What Can I Do with an Online Marketing Degree?

A bachelor of science in marketing is a critical starting place for anyone interested in a career that is focused on marketing. Marketing is used across all kinds of industries and organizations to help promote products and services. Marketers are crucial for helping managers and leadership understand their consumer behavior and know how to promote to them. Large and small businesses, hospitals, schools, non-profits, governments, and tech companies all utilize marketing professionals to help them with their website, consumer connections, and campaigns. Social media, emails, content, and traditional marketing techniques are all crucial to help organizations reach their consumers. Event planner Account manager Sales manager Marketing specialist Advertising manager Public relations manager Sales representative Marketing manager Social media manager Email manager Content manager Website specialist Promotions manager Brand manager Chief marketing officer

Best Online Marketing Degree

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What is the Best Online School for Marketing?

A marketing degree is critical for many people looking to progress in their business career. And an online marketing degree program could be the perfect way to continue your education in a way that is effective for you, allowing you to continue working full-time. You also may be able to utilize your current experience and knowledge to help you accelerate through your courses. This can help you graduate faster and impact your career even sooner.

A marketing degree program will give you valuable knowledge and skills in traditional marketing, brand management, social media strategy, market research, email marketing, advertising, public relations, and more. You'll be prepared to move up in your current role or move into a different marketing career. But not all marketing degrees and curriculum are created equal. It's important to understand the value of the degree, the cost of the program, how long it will take to complete, and the courses in the program. Weighing all of these elements will help you determine which online marketing degree program will really be the best fit for you.

Best Online School for a Marketing Degree

Doing research is vital to choosing your marketing degree program. Your program cost, the length of time it will take to graduate, and the courses themselves are all important. But it's also valuable to understand the amount of debt most students take on to finish their degree and how much more money they earn after graduating. Knowing how your degree will impact your current and future finances is key in making the best decision. Compare top online marketing programs to determine which is the best one for you.

1. Arizona State University—Skysong

Exclusively Online Students: 43,721
Tuition: $10,806 per year

ROI: 254%

2. Western Governors University

Exclusively Online Students: 136,139
Tuition: $6,670 per year

See WGU's Marketing Program

ROI: 249%

3. Southern New Hampshire University

Exclusively Online Students: 106,703
Tuition: $31,136 per year

ROI: 166%

4. American Public University System

Exclusively Online Students: 45,249
Tuition: $7,324 per year

ROI: 108%

5. University of Phoenix-Arizona

Exclusively Online Students: 93,777
Tuition: $9,552 per year

ROI: 95%

6. Ashford University

Exclusively Online Students: 32,620
Tuition: $12,400 per year

ROI: 85%

7. Capella University

Exclusively Online Students: 37,859
Tuition: $14,540 per year

ROI: 80%

Ranking Methodology

Our goal in this ranking is to objectively look at how many online university programs compare to one another. This is why we have used third-party data to help us reach our conclusions about programs we rank.

Data sources:

ROI Calculation: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
Student counts, tuition: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data

Explanation and requirements for ranking:

Universities were ranked on their ROI ratio. The ROI ratio is a comparison of two-year post-graduation earnings and student debt at graduation. High ROI is better.
Universities must offer four-year degree programs to be considered
Universities had to have non-zero debt and earnings numbers.
We chose to include only online universities by only including schools that have at least 90% of their total student population be exclusively online. This eliminates brick and mortar institutions with online programs from our ranking.
We chose to include only institutions that are doing online education at scale because we believe this is a better experience for students pursuing an online degree. We chose to only include institutions that had at least 15,000 total online-only students for this reason.
The use of the word "best" is subjective, but we are using the term based on the ranking methodology explained above, and in a way that reflects WGU's values.

1. Arizona State University—Skysong

Exclusively Online Students: 43,721
Tuition: $10,806 per year

ROI: 254%

2. Western Governors University

Exclusively Online Students: 136,139
Tuition: $6,670 per year

See WGU's Marketing Program

ROI: 249%

3. Southern New Hampshire University

Exclusively Online Students: 106,703
Tuition: $31,136 per year

ROI: 166%

4. American Public University System

Exclusively Online Students: 45,249
Tuition: $7,324 per year

ROI: 108%

5. University of Phoenix-Arizona

Exclusively Online Students: 93,777
Tuition: $9,552 per year

ROI: 95%

6. Ashford University

Exclusively Online Students: 32,620
Tuition: $12,400 per year

ROI: 85%

7. Capella University

Exclusively Online Students: 37,859
Tuition: $14,540 per year

ROI: 80%

Ranking Methodology

Data sources:

