Best Online Marketing Degrees 2023

www.bestcolleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Finding A Program That's Right For You

Get equipped with the resources that will help you easily navigate your learning journey.

• Browse programs to find what you like best
• Discover schools that match your goals and aspirations
• Request more information

7,360 students started their search in the past day. students like you searched for a program in the past 24 hours.

An online bachelor's in marketing program teaches you to analyze market trends to develop, promote, sell, and distribute services and goods to diverse consumers. You can pursue many employment opportunities in this field, and this guide details relevant entry-level careers and advancement options.

Earning a bachelor's in marketing can prepare you for careers across the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that business and financial occupations will grow by 8% from 2020-2030, adding roughly 750,800 new jobs to the U.S. economy. Entry-level opportunities include market research analyst and event planner.

Undergraduate credentials also prepare you for success in master's and doctoral programs. Graduate training is particularly useful if you want to occupy leadership or postsecondary teaching positions.

What Can I Expect From an Online Bachelor's in Marketing Program?

Marketing professionals benefit from curiosity, adaptability, and creativity, as well as strong communication, artistic, and sales skills. Observation and listening skills, and a collaborative, decisive personality are also useful to marketing professionals.

Most online bachelor's degrees in marketing require between 120 and 128 credits to graduate. Most full-time students can complete a bachelor's in marketing in four years. Accelerated programs or summer semesters can help students complete the degree faster. Some bachelor's degrees in business or commerce also give students the option to earn a concentration in marketing.

Marketing degree specializations include:

• Digital marketing
• Social media management
• Brand management
• Business management
• International marketing
• Business psychology
• Luxury brand management
• Packaging and brand design
• Sports marketing

Increasingly, marketing professionals choose to specialize in one digital marketing area such as SEO, analytics, or social media management. Other options include email marketing or content management.

A bachelor's in business administration (BBA) is the most common bachelor's in marketing. Students can also choose a bachelor of science (BS) or bachelor of arts (BA) in marketing. The curriculum for BBA, BS, and BA degrees are similar. The BA and BBA focus on all aspects of business. The BS usually emphasizes data, analytics, and applied analysis.

2023 Best Online Marketing Degrees

Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team

Still Looking for the Right Fit? Discover Similar Programs.

What Courses Will I Take in an Online Bachelor's in Marketing Program?

Legal Environment of Business

This foundational class examines the nature of the U.S. legal system. Coursework emphasizes contracts, government agencies, organizational structure, and commercial law. Students learn about federal business regulations and the constitutional limitations placed on government agencies. In addition, they delve into professional decision-making processes and collateral ethical issues.

Strategic Management

Another part of the business core, this course teaches students to recruit, motivate, and lead multidisciplinary marketing teams. Participants also examine management skills related to formulating and implementing strategies that improve organizational effectiveness. Strategic management training prepares learners for a capstone experience where students usually develop a detailed business plan or analyze contemporary policies.

Marketing Analytics

This course explores how to translate marketing data into useful information that helps businesses develop programs, train employees, and make organizational decisions. Topics include user-friendly tools and software, as well as advertising targeting and optimization. Depending on the nature of the bachelor's program, this class may also cover big data concepts.

Consumer Behavior

Students develop quantitative and qualitative analysis skills to predict and evaluate the role consumers play within the global market. Through class studies, participants examine the common perceptions, motivations, and lifestyles that contribute to a consumer's decision-making process. Additional topics include the religious, ethnic, and geographic factors that affect the relationship between companies and consumers.

Digital Marketing

Bachelor's in marketing programs usually offer this course as an advanced elective or part of a degree concentration. Topics include social media, search engine optimization, web development analysis, and content marketing. Students also learn how automated and curated digital strategies can be integrated into a firm's overall marketing campaign.

Find the Tools You Need to Get Started on Your Degree

What Can I Do With an Online Bachelor's in Marketing Degree?

Career Outlook

With a bachelor's in marketing, you can work in entry-level public relations and advertising positions. The BLS projects that public relations specialists will undergo 11% occupational growth from 2020-2030. Alternatively, by focusing on supply chain and operations management, you can pursue a logistics career to help companies coordinate and distribute their goods.

Exciting opportunities are also available in data analytics. The BLS projects market research analyst positions will expand by 22% from 2020-2030 — a percentage that translates to more than 163,000 new jobs. By earning work experience or a graduate degree, you may also access leadership roles, such as marketing director and sales manager.

See where a bachelor's in marketing degree can take you.

