Online Marketing Degree

• Home
• online colleges
• marketing degrees

Online Marketing Degree

An online marketing degree aims to teach students how to price, place and promote products. It then applies business tactics to drive results with certain consumer groups. Depending on your goals, there are online degrees at all levels. From bachelors to masters and PhDs. Many online schools offer these degrees in their school of business. They may also have a wide range of focus areas to help you tailor your degree to your career interests. Market research, sports marketing and digital marketing are a few.

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing

An online bachelors may lead to a BA or BS. A key difference between the BA and BS is the focus. A BA may focus more on humanities. Things like buyer behavior. Whereas a BS, may stress the business side of marketing. Areas such as market research, analytics and strategy. In either program, an online bachelors degree often entails 120 credits. A full time student might do this in four years or less. For many, a BSBA is the entry point to a career in business. This may mean the program covers both business (finance, ethics, sales) and marketing courses.

While learning the business landscape, marketing majors may also learn how customers make decisions. This may mean that you learn how to create a marketing plan using research and stats. You may also learn about how agencies work. Things like branding, social media, sales and public relations.

If you’re thinking about cost, this is going to vary (as will the classes you take) for each school. NCES tells us the average cost for an in state school is $6,691. For out of state schools, this cost is $29,420. You may find online schools that cost less (or more) than the norm.

Master’s Degree in Marketing

An online masters may be an MS or MBA program that takes about two years to finish. This assumes you are going to school full time. Programs may cover marketing strategy, buyers and digital media. They may then teach how to apply data to analyze demand, supply and global trade.

Many working adults pursue a masters online to grow their careers. The degree may be an asset if you want to step into a leadership role or conduct research. In fact, the BLS says it is something companies may look for these days. On average, the cost of a grad degree from a public college is $11,617.

Online Masters in Marketing vs MBA

One way a masters in marketing differs from an MBA is the scope of the program. An MS is likely to have a marketing core plus a focus in one area. Marketing research, digital marketing, etc. This type of degree may appeal to those who have a marketing background and want to climb the ladder. This might be done by honing a certain marketing skill set.

The MBA focuses on a business core plus a handful of courses to meet your area of focus. People who choose the MBA may want to build their manager skills. Or other skills that apply to direct marketing campaigns or another area of business.

PhD in Marketing

A PhD is a research degree. It is also the highest level degree you can earn in marketing. This type of program aims to build the skills needed to do original research. Often you are able to choose your area of focus in a PhD program. Some students may want to study marketing science models and data. Others may prefer to research behavioral science and how it explains buyer choices.

At some point in the program you will select an anchor point for your own research. You will need to learn how to write and present your findings. As a thought leadership degree, a PhD is often pursued by those who want to remain in academia. This may mean teaching at the college level. Or doing research to impact policy at a major firm.

What can I do with an Online Marketing Degree?

Many of today’s managers work in digital marketing. Things such as pay per click, display network, paid social, and SEO. Others work in branding, raising funds or promotions in various sectors. Business, education, health, pharma, sports.  You name it – there are marketing pros at work. 

1. Marketing Manager

Marketing managers help develop price strategies and identify product markets. They max the profits for a company by trying to gain as much market share for a product as possible. Important skills include being creative, analytical and able to work with other teams. Most marketing managers need at least a bachelors degree.

2. Public Relations Manager

Public relations managers usually help develop a companies brand, or identity. They do things like write press releases and help execs communicate with the public. In some cases, they may also create ad and promo campaigns. A bachelors degree may be ok for some companies. In other cases, some places may want candidates to have a masters degree.

3. Market Research Analyst

Marketing research analysts do many things including forecasting sales trends, measuring how well marketing campaigns work and looking at complex data. Most marketing research analysts need at least a bachelors degree.

4. Chief Executive

CMOs drive forward department goals and oversee the entire marketing arm of a company. Most top execs have at least a bachelor’s degree and a considerable amount of work experience.

Is An Online Marketing Degree Worth It?

An online marketing degree may yield skills that apply to many in demand jobs with high wages. BLS predicts marketing managers are among these with growth predicted at 8% percent in the next 10 years. That means about 21 thousand new jobs in the U.S. Demand is due in large part to digital media which makes it easier to reach target groups. Yet also asks for more complex planning, forecasts and analysis.

You are probably also wondering what you might earn with an online degree in marketing. This is going to vary. But, the BLS shows Marketing Manager salaries ranged in the lowest 10% from $71,010 to the highest 10% of $208,000. That places the median annual marketing salary at $136,850 in 2019 .

Marketing Degree Jobs & Salary

Top States for Jobs as a Marketing Manager

Online Marketing Degree Courses

The classes you take in this field depend on the level of degree and choice of program. Mainly, bachelors programs include ‘overviews’ and ‘basics’. While masters and PhD programs are more in depth. They will build off the basics and will include more complex research methods.

Bachelors Degree Courses

Marketing majors at this point study the ways to develop and sell products. This means learning about how to identify and connect with customers. As well, you may learn many methods to promote a company’s products and services.

Graduate Program Courses

Masters programs often build a deep knowledge of the many facets of the field. Now that you know about consumers, you may study how to research, analyze and apply the data. PhD and DBA programs include more writing, research methods and analysis. You might also study global marketing. How to make marketing decisions for global campaigns and such.

How long does it take to earn an Online Marketing Degree?

The time it takes to earn a degree in this field online varies by program level and your course load. A BS or BS degree may take four years full time or less. If you’re working towards a masters or MBA, it may take two years or less. For a PhD or DBA, it may take between two and four years.

Many online schools have transfer policies in place which may help lessen your course load. Also, some of these programs allow you to waive summer break. This can also speed up the time it takes for you to complete your program .

15 Online Marketing Degrees

Many online schools have these degrees at all levels. Here are 15 schools that have online marketing degrees.

1. Post University
2. University of Pheonix – Arizona
3. New England College of Business and Finance
4. Wilmington University
5. Penn State World Campus
6. Emerson College
7. BU
8. Syracuse
9. St. Joseph’s University
10. Bellevue University
11. Grand Canyon University
12. Northcentral University
13. Trident University
14. Walden University
15. Liberty University

FIND AN ONLINE MARKETING DEGREE

Let’s take a closer look at the online degrees that these 15 schools have to offer.

*Unemployment Earnings.  Sources for school stats and data include the NCES and IPEDS.