If working in a field that offers you endless novelty and innovation sounds intriguing, you might want to consider an MBA marketing online program.
Whether you’re an analytically minded decision maker or a creative person with writing and design talents, you may find a niche tailored to your professional talents and interests in the marketing arena.
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The other good news is that jobs in marketing are fueled by digital innovation and offer good pay. You may have opportunities to work in an almost limitless range of corporate, nonprofit, entrepreneurial, or consulting roles.
Online MBA in Marketing Programs
Online MBA marketing programs may introduce you to cutting-edge concepts and methods you can put to work in a very competitive and dynamic field.
Online marketing MBA programs teach a lot about the world of advertising, but that’s only a small part of the story. Today’s marketing careers often integrate a range of consumer-facing activities. These include not just creative branding and advertising projects but also managing sales teams and diverse marketing channels.
These activities also entail configuring tactical pricing strategies, executing customer support and retention strategies, and poring over consumer research. In addition, today’s marketing methods require insights into ecommerce strategies, distribution logistics, and global marketing efforts.
Modern marketing methods also require skills for using and capitalizing on algorithm-driven and big data analytics in relation to virtually every aspect of the marketing process. In your MBA program, you may learn from experts in the field about managing today’s complex marketing operations.
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You may also get insights into specialized topics, such as entrepreneurial marketing strategies, global sales force management, and applications of machine learning for marketing success.
With all of the moving parts involved in creating and sustaining comprehensive marketing initiatives, your Master of Business Administration in Marketing may open doors to a trove of good jobs.
When you’ve received your MBA in Marketing, you may be well positioned to work with or direct promotional teams and sales forces. Other marketing degree career opportunities include being a financial manager, operational manager, or public relations specialist.
Depending on your professional preferences, you may also have opportunities to work in large marketing departments or in consulting or entrepreneurial roles.
Marketing Careers & Salaries
You might be surprised at just how diverse jobs in the marketing field can be. You may find well-paying jobs managing specific segments of marketing initiatives.
Such segments include branding and communications as well as creative content, pricing strategy, salesforce management and customer retention, marketing analytics, and consumer research.
There are also more leadership-oriented positions that may put you in charge of overlapping marketing teams and operations. In other cases, a marketing professional might specialize in ecommerce startups or highly entrepreneurial settings.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, MBA marketing programs and degrees may prepare you for a wide range of jobs, depending on your areas of concentration and your own professional interests.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager | $141,490 |
| Financial Manager | $134,180 |
| Sales Manager | $132,290 |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Manager | $118,430 |
| Art Director | $97,270 |
| Market Research Analyst | $65,810 |
| Editor | $63,400 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,810 |
| Survey Researcher | $59,870 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $54,940 |
The top online MBA programs in marketing offer opportunities for more creative work. They also offer opportunities for more analytic and managerial roles in both private and public sector enterprises, large and small.
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You may also work more independently and provide consulting services. In addition, you may use your skills to become a marketing professional in nonprofit development leadership or in public relations.
Marketing MBA Curriculum & Courses
Online MBA marketing programs give you comprehensive knowledge of modern marketing tools, approaches, practices, and decision-making strategies.
You may get exposure to marketing management in corporate settings. You may also learn about skills and insights used in entrepreneurial settings or for financial analysis or consulting work. Your program should cover any number of digital tools and artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches to sales management.
The following are types of courses offered in marketing MBA programs:
- Marketing Management: You’ll learn about marketing fundamentals, marketing processes, and the importance of integrating diverse pillars of marketing design—such as branding, customer profiling, promotions, pricing, analysis, and campaign testing.
- Consumer Behavior and Market Insight Strategies: You’ll learn how to profile consumer culture, psychology, and behaviors and how to translate this data into strategic marketing insights.
- Pricing Strategies: You’ll learn pricing concepts and consider strategic options for designing pricing policies in the context of marketing goals—including growing your customer base, upselling, customer segmentation, and customer retention.
- New Product Marketing and Branding: You’ll learn key practices and action steps for designing comprehensive marketing and branding strategies for launching new products or services.
