The rise of technology has shifted advertisements to digital platforms like social media and smartphones. Consequently, marketing has become a prominent field as businesses seek new ways to reach consumers digitally.
Many schools offer bachelor’s degree programs in marketing. Earning a marketing degree is a great investment and can lead to lucrative job opportunities. Before you decide to pursue a career in marketing, you should make sure that this is the right field for you.
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Below, you’ll find a list of the top 8 online bachelor’s degree programs in marketing. Before jumping in, let’s first explore this profession in greater detail.
Digital Marketing: The Basics
If topics like consumer behavior, marketing research and business fundamentals interest you, marketing might be the right field for you. An online bachelor’s degree typically covers these topics through courses that help students understand how to best communicate with consumers.
Digital Marketing Degree Job Outlook
A marketing degree is a great investment as marketing is a growing field with a positive job outlook. Marketing positions like marketing manager, market research analyst and sales manager were listed among the US News Top 100 Best Jobs because of their low unemployment rates, high salaries and projected growth.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that market research analyst positions will grow by 23 percent by 2026. Additionally, careers in public relations and marketing are also expected to expand from by 2026.
Online Marketing Degree FAQ
Can I work while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing? Yes! Online programs are a great way to pursue your degree if you’re a working professional. Many of these programs are offered asynchronously, with course materials recorded and archived for the convenience and flexibility of students.
How long does it take to earn a bachelor’s degree in marketing online? Marketing students are usually required to complete 120 to 124 credits to graduate. Full-time students typically graduate within four years.
How much will an online bachelor’s in marketing degree cost? As you’ll see in the list below, tuition rates differ from school to school. However, students can expect to pay anywhere between $215 to $555 per credit (between $26,000 to $69,000 in total tuition).
What courses would I take? Undergraduate marketing students will take courses such as marketing research, marketing management and marketing strategy and sales. Students will also be expected to understand the data of marketing so that they can predict and analyze the success of marketing campaigns. Students will take classes that cover analytics, statistics, finance and search engine optimization.
What kind of specializations are available in a marketing degree? Some online marketing programs allow students to specialize their degree with courses that cover concentrations in social media or digital marketing. These concentrations can prepare students for positions in social media marketing, copywriting, marketing management and SEO.
What can I do after I earn my bachelor’s degree in marketing? Marketing graduates can pursue a variety of jobs, including:
- Advertising, promotions or marketing manager
- Advertising sales agent
- Marketing research analyst
- Public relations specialist
- Sales manager
Now that you’re familiar with marketing and how it can advance your career, let’s learn more about how to develop marketing skills through an online bachelor’s degree program.
Top 8 Online Marketing Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Choosing the right online marketing bachelor’s degree program is a big decision. It’s important to do your research before committing to a program to ensure that it’s the right fit for you. Additionally, you should make sure your program is accredited, meaning it complies with national standards of education. Below are eight schools with top-ranked marketing degree programs.
1. Florida International University
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Tuition Rate: $220 per credit in-state; $346 per credit out-of-state
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 4 years
- Admission Requirements: ACT or SAT
- Financial Aid Offerings: Variety of scholarship programs and awards for first-generation students and Florida high school graduates
Florida International University’s Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing trains students for success in graduate programs and careers in public relations, advertising and sales management. Online students can expect a fully online, asynchronous learning experience delivered on Canvas. This format gives online students the maximum amount of flexibility.
FIU marketing students can expect to take courses in applied business statistics, personal selling and operations management. Students pick a minimum of four electives, like social media marketing and decision-making/negotiations. Students also create marketing campaigns for international firms and small businesses to apply their studies to the real world.
2. Colorado State University-Global Campus
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Tuition Per Credit: $350
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 3 to 4 years
- Admission Requirements: 2.8 GPA minimum, ACT or SAT for first-time students, 2 years of prior work experience
- Financial Aid Offerings: Merit scholarships and military tuition discounts
Colorado State University’s online marketing program is accredited through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. CSU Global offers monthly start dates and an accelerated program option, so students can pick a schedule that best fits their needs.
Some of CSU’s course requirements include consumer behavior, applying leadership principles, and international and multicultural marketing. Additionally, the program offers nine different concentrations so students can tailor the program to align with their personal career goals.
Students who do not meet the admissions requirements may still apply for provisional enrollment by submitting a resume and a 500-word purpose statement.
3. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Tuition Per Credit: $389
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 4 years
- Admission Requirements: ACT or SAT
- Financial Aid Offerings: State grants and institutional scholarships
Marketing students at the University of Wisconsin can choose to pursue their marketing program either 100 percent online or through a hybrid format of both online and on-site classes. Students also have the choice to take their courses synchronously or asynchronously.