ROI Calculation: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
Student counts, tuition: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data

Explanation and requirements for ranking:

Universities were ranked on their ROI ratio. The ROI ratio is a comparison of two-year post-graduation earnings and student debt at graduation. High ROI is better.
Universities must offer four-year degree programs to be considered
Universities had to have non-zero debt and earnings numbers.
We chose to include only online universities by only including schools that have at least 90% of their total student population be exclusively online. This eliminates brick and mortar institutions with online programs from our ranking.
We chose to include only institutions that are doing online education at scale because we believe this is a better experience for students pursuing an online degree. We chose to only include institutions that had at least 15,000 total online-only students for this reason.
The use of the word "best" is subjective, but we are using the term based on the ranking methodology explained above, and in a way that reflects WGU's values.

Learn About WGU's Marketing Program

If you're looking to get a degree in marketing, WGU offers an accredited online bachelor's of science, business administration, with a focus in marketing. This degree program will help boost your résumé and give you crucial skills that can help you enhance your career. Marketing involves specific knowledge and experience in many different fields, and a degree from WGU can help you be prepared for this ever-changing and lucrative industry. Getting this marketing degree online will enhance your skills and credentials, ensuring you are prepared for an exciting career path in marketing management, marketing strategy, brand management, event planning, sales, content marketing, digital marketing, and many more areas. Discover if the WGU Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing degree is the right fit for you.

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Time: 60% of graduates finish within 19 months.
Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term.
Courses: 37 total courses in this program.

Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:

Communication
Marketing
Sales
Management
Project Management
Product Management

Marketing is a creative and exciting field—and one where an undergraduate degree will open better opportunities.

What Is a Marketing Degree?

A bachelor of science in marketing is an undergraduate degree program that directly focuses on teaching student important skills of marketing strategy, marketing management, marketing research, and more. In a bachelor of science marketing degree program students will focus on key areas of marketing, including digital marketing, sales marketing, consumer behavior, brand management, and more. Marketing typically falls under the umbrella of business administration, so students in a marketing degree program can also expect other business classes that will give them additional insight on strategy, communication, finance, and leadership. These work hand-in-hand with marketing coursework to help a student become well-versed in how a business needs to utilize their marketing strategy to help sell their products or services.

Can You Get a Marketing Degree Online?

Yes! There are many options for students to earn an online bachelor's degree in marketing from an accredited school. An online bachelor's degree program allows students to continue to work full-time and continue to maintain their family responsibilities while they are getting their degree. An online bachelor's degree that is from an accredited school is highly respected by employers and is considered valuable for those looking to pursue a career in marketing. In an online bachelor's degree program you will learn about digital marketing, sales marketing, content marketing, management strategies, brand behavior, consumer behavior, and more. These skills will help prepare students to move forward in exciting marketing careers.

How Much Does an Online Marketing Degree Cost?

Typical online marketing degrees cost between $26,000 to $70,000 in total tuition. Most degree programs take 4 years to complete and will cost anywhere from $6,000 to $17,500 per year. However, there are some degree programs that will allow you to accelerate your coursework and finish faster. There may also be less expensive online degree options. WGU's online marketing degree costs $3,575 per six-month term, and most students are able to finish in approximately 3 years, reducing the total cost of their degree considerably.

What Degree is Best for Marketing?

If you want to pursue a career in marketing, an accredited degree specific for marketing will likely be the best option. A degree in marketing will have a specific focus on all the different areas within the marketing spectrum, from digital to traditional. It will also give students insight into finances, budgets, strategy, management, and consumer elements of marketing. A degree with a focus on marketing will be the ideal choice for students who are looking for any type of career specific to marketing.

Is a Marketing Degree Four Years?

Earning a marketing degree from a traditional in-person college or university typically takes four years to complete. However, there are equally respected options that allow you to finish your degree even faster. Most students can finish WGU’s online bachelor’s in marketing—which consists of 41 relevant, respected courses—in just three years. Our competency-based curriculum allows students to move through the coursework as soon as they exhibit mastery. This empowers students to begin their careers sooner and spend less money on their education.

What Do You Major in for Marketing?

Students who are interested in marketing typically earn a Bachelor of Science in Marketing (B.S.), Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing (BSB), or Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in marketing. To access higher pay and more job opportunities, including at the management level, many choose to also earn a Master of Science in Marketing (M.S.) degree.

What Will I Learn in a Marketing Program?

