Top 30 Online Master's in Marketing Degrees for 2019
A versatile credential that leads to opportunities in nearly every sector of the industry, marketing degrees tend to be offered either as concentrations in MBA programs or independently through a university's business or management school. Students pursuing a master's in marketing online typically take classes that cover management, strategic planning, branding, forecasting, and business modeling. The curriculum may also allow learners to emphasize a particular area, such as technology, digital marketing, or internet marketing.
Due to the demand for such skills in the workplace, most online master's in marketing also feature projects designed to build communication, analytical, and interpersonal abilities. Earning a master's in marketing online is ideal for adult students with families or for learners who have a full-time job. In addition to convenient online coursework, most of these programs provide internships and professional experience opportunities near a student's place of residence .
Featured Online Schools
What Are the Best Online Master's in Marketing Programs?
Top 30 Online Masters in Marketing Degrees for 2019
The University of Florida, based in Gainesville, FL, offers an MS in sports management that prepares graduates for positions in collegiate, amateur, and professional athletics. This school's online program provides a "behind-the-scenes" introduction to sports management, which develops administrative duties that maintain a successful organization and keep players on the field. Courses are offered completely online with no on-campus requirements.
Sports management is a broad field; therefore, the University of Florida offers a diverse set of classes so students can tailor their education to their interests, including finance for sport organization, risk management and legal issues in sports and athlete training/development. Students can also specialize their degree with certificates in athlete development, high performance coaching, or sport law. This 36 credit program culminates with either a professional internship or practicum to apply hands-on learning. Graduate-level courses from other accredited institutions may be eligible for transfer.
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Beginning a Marketing Career
Experienced graduates with an online master's in marketing can pursue careers in the field of marketing management . Marketing managers earn impressive salaries, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects these positions to experience 10% growth between 2016 and 2026. These professionals earned an average wage of $129,380 in 2017.
Other closely related occupations that share many of the same responsibilities as marketing managers include advertising and promotions managers; these positions also receive six-figure incomes and have the same projected job growth. While market research analysts earn less (an average salary of $62,560), this sector of marketing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the nation; the BLS projects these jobs to increase by 23% between 2016 and 2026.
Although the majority of entry-level marketing jobs only require a bachelor's degree, employers looking to fill top positions often prefer candidates with additional experience and an advanced degree, such as a master of science or MBA with a concentration in marketing. MS degrees typically emphasize marketing management concepts, while MBA programs with a marketing concentration tend to provide a broader foundation in business before incorporating marketing-oriented coursework.
Students who earn their master's in marketing online can pursue work as marketing managers, sales representatives, and marketing specialists. They may also explore careers in expanding areas of marketing, such as digital media and internet advertising. While work experience in marketing is always preferred, some employers may also favor candidates who hold certain certificates, such as the professional researcher certification for market analysts provided by the Marketing Research Association.
What Can You Do With an Online Marketing Master's Degree?
Salary Outlook for Marketing Program Graduates
The salary outlook for online master's marketing graduates varies greatly, from under $50,000 to well over $100,000 a year. Fortunately, many of the jobs available to marketing graduates lie on the higher end of this spectrum. Students who earn an online master's in marketing should feel optimistic about their job prospects after graduation. While the BLS projects that the number of advertising managers, marketing managers, and public relations managers positions will grow by 10% from 2016 to 2026 — which is on par with the average job growth in the U.S. — the projected growth rate for market research analysts is an incredible 23%.
What Else Can I Expect From an Online Master's in Marketing Program?
Students enrolled in online master's programs in marketing study a variety of topics, including how to interpret customer behavior, analyze consumer data, understand markets, and create marketing plans. The curricula for different programs vary, but students can count on learning the basics of marketing strategies and consumer behavior no matter where they go to school.
Curriculum for an Online Master's in Marketing
Marketing Strategy: Marketing strategy courses teach students about the role marketing plays in an organization, as well as how to identify and select market opportunities and approach problems in the field with an ethical outlook. The class also trains students to analyze a competitive marketplace and create a plan to attract customers within that marketplace.