Career Paths

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists market a brand or company by creating a positive public image for the companies they represent. These professionals work for companies of all sizes, as well as nonprofits, schools, and government agencies. Responsibilities include evaluating public opinion, creating press releases, and managing social media. They may also prepare speeches and build brand presence.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $62,800

Market Research Analyst

Market research analysts use data to study market conditions and product performance. These professionals convert complex data into actionable information to guide company decision-making. By providing insight into market trends, analysts work to increase a company's market share and drive growth.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $63,920

Advertising Manager

Advertising or marketing managers plan and oversee program implementation to generate interest in a product or service. These professionals plan advertising campaigns, negotiate advertising contracts, and coordinate advertising budgets and objectives with department heads. Advertising managers often oversee a marketing or creative team.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $133,380

Social Media Specialist

Social media specialists manage client's social media accounts, often with set objectives for engagement or account growth. These professionals develop and implement marketing, customer care, and engagement strategies through diverse social media platforms to build a client's public image and grow the brand.

Average Annual Salary (as of June 2022): $46,940

Marketing Copywriter

Advertising and marketing copywriters produce written content for marketing campaigns. These professionals are skilled at both short ad copy for social media or magazines, and long-form ad copy. Responsibilities may include writing blog posts, press releases, shareholder reports, and advertising copy for newspapers, magazines, or broadcasts.

Median Annual Salary (May 2021): $69,510

Marketing Not For You? Check Out These Related Careers.

Continuing Education

A marketing bachelor's degree is a common degree for students interested in marketing or business careers. Graduates with a bachelor's degree in marketing can pursue an MBA in marketing or a master's degree in economics, finance, or related fields. Students may also go on to pursue a doctorate in marketing.

Marketing graduates can also consider digital marketing bootcamps or a graduate marketing certificate to build professional credentials. They can also earn a digital marketing certificate and a content marketing certification. University-affiliated digital marketing bootcamps or self-paced digital marketing bootcamps for working professionals provide more education options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marketing Programs

Is an online marketing degree worth it?

Yes. A bachelor's in marketing can lead to careers in fields with projected job growth of 11%-22% from 2020-2030, according to the BLS. In addition, BLS data show that as of May 2021, median salaries for marketing careers ranged from $63,920 to $133,380. This is higher than the average salary for all U.S. occupations of $45,760.

Online programs can be worth it because they give students more flexibility. Graduates gain valuable marketing insight and understanding of business concepts to succeed in various marketing careers.

With experience, there is also potential for career and salary growth. For example, the top 25% of advertising managers earned a median annual salary of $172,210 as of May 2021.

What jobs can I get with a bachelor's in marketing?

Graduates with a bachelor's in marketing can pursue careers in the business and marketing fields. A bachelor's degree can also pave the way for graduate studies in marketing or an MBA.

Graduates with a bachelor's degree may specialize in specific marketing skills. Digital marketing and social media management are fields that have emerged in the last two decades and are increasingly dominating marketing demand. Other common specialties include:

• Public relations
• Brand management
• Market research
• Data analysis
• Sports representation
• Advertising management
• Promotions campaigns
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Brand copywriter

Are marketing programs and majors in demand?

Marketing professionals build public perception of companies, analyze market trends, and create effective marketing campaigns to drive business growth. Businesses of all sizes require marketing to grow, as evidenced by projected career growth for marketing careers.

Currently, the BLS projects the addition of about 31,200 new public relations specialist positions between 2020 and 2030. Market research analyst jobs are projected to grow by 163,600 positions in the same time.

According to a 2021 report by We Are Social and Hootsuite, in the digital marketing field, the number of global social media users was 4.2 billion as of January 2021. This could potentially drive further marketing career growth as companies seek to reach potential customers and build brand presence through social media channels.

How much money can I make with an online marketing degree?

At the high end, marketing managers or advertising managers earned a median salary of $133,380 in 2021, per the BLS. Managerial positions usually require experience or a master's degree.

In entry-level positions, Payscale reports that social media marketing specialists earn an average salary of over $46,000 per year as of June 2022. Social media specialists with 20-plus years of experience earned an average salary of $60,000.

For public relations specialists, professionals with salaries in the lowest 10% of earners made a median of $37,020 in 2021. The highest-paid 10% earned median salaries of $124,620 the same year.

What are the highest-paying jobs with a bachelor's in marketing?

The highest-paying jobs available to graduates with a bachelor's in marketing vary by region and career experience. As of May 2021, BLS data reports that the top 10% of market research analysts earned median salaries of $128,320. The top 10% of public relations specialists earned median salaries of $124,620 the same year.

Other marketing careers with higher-than-average salaries include:

• Copywriter: $54,380 average annual salary (June 2021)
• Data Scientist: $100,910 median annual salary (2021)
• Market Research Analyst: $63,920 median annual salary (2021)