A marketing degree program will have many specific focuses that are geared toward helping students be prepared for a wide variety of marketing careers. It is key for students to understand the many facets of marketing and how they work together in order to be successful in a career in marketing. A bachelor of science in marketing is traditionally a business administration program, which gives students additional coursework in business administration fundamentals such as finance, economics, strategy, and more. Business administration courses can help connect a bachelor of science in marketing to more traditional business curriculum, which can enhance marketing research and consumer behavior understanding. For example, a business administration course on statistics can help inform marketing research coursework and studies on consumer behavior that a marketing student may be studying in another class. Business administration focused courses can work with other marketing-specific courses in an online bachelor's degree program to enhance the overall experience for students.

Some curriculum in an online bachelor's degree in marketing will likely include:

Digital Marketing
Marketing Research
Public Relations
Social Media Strategy
Sales Management
Content Marketing
Marketing Management
Consumer Behavior

Brand Management
Marketing Strategy and Analytics
Marketing Applications
Business Fundamentals
Finance
Strategic Thinking
And more

What Can You Do with a Marketing Degree?

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in marketing is universally useful and always in high demand—all businesses need professionals specifically trained to grow awareness and generate profitable revenue. Due to this growing demand in our increasingly digital world, the marketing field is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. A marketing degree prepares graduates for many diverse roles in marketing, advertising, public relations, and sales. Marketing majors work for marketing firms, advertising agencies, and public relations agencies. Below are some common marketing job titles and their responsibilities.

Marketing managers design and oversee marketing campaigns to increase awareness of and generate revenue for products and services of a brand.
Content marketing specialists are responsible for strategizing, writing, and editing content for digital marketing campaigns. In some cases, they might also be part of developing an overall marketing strategy.
Social media managers develop strategies to increase social media followers, build social campaigns, create content, report on analytics, and communicate with key stakeholders in a company.

Marketing analysts work with data to identify new marketing insights within a company and a whole eCommerce market.
Brand managers conduct analyses on how a brand is perceived in the market, create growth plans depending on those analyses, and oversee those objectives to ensure a positive brand perception.
Sales managers lead a company’s sales team using proven sales techniques. They create sales goals, analyze data to improve sales strategy, and train salespeople to hit objectives.

Is an Online Marketing Degree Worth It?

Absolutely. A traditional or online marketing degree can help you gain the key skills and credentials that will ensure you're ready for your career. A good traditional or online program will teach you about conventional marketing techniques, email marketing, digital marketing, social media, brand strategy, content, sales, and more.

An online marketing degree can help you boost your earning potential and be qualified for more jobs. On average, WGU students see an increase in income post-graduation by $18,200 within two years, and $25,900 within four years. Also, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that careers in the marketing, advertising, and promotions field are projected to grow by 10% between 2021 and 2031, producing more than 350,000 new jobs over the course of the decade.

What Kind of Degree Do You Need for Marketing?

If you’re looking to pursue a career in marketing, then getting a bachelor’s degree is an essential first step. A bachelor’s degree in marketing will help you learn about business fundamentals, traditional and digital marketing, marketing strategy, social media, brand management, sales management, problem-solving, sales forecasting, and service marketing.

WGU’s online marketing degree is designed to be highly applicable to any job in this field, giving you the knowledge and skills needed to become a top marketer. You'll gain a commanding knowledge of traditional marketing concepts, as well as emerging methods, data literacy, and customer-focused strategies. You'll also study and analyze consumer behavior and learn how to develop strategies for products and services, giving you the foundational skills to work on teams in virtually every industry. WGU’s bachelor’s degree in marketing is a flexible, competency-based program full of industry-relevant courses that prepare you for success in any marketing role.

What Skills Do You Need for a Marketing Degree?

In order to apply for a marketing degree program, you must have your high school diploma or GED. Outside of that, you simply need to have a passion to succeed. You will learn all the skills you need to be an effective marketer in your degree program, so it’s not necessary to possess specific skills before starting your program. Some of the skills you will develop include:

Communication
Creativity problem-solving
Attention to detail
Interpersonal skills
Leadership
Adaptability
Writing

Project management
Research
SEO/SEM
Social media marketing
Email marketing
Website management
Visual marketing

What Type of Degree Is Marketing?

A marketing degree is typically offered and awarded by a business college. Marketing is a critical function of every business, and the work of marketing professionals is closely aligned with sales objectives. The efforts of marketers directly affect an organization’s ability to generate profit and grow, and they typically work for companies, firms, or agencies.

A marketing bachelor’s degree is a B.S., which stands of “Bachelor of Science.” This designation is added to degrees that are more geared toward science, math, and psychology. Students with a B.S. degree often work in data-driven and research-based fields. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree can pursue a master’s degree in marketing.