- Market Modeling and Forecasting: You’ll learn analytic tools and practices that will allow you to provide valuable analytic modeling for data-driven marketing and decision making.
- Multi-National and Global Marketing: This course will cover tested strategies for scaling up all aspects of marketing strategies and operations to meet the demands of large, international initiatives or operations.
- Entrepreneurial Marketing: You’ll receive specialized insights that qualify you to run marketing and branding operations in an entrepreneurial setting.
- Operations Management: This course will help you learn operational skills for managing modern marketing operations and for managing the digital platforms that integrate advertising, branding, and customer retention campaigns.
- AI and Algorithmic Marketing: You’ll learn about the tools and practices you can use to harness machine learning, big data, and big data analytics for marketing strategies, decision making, and policies.
- Ecommerce: This course helps you apply strategies specific to both entrepreneurial and large-scale ecommerce initiatives.
With courses like these under your belt, you may find yourself well qualified for lucrative and challenging jobs. In the fast-paced settings of the marketing field, you may put your developed skills and insights into action.
Admissions Requirements
If you have mathematical proficiency and analytic thinking skills as well as soft skills in communication, collaboration, and creative design, then you may be a promising candidate for an online MBA marketing program.
Admissions requirements for an online MBA in Marketing include:
- A bachelor’s degree
- GRE or GMAT scores (if required)
- Related work experience (if required)
If you have concerns about possible prerequisites in math or other subjects, you may want to check with admissions officers at the schools that most interest you.
Accreditation
If you’re going to invest time and money in an online MBA in Marketing, it may be advisable to enroll in fully accredited programs.
The accreditation process reviews and recognizes schools that are providing quality educational resources and academic content. If you choose a regionally accredited school and program, you can help ensure that your coursework and your degree are honored by other schools and prospective employers.
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The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) can be a helpful resource if you have questions about accreditation or about finding accredited schools.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Your online MBA marketing program may open doors to a lifetime of dynamic job opportunities, promotions, and good pay. That said, it’s common to wonder how you’ll pay tuition, fees, and other expenses.
Student loans are probably the most common form of financial aid. If you’re already working in marketing or a related role, you may be eligible for employer-based tuition support. You may also find that you’re eligible for needs-based or merit-based scholarships.
Admissions officers at schools can often provide you some of the most detailed, relevant, and up-to-date information on financial aid options. For student loans and other forms of needs-based financial assistance, you may start by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
What Can You Do with an MBA in Marketing?
With an online MBA in Marketing, you should be able to find opportunities in roles aligned with your professional preferences and areas of concentration.
You might want to consider your own goals as you look at the course concentrations offered in different online MBA marketing programs. Opportunities in the field include advertising, marketing and marketing analytics, promotions, operational management, fundraising, and public relations.
Your training may give you opportunities to work in large corporate enterprises, in ecommerce specializations, or in highly entrepreneurial settings. You may even use your credentials and experience to develop your own consulting business.
How Long Does It Take to Get an MBA in Marketing Online?
Traditional MBA programs take about 1 to 2 years, but the time it takes you to complete depends on your schedule. If you need to complete your degree faster, there are universities that offer 1 year MBA online programs that may be of interest to you.
Following a traditional, 16 week semester and attending full-time, you may finish in about 2 years. If you follow an 8 week semester and stay continuously enrolled year-round, you can often finish more quickly, sometimes in as little as 12 months.
It’s also not uncommon for some masters programs to take more than 2 years. Keep in mind that a thesis or other capstone project may also require some additional time.
Also, if you are unable to attend a full time program, you may want to research some of the best part time MBA programs for your needs. Part time programs of course will take longer to complete than full time ones.
How Much Can You Make with an MBA in Marketing?
How much you earn in a marketing career will vary greatly based on your qualifications and where you work. In large corporate settings, you should expect to earn competitive and lucrative salaries that can quickly exceed $50,000. With an MBA, your salary may exceed $100,000.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sales managers earn around $132,290 on average while advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earn $141,490 on average. It’s often harder to anticipate what you might earn in entrepreneurial settings, where outcomes may vary greatly based on future company success.
