Best Online Master’s in Digital Marketing Programs of 2021
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To adapt to their consumer base, today's organizations need experienced marketers to help them build a strong online presence. Students who earn an online master's degree in digital marketing enter a growing field and develop pertinent skills that can help companies grow in this way.
This page explores highly ranked and accredited online digital marketing master's programs. Here, prospective students can also learn about degree requirements, common coursework, concentrations, admission processes, and potential marketing career paths.
What Are the Best Online Master's in Digital Marketing Programs of 2021? Here Are Our Top 5:
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| #1 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL |
| #2 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA |
| #3 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO |
| #4 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJ |
| #5 | McKendree University Lebanon, IL |
| #6 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI |
| #7 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA |
| #8 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO |
| #9 | Rutgers University-Camden Camden, NJ |
| #10 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KS |
An online master's in digital marketing yields access to in-demand, lucrative job opportunities. For instance, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data projects a 13% increase in employment for web developers through 2028. This increase should create roughly 160,500 jobs.
Web developers typically work for organizations that provide computer system design services. An advanced degree can lead to project management roles. However, many professionals also build their own clientele and become self-employed.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2021 Best Accredited Online Master's in Digital Marketing Programs
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A public university based in Champaign, U of I offers an online master of business administration with a concentration in digital marketing. Learners take courses from four distinct areas: strategic leadership, managerial economics, value chain management, and financial management.
Course topics include managerial accounting, investments, and firm-level economics. Students in the digital marketing specialization complete a four-course series, including marketing in a digital world, digital analytics, digital channels, and a capstone experience.
Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree but do not need prior work experience to apply. U of I holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, and its business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Concentration in Digital Marketing
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $302 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 72 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required over an applicant's last two years of study
- Standardized Tests: Not required
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A Christian university based in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty offers a master of business administration with a specialization in marketing. Students complete courses solely online and typically finish in about two years.
The program is delivered in eight-week terms, allowing students to focus on just two classes at a time. Students begin with core business courses such as managerial finance, international business, and operations management. Marketing students then take four courses: marketing promotions, supply chain management, marketing research, and consumer behavior.
The school allows students to transfer up to half of the required credits into the program. Liberty holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and its business school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Specialization in Marketing
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $565 per credit (full time); $615 per credit (part time)
- Credit Requirements: 45 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not specified
Contact the School
A private university located in Webster Groves, Missouri, Webster offers a master of business administration with an emphasis in digital marketing management.
Marketing students begin with business core classes such as value creation, market analysis and business planning, and supply chain and business processes. They then take a four-course series in their area of emphasis, covering management of digital marketing, marketing analytics, management of social media, and digital marketing strategy.
Students do not need work experience to apply. Applicants who do not meet the minimum 2.5 GPA requirement may still apply for conditional admission. Webster holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, and its business school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With an Emphasis in Digital Marketing Management
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $780 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 42-45 credits
- Program Length: 1-2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 2.5 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not specified
Contact the School
Based in Little Falls, New Jersey, Montclair offers an online master of business administration with a concentration in digital marketing. Students learn about foundational business topics and marketing concepts.
Participants take business core courses such as accounting for business majors, corporate financial decision-making, emerging trends in global markets, and information systems strategy and innovation. From there, digital marketing students complete concentration-specific courses, such as digital customer experience management, omnichannel marketing, integrated digital advertising, and a practicum in e-commerce.
Applicants may waive the school's GRE or GMAT admission requirement if they have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Montclair holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and its business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Concentration in Digital Marketing
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $867 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 39 credits
- Program Length: 27 months
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum preferred
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE required
Contact the School
Located in Lebanon, Illinois, McK offers an online master of business administration in digital marketing. Students take courses entirely online over eight-week terms.
Students begin with courses in business, such as accounting for managers, economics of the firm, corporate finance, and organizational behavior. From there, students focus on concentration courses such as digital marketing, social media marketing, and marketing analytics.
Students do not need to possess prior work experience or a business degree to apply to this program. McK holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, and its business school is accredited by the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration in Digital Marketing
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $530 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 39 credits
- Program Length: 1-2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not specified
Contact the School
Located in Detroit, Michigan, WSU offers an online master of business administration with a concentration in marketing. Students can complete some courses in an accelerated four-week or 11-week format.
Participants first take business courses such as financial and business accounting, basics of business economics, and business information systems. Marketing students then complete all six elective courses in the marketing department, including global marketing strategy, advertising management, international marketing strategy, and social media and digital marketing analytics.
WSU holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, and its business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Concentration in Marketing
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $788 per credit (in-state); $1,579 per credit (out-of-state)
- Credit Requirements: 36 credits
- Program Length: 1-2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 2.75 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE required
Contact the School
Based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Messiah offers a master of business administration with a concentration in digital marketing. Students take courses in six- or eight-week terms.
The curriculum starts by covering business topics, including managerial accounting and finance, business strategy and execution, and decision-making with data. Digital marketing students then take a nine-credit series, including coursework in digital marketing, social media strategy, and marketing analytics. All students study leadership and ethics alongside global business strategies.
Messiah holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and its business school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Concentration in Digital Marketing
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $710 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 36 credits
- Program Length: 1-2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: 3.0 minimum required
- Standardized Tests: Not specified
Contact the School
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Maryville offers an online master of business administration with a concentration in marketing. Students take business foundation courses and marketing-specific options for a well-rounded business education.
The program begins with nine business core courses, including business ethics, organizational behavior and development, accounting for managers, and corporate finance policies. Marketing students then take 12 credits to complete their concentration, including classes in consumer behavior, social networking and search engine optimization, branding, and integrated marketing communications. General electives and a capstone experience round out the curriculum.
Students may apply for one of six yearly start dates. The school does not require applicants to possess prior work experience or a business degree to qualify for admission. Maryville holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, and its business school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Concentration in Marketing
- School Status: Private
- Tuition: $714 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 39 credits
- Program Length: 1 year
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: No minimum specified
- Standardized Tests: Not specified
Contact the School
Rutgers-Camden offers an online master of business administration with a certificate in digital marketing. Students take courses online with no residency requirements.
Students begin with five required business courses, such as accounting for managerial decisions and business analytics. Other notable courses include operations and the supply chain, managing in the global economy, and marketing management. Students then take four courses to gain their digital marketing certificate: marketing management, digital marketing strategy, strategic marketing analytics, and social media strategy.
Rutgers-Camden is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Certificate in Digital Marketing
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $1,256 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 42 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: No minimum specified
- Standardized Tests: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, or MCAT required (waived for 2021)
Contact the School
Located in Hays, Kansas, FHSU offers a master of business administration with a concentration in digital marketing. Students complete core courses and specialization requirements online.
The curriculum begins with business requirements, including classes like advanced managerial accounting, managerial economics, and advanced corporate finance. For the digital marketing concentration, students take three of the following courses: integrated marketing communications, strategic electronic marketing, social media marketing, and/or social media marketing content and analytics.
The school does not require work experience or an undergraduate business degree to apply. FHSU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Snapshot
- Program Name: Master of Business Administration With a Concentration in Digital Marketing
- School Status: Public
- Tuition: $350 per credit
- Credit Requirements: 33 credits
- Program Length: 1-2 years
- Format: Online
- Instruction Style: Asynchronous
Admission Requirements
- GPA: No minimum specified
- Standardized Tests: GRE or GMAT required
Contact the School
Online Master's in Digital Marketing Program Overview
An online master's in digital marketing prepares students to