UWW’s marketing program includes courses such as strategic management, professional writing and business and commercial law. After completing the required core courses, students can choose to fill the remaining credits with electives or choose from two different concentrations: digital marketing or professional sales. Digital marketing students gain skills in e-commerce and social media marketing, while professional sales students learn entrepreneurial and advanced selling strategies.
UWW reviews applications on a holistic basis that considers an applicant’s GPA, high school rank and standardized test performance.
4. Florida Atlantic University
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Tuition Rate: $203 per credit in-state; $722 per credit out-of-state
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 2 to 4 years
- Admission Requirements: 2.5 minimum GPA, 60 credits of general education and pre-business courses
- Financial Aid Offerings: State grants and institutional scholarships
Florida Atlantic University is accredited through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. FAU’s marketing program offers options for synchronous and asynchronous courses, as well as the option to take classes fully online or through a hybrid format of online and on-campus classes. With this flexible format, marketing majors can choose a learning style that best suits their learning needs. Students admitted to the program with transfer credits can graduate in about two years.
FAU’s bachelor’s degree in marketing program offers core courses like financial management, global strategy and policy, and quantitative administration methods. Students can also choose from four advanced electives, such as retail management and international marketing. Another attractive feature of the program is that students can gain real-world marketing skills through internships with local businesses and organizations.
5. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Tuition Per Credit: $452
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 4 years
- Admission Requirements: 2 to 4 short essay questions; letter of recommendation (optional)
The University of Minnesota’s marketing program prepares undergraduate students for careers as advertising sales agents, market research analysts and product/brand managers. UMN’s core course offerings include subjects like managerial finance and legal environment of business. Students will leave the program equipped with the skills necessary to lead multidisciplinary project teams, create advertising campaigns for Internet brands and international companies.
UMN approaches applications with a holistic admissions policy based on the applicant’s academic performance and cumulative GPA.
6. Oklahoma State University
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Tuition Per Credit: $179 in-state; $696 out-of-state
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 4 years
- Admission Requirements: two 300-word essays, minimum GPA of 3.0, ACT or SAT
- Financial Aid Offerings: Scholarships for first-time and transfer students
Oklahoma State University’s marketing program is offered through its Spear School of Business, which is accredited through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Core courses and topics include business calculus, consumer and market behavior, strategic management and applying data analytics principles to market research and campaign development.
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Ninety-four percent of OSU marketing students land a marketing position or are accepted to a master’s or doctoral marketing program within three months of earning their degree. Incoming students can choose from OSU’s fall, spring or summer start dates. Additionally, students can choose to follow a fully online or hybrid (online and on-campus) learning format with courses administered either synchronously or asynchronously.
7. Texas State University
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Annual Tuition: $11,240 in-state; $23,900 out-of-state
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 4 years
- Admission Requirements: ACT or SAT, academic transcripts, personal statement (optional)
- Financial Aid Offerings: $373 million of financial aid awarded per year
Texas State University’s marketing program received accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. TSU’s program prepares students for positions as account executives, communications coordinators and social media marketing specialists.
TSU offers courses in a hybrid format, meaning that online students are required to take classes at its San Marcos campus in addition to online courses. Students can choose to take online courses either synchronously or asynchronously. Required courses cover topics such as organizational management, consumer behavior and marketing research. Additionally, students can choose to fill remaining credits with electives or advanced courses within a concentration.
8. University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Graduation Rate: 80%
- Tuition Per Credit: $525
- Credit Requirement: 120 credits
- Program Length: 2-3 years
- Admission Requirements: 3.0 minimum GPA, 27 transferable credits, resume, 2- to 3-page personal essay
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s marketing program is offered through its Isenberg School of Management, which teaches students to sell products through storytelling and data analysis. Many graduates of Isenberg’s marketing program are hired for roles in advertising, sales and market research.
Some of the program’s required courses include corporate finance, business information systems and management communications. Students are encouraged to enroll in elective courses that will advance their career goals. Additionally, Amherst’s career guidance helps to place students in internship programs and connect them with local industry. UMass Amherst also facilitates opportunities for its online students to network with partnering organizations such as Marketing Edge and the Project Development and Management Association.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a recent college graduate or a working professional looking to advance your career, acquiring marketing skills through an accredited marketing bachelor’s degree program is a great investment. A background in marketing can be a huge asset to your job search and lead to many career opportunities.
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Sometimes you don’t know if it’s the right field (or fit) for you until you have actually started the degree program. But good little review anyhow. Well done.