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If you have specialized skills and knowledge to apply in a consulting role, you may also earn a great salary—especially if your marketing expertise is translated into big revenue boosts for your clients.
Is an MBA in Marketing Worth It?
Yes, an MBA in Marketing is worth it for many students. Jobs in the management field are projected to grow at a rate of 5% in the next 10 years (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Common marketing careers in this field include marketing manager, sales manager, advertising agent, public relations and fundraising officer, and market research analyst. Jobs in marketing vary greatly, so you can usually find a career path that aligns with your own job preferences and professional aptitudes.
As new products and services are made, there’s often lots of work related to branding and advertising that is exciting, creative, and collaborative.
Those with strong analytic and managerial skills are also in demand to fill leadership, data analysis, and decision-making roles. These positions may especially be needed in large and complex marketing departments and public relations firms.
The growth of social media, ecommerce, and big data are also opening doors to additional corporate and entrepreneurial jobs. Because of this, a growing number of universities are offering both on-campus as well as online social media marketing degrees, for example.
Universities Offering Online MBA in Marketing Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
The Master of Business Administration program at American University is AACSB accredited and consistently ranked in multiple fields as being one of the best online MBA programs available by U.S. News & World Report. There are 13 core courses, and many of them focus specifically on the marketing field. There are also 2 electives and 2 in-person immersions.
American University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Students in Arizona State University’s Master of Business Administration program have multiple options regarding concentration areas, including one in Marketing.
This concentration provides students with the skills necessary to help give them a competitive edge over other industry applicants. They also learn to blend marketing strategy with services marketing and management.
Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.
The Master of Business Administration program at Carnegie Mellon University is unique because it features a heavy STEM component, no matter students’ chosen concentrations.
Students in the marketing concentration will also take multiple STEM-related classes, such as data mining, statistical modeling, and network operations. There are also plenty of marketing courses.
Carnegie Mellon University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Students in Central Michigan University’s Master of Business Administration in Marketing program will take courses that adhere to AACSB guidelines for MBA accreditation. There are 12 required courses, 9 in business and 3 specific to marketing. They include voice of the customer, international marketing, and market and sales forecasting.
CMU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Master of Business Administration in Marketing program at Dallas Baptist University is a 36 credit program that teaches students to satisfy customers and meet market demands.
The program can be completed entirely online and requires courses such as management information systems, business ethics, advanced marketing strategies, and international marketing.
Dallas Baptist University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Florida International University offers eight different concentrations within its Master of Business Administration degree.
Students interested in marketing should select the concentration in Marketing Channel Strategy. There are 2 required marketing classes in addition to the 12 core business classes, and students must also participate in 3 mandatory professional development seminars.
Florida International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Florida Tech’s Master of Business Administration in Marketing program has IACBE accreditation and can be completed 100% online.
The program endeavors to teach students to identify successful marketing opportunities, use statistical and economic data to manage risk, develop those marketing opportunities into something lucrative, and position a brand and build equity.
Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
At Golden Gate University, students in the Master of Business Administration program get hands-on, real-world experience in order to become successful once they find their “real-world” careers. Marketing is one of ten available concentrations the school offers. Some students choose to select two concentrations and earn dual degrees instead.
Golden Gate University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Grand Canyon University’s Master of Business Administration in Marketing program is designed to help working professionals learn more about organizational development and strategic management.
Students spend a lot of time tracking and studying current branding and advertising trends and comparing them with the theories they’ve learned and the research they’ve done.
GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Students enrolled in the recently updated and expanded Master of Business Administration program at Indiana University can select from seven different majors. This is because the school now allows students to customize half of their courses, which in turn lets them design their own specific program in strategic marketing management.
Indiana University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Lehigh University has a part-time FLEX Master of Business Administration program with a marketing concentration that’s nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, that’s AACSB accredited, and that can be completed online.
Students in the marketing concentration will take 12 credits in marketing-specific classes, such as sales management, global marketing strategies, creating breakthrough innovations, and brand management.
Lehigh University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The Master of Business Administration in Marketing program at Liberty University is a 45 credit program that takes 2 years to complete. Classes are offered in 8 week sessions and focus on teaching students to market their businesses. The program is accredited by the ACBSP and can be completed entirely online.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Students enrolled in Northeastern University’s online Master of Business Administration program can select Marketing from the program’s eight available concentrations.
In addition to the 9 credit hours of specialized marketing classes they must take, students will also take 13 additional core courses in accounting, management, entrepreneurship, and data and strategic analysis.
Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.
Regis University’s Professional Master of Business Administration in Marketing is a strategic choice for students hoping to pursue careers as marketing directors or other marketing-related positions.
The program requires 36 credits for completion, and classes are delivered in 8 week sessions. Networking, ethics, and analytics are all part of the curriculum.
Regis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Master of Business Administration in Marketing program at Rivier University helps improve students’ strategic management, critical thinking, problem-solving, advertising, and leadership skills.
Students will take plenty of specialized marketing classes, including ones in advanced marketing techniques, digital marketing and analytics, strategies of innovation, strategic brand management, and sales management.
Rivier University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Rutgers University – Camden’s digital marketing masters program teaches students how to develop and run successful digital campaigns in order to reach an intended customer base and get better brand exposure.
Students will also be learning about high-level branding strategies, integrating and aligning digital marketing strategies, and evaluating successes and failures in marketing.
Rutgers is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Temple University’s Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management degree can be earned in 20 months, in 6 years, or in any timeframe in between thanks to the program’s flexible curriculum carousel. This carousel allows students to take as few or as many classes as their schedule allows. A final capstone is required.
Temple University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Students in University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign’s Master of Business Administration program with a concentration in Digital Marketing will learn how digital channels are used in marketing. They’ll also learn how to use marketing tools and strategies to advertise online and how to use marketing analytics to understand the data they receive.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Although University of Maryland Global Campus offers a Master of Business Administration that includes many marketing classes, there isn’t a marketing concentration with this degree.
The school does offer a marketing concentration with its Master of Science in Management program, though. This may be the better option for dedicated marketing students.
University of Maryland Global Campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
In University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s marketing masters program, students will learn how e-commerce, social media, and mobile technology have reshaped the marketing world.
They’ll begin to use innovative tools and technologies for marketing, to analyze data to develop successful campaigns, and to identify consumer behavioral and purchasing trends.
UNC-Chapel Hill is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Saint Mary offers a 1 year, online Master of Business Administration program with a concentration in Marketing and Advertising.
Students will receive comprehensive education in both the marketing and advertising sides of reaching customers and running successful campaigns. Courses cover topics like buyer behavior, market research strategy, and advertisement planning.
The University of Saint Mary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
University of Texas – Dallas’s Master of Business Administration program features 15 concentrations from which students can choose. Students interested in marketing will select marketing, but they can also choose one other concentration if they want to earn dual degrees. Students are taught the skills they need to succeed in a global economy.
The University of Texas at Dallas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Marketing is only one of the five concentrations offered in Villanova University’s Master of Business Administration program. Students in this concentration will take 24 credits of core courses and fundamentals, 15 credits of marketing electives, and 9 credits of required capstone courses in global strategic management as well as various practicum courses.
Villanova University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Walden University’s Master of Business Administration in Marketing program is a 39 credit program.
It includes mostly core business administration and marketing specialization courses along with an additional elective and a capstone course. The curriculum includes business essentials, marketing research, and customer insights, from marketing strategy to execution and managerial finance.
Walden is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Students in the Master of Business Administration program at Washington State University can choose from four different concentrations, including marketing, and can earn their degrees in a flexible, 100% online format. GMAT scores aren’t required for admittance, and students can potentially finish in as few as 22 months.
WSU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Getting Your MBA in Marketing Online
Ready to mix it up with cohorts of talented, business-oriented professionals in a degree program that attracts both creative and managerial talent? If so, you may consider earning your MBA in Marketing.
In today’s information-saturated world, businesses need a new generation of internet-oriented and social-media-savvy professionals who can manage complex marketing initiatives or creatively invent new ways to promote company brands.
You may find that an accredited online MBA marketing program can help you advance in your career, find flexible study schedules, or graduate in less time.
