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in June 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.
This Maven Analytics course, taught by Enrique Ruiz, spends six hours across 85 lectures walking through spreadsheet basics, formulas and functions, pivot tables, and chart building, then closes with a final project analyzing NYC traffic accident data. It's labeled All Levels, but the syllabus and reviews suggest it fits best as a first real step into data analysis rather than a true zero-to-hero Excel course. Requirements list only Excel 365, and the five quizzes plus downloadable datasets give it a hands-on, project-based feel instead of pure lecture watching.
Reviewers consistently praise the clarity and structure: Dipak Chandra Das called it well structured and easy to follow, and Angela Faye Carlos said the explanations were detailed yet presented in a simple way. The complaints cluster in two spots. A few students, including some low raters, found the material moves fast and leans more advanced than 'foundational' implies once formulas stack up. One reviewer flagged missing Power Query coverage for combining multiple files, and another reported videos failing to play.
At a low price with lifetime access and a 90-plus-page companion ebook, it's a reasonable value next to other Excel-for-analytics options on Udemy, especially with a 4.6 rating across 743 reviews and a mid-2026 update. It won't replace a dedicated Power Query or advanced-formulas course, but as an on-ramp that ends with an actual analysis project instead of a quiz, it earns its Bestseller badge for people starting from scratch or brushing up rusty skills.
Pros
- Ends with a real final project analyzing NYC traffic accident data
- Covers formulas, pivot tables, and charts in one structured path
- Includes a 90-plus-page companion ebook and downloadable datasets
- Updated in mid-2026, with a 4.6 rating across 743 reviews
Cons
- Pace picks up fast once formulas and pivot tables stack up
- Skips Power Query, a tool reviewers wanted for combining files
- A few reviewers reported videos failing to play
A very comprehensive course if you want to start using Excel.
Labeled All Levels but works best as a first step into analysis, not absolute beginners.
What you will learn
- Learn how to create and manage worksheets and navigate the Microsoft Excel interface using keyboard shortcuts
- Build foundational data literacy skills, including managing, exploring, analyzing and visualizing data
- Write spreadsheet formulas and functions to aggregate values, create logical tests, join data, and manipulate text and dates
- Use Pivot Tables to explore and analyze data using custom aggregations & calculations, sorting & filtering, and more
- Learn data visualization and storytelling best practices, and bring data to life using common charts and graphs
Course content
8 sections · 85 lectures · 6 hours of video 5 quizzes, 6 articles
- 1Getting Started 4 free previews5 lectures · 7 min
- 2Introducing Microsoft Excel 1 free preview5 lectures · 1 quiz · 16 min
- 3Spreadsheet Fundamentals 1 free preview16 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.2 hours
- 4Formulas & Functions 1 free preview25 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.8 hours
- 5Data Analysis with Pivot Tables 1 free preview13 lectures · 1 quiz · 1 hour
- 6Data Visualization with Charts & Graphs 1 free preview13 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.2 hours
- 7FINAL PROJECT: Traffic Safety Analysis 1 free preview7 lectures · 28 min
- 8Next Steps 1 free preview1 lecture · 2 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- Everyday people looking to build confidence and use data more effectively
- Anyone seeking a comprehensive introduction to Microsoft Excel
- Data professionals who want to build job-ready data management, analysis, and visualization skills
What you need before you start
- Microsoft Excel 365 (some functionality may be unavailable on other versions)
- No advance preparation is required
Course Description
In this course, you’ll build the skills you need to manage, explore, analyze and visualize data in Microsoft Excel using real-world projects and datasets.
We’ll start by introducing the Excel landscape and interface, then dive into spreadsheet fundamentals like table structures, data types, formatting, sorting, and filtering.
From there, we’ll dig into formulas and functions, introduce key topics like syntax, reference types, and common errors, and practice applying some of the most common and powerful techniques for data management and analysis. We’ll use functions to count and aggregate values, create logical tests, join data across tables, manipulate text and date values, and more.
Next, we’ll introduce pivot tables, an essential spreadsheet tool for data exploration. We’ll prepare raw data for analysis, create views to slice and dice the data, apply different calculation options, and use tools like sorting, filtering, and calculated fields.
Last but not least, we’ll dive into the world of data visualization and storytelling, review best practices for effective design, and bring our data to life using essential visuals like bar, line, and pie charts, scatterplots, histograms, and maps.
This is a hands-on and project-based course designed to help you build practical data literacy and analytical thinking skills, whether you're brand new to the field or a professional analyst.