International Marketing: Students who enroll in international marketing courses learn about the field from a global point of view. They study topics such as international trade, global distribution and pricing, marketing strategies in foreign countries, and how to navigate the cultural, geographic, and historic conditions in different countries.
Marketing Analytics: Marketing analytics courses focus on data, and instructors teach students how to analyze consumer information within the theoretical framework of marketing to create successful marketing strategies. Participants also go over the ethics of using consumer data; this is especially important in a world where information can be collected from consumers without their knowledge or permission.
Consumer Behavior Insights: Consumer behavior/insight courses represent a key component of marketing curricula. Students learn about consumer habits, including how individuals make decisions, how situational circumstances can impact those decisions, and what motivates consumers. By understanding how consumers think, marketing professionals better understand how to create an effective plan to sell products and services.
Digital Marketing: Students enrolled in digital marketing or online marketing courses investigate how to use digital media to understand consumer behavior and develop digital marketing plans. These courses cover concepts that include search engine optimization, working with social media influencers, and website analytics.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Online Master's in Marketing?
Students interested in earning an online marketing master's degree can expect to spend about two years pursuing their diploma. However, this time commitment varies depending on several factors, such as whether students enroll on a full- or part-time basis and whether they have any transfer credits. Some programs allow students to finish their online master's degrees in marketing in less than 15 months, while others permit part-time students to take up to five years to graduate.
The number of credits required to graduate also depends on the specific program. Graduate schools typically require students to complete anywhere from 30-42 credits, although this number may be higher. Curriculum plans often include 9-15 credits of core courses, followed by advanced courses and electives. Students who have transfer credits or a bachelor's degree in marketing may be allowed to skip certain course requirements.
Certifications and Licenses a Master's in Marketing Prepares For
Professional Marketer Certification : The American Marketing Association offers a professional certified marketer program that features three different tracks: a digital marketing track, a content marketing track, and a marketing management track. Although this certification is not mandatory for marketing professionals, earning these credentials can help professionals advance in their careers.
Professional Researcher Certification : Offered by the Insights Association, the professional researcher certification indicates that professionals hold competencies related to marketing research and analytics. To take this certification exam, which emphasizes research integrity and ethics, students should register with the Insights Association and take a few preparatory courses from the organization.
Professional Sales and Marketing Certification : Sales and Marketing Executives International is a professional association that offers marketing and sales certifications. To attain this marketing certification, students must have an education background in the field. SMEI publishes a textbook that test takers can study to help them prepare for the test.
Marketing: Different Than PR and Advertising?
Although marketing, advertising, and public relations possess many similarities, the specifics of these fields can vary significantly. Marketing and advertising tend to describe two different stages used to create value for a product or service in the marketplace. Marketing is used to prepare a product or service for entry into the market and involves everything from establishing a customer base to defining a brand and attracting market shares. Alternatively, advertising is carried out once a product or service has already been released, reminding consumers that a product or service exists. In contrast, public relations tends to involve broader and more diverse audiences with the goal of maintaining or creating a positive view of an organization or product.
Financing Your Online Master's in Marketing
Keeping in mind the costs related to tuition, books, and other expenses, pursuing an online master's degree in marketing can be rather expensive. Fortunately, students can find scholarships dedicated specifically to individuals enrolled in marketing programs. Learners can also enter company-sponsored contests where they submit essays or create marketing plans to compete for financial awards. Most importantly, students should remember to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine what types of federal support for which they qualify.
Scholarships for Master's in Marketing Students
To help offset the rising costs of pursuing an online master's degree in marketing, students can apply for financial aid. Many organizations offer scholarships to graduate students who meet certain academic criteria. Some of those scholarships — a few of which can be found in the list below — target marketing students specifically.
Who Can Apply : Marketing EDGE , a nonprofit organization, offers multiple scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. To be eligible, students should have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have taken some marketing classes. Applicants must also have participated in at least one of the organization's education programs, summits, or courses. Amount : $1,000-$7,000
To determine the best online master's in marketing programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the 30 best online master's in marketing degree programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.