Why This Matters

  • $283 BILLION SPENT ON DIGITAL ADS IN 2018

    The amount of money companies spend on digital marketing is expected to continue increasing, raising the demand for individuals with experience creating and analyzing digital marketing campaigns.

  • 138K NEW RESEARCH ANALYST JOBS PREDICTED

    Within the marketing industry, the fastest growing job is market research analyst, with 23% projected job growth by 2026, as more and more companies use data and market research to drive decision-making.

  • FUNDRAISING JOBS WILL INCREASE 15% BY 2026

    A marketing degree can also lead to a job in fundraising for non-profits, political campaigns, and educational institutions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the economy will add 13,400 fundraising jobs by 2026.

Our Research

Our list includes bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Depending on the school, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Arts or Master of Science in marketing. All of these degrees will prepare you for marketing jobs, but with a different focus and approach.

A number of different accreditations exist for marketing programs, including the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). Accreditations ensure that programs meet high quality standards, and that your degree will be recognized by employers. Our list includes both accredited and non-accredited programs.

We evaluated each program’s reputation in the field, course strength, flexibility, and cost. Using this information, we calculated the Intelligent Score of each degree on a scale from 0 to 100. Our top picks for the best online degree in marketing are respected, affordable, and customizable. (For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.)

  • 66 hours to write this article
  • 149 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 290 education programs we compared

The Top 60 Online Marketing Degrees

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What You Should Know About This Degree

While an online degree in marketing has advantages like flexibility and convenience, marketing is built on interacting with people. As such, most jobs want employees who have hands-on work experience, such as an internship. Most online programs do not require or offer internships. If you are already working in marketing, this likely won’t be an issue. However, for those just entering the field, this lack of real-world experience may present challenges when it comes to employability.

As many marketing-related jobs are growing, some are declining, most notably traditional advertising sales jobs. Industries that relied on print ad sales, like newspapers, are in decline, and companies are increasingly spending their marketing dollars on digital advertising. Understanding the current marketing and advertising landscape is crucial in determining how you will fit into the field, and what type of marketing you want to focus on in college.

Marketing is a broad field that encompasses many different responsibilities. Therefore, in order to succeed in marketing, you need a robust skillset, including verbal and written communication skills, qualitative and quantitative research and analysis skills, creativity, and the ability to collaborate and work as part of a team.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching online Marketing programs:

  • Does this program have the specialization that I want? Some career paths require more specialized training in areas such as gerontology, informatics, or policy. If you want to concentrate in one of these areas, make sure that your program of interest offers the specialization you seek.
  • Am I eligible for this program? Some bachelor’s degree programs are designed for students who already have college credits. For graduate students, there may be prerequisite coursework or professional experience requirements. Be sure to research eligibility requirements before applying.
  • Is there an accelerated BS-to-MS option? If you know from the start that you want to earn a Master’s in marketing, you may want to explore schools that offer an accelerated track that lets you start taking graduate-level courses as an undergraduate, saving you time and money.

Once you have identified the programs that interest you, research their application deadlines and admissions requirements. This information is typically available on the program’s webpage; you can also contact the program directly.

Funding your graduate education is another important consideration. Ask about scholarships and financial aid opportunities. If you are currently employed, find out if your job offers any type of tuition assistance benefits.