You’ll explore unique, real-world datasets from Flight Delays to Sales Pipelines, practice applying the tools and techniques you learn throughout the course, and leverage AI tools like Microsoft Copilot to help accelerate your skills.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Introducing Microsoft Excel
Create your first spreadsheet, navigate the Excel interface, and review the modern Excel landscape
Spreadsheet Fundamentals
Review key spreadsheet concepts like data types, tables, cell references, number formatting, and sorting & filtering
Formulas & Functions
Analyze and manipulate data using formulas, including function syntax, reference types, and common errors
Data Analysis with PivotTables
Explore and analyze data using pivot tables, including data structure, calculation options, and sorting & filtering
Data Visualization with Charts & Graphs
Visualize data using the right chart type and apply deliberate formatting to tell a clear and compelling story
FINAL PROJECT: Traffic Safety Analysis
Apply all the skills you've learned to analyze traffic accident data in NYC and expose interesting patterns and trends
__________
Ready to dive in? Join today and get immediate, LIFETIME access to the following:
6 hours of high-quality video
5 quizzes
5 projects
Microsoft Excel Foundations ebook (90+ pages)
Downloadable files & solutions
Expert support and Q&A forum
30-day Udemy satisfaction guarantee
If you’re ready to build the skills you need to make smart, data-driven decisions, this is the course for you.
Happy learning!
-Enrique Ruiz (Certified Excel Expert and Excel Instructor, Maven Analytics)
__________
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Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
743 Reviews
Maven Analytics
Maven Analytics is an award-winning platform where individuals and teams build new skills, showcase work, and connect with experts around the world.
We've helped more than 2,000,000 learners around the world build job-ready data & AI skills, master tools like Excel, SQL, Power BI, Tableau and Python, and build the foundation for successful careers.
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Reviews
By Mahad Abdi on 7/23/2026
I have some intermediate experience about the excel but I need to be specialized from start to advanced levels
By Ronak Gyani on 5/27/2026
I already know excel for data analytics and I enrolled just for certificate, if anyone is wonder if this course is worth taking here is my answer The course was beginner friendly, comprehensive, well structured, end to end, and was easy to follow. Just one thing ,This course didn't teach an important tool of excel called power query, this power query tool help us to combine multiple CSV or data files of same data but different like a it can help us combine three separate sales file of month jan-to-may, june-to-aug, and sept-to-dec into one single file and not that before we load the combined data into the worksheet we can even edit it. it is very useful and must know tool and it is very easy to learn i hence the course should have thought it, and another important tool called power pivot and data model is a easy to learn tool but was not mentioned in the course, and another thing is this course didn't teach us how to build "beautiful" dashboard which gives insights like with KPIS and well structured graphs this to is an easy thing and should have been added in the course cause of course anyone can add chart and call it dashboard. BUT these things can be learned on youtube hence this course is def worth taking.
By Jerson Alexander Amaya Caceres on 5/25/2026
Yes, this was direct to what exactly I need according to the Data Analyst tips and tools in Excel, strongly recommended if already have an Excel base knowledge.
By Aryan Ojha on 5/19/2026
Good, Amazing course. Very nice experience in learning advance concepts of data analysis in a very simple manner.
By Trenten Butler on 5/8/2026
This course is helping me understand how powerful Excel can be at a foundational level. It is definitely a big help with starting a Data Analysis Journey if this is the first step for anyone. Or if you are just curious about Excel with Data sets.
By Marcos Goncalves on 4/9/2026
Most of what I've seen, I'd already seen, but I got to confess it was great to have an opportunity to brush up on stuff that you ended up not using on everyday's task.
By Angela Faye Carlos on 4/2/2026
It was very informative and interactive. The explanations were detailed yet presented in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
By Dipak Chandra Das on 3/23/2026
This course is well-structured and easy to follow, making it ideal for both beginners and intermediate users. It covers essential tools like formulas, pivot tables, and data visualization with practical examples for real-world application. Overall, it’s a highly useful course for anyone looking to enhance their Excel skills and data analysis capabilities.
By Mirna Tareq on 2/21/2026
He is very detailed oriented, Excellent way in delivering the material. I like his attention to each detail making it easier for beginners.
By Alex Weston on 1/31/2026
This course built on my basic knowledge of Excel formulas and functions to help me see and really understand how to use the tools available to me.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 92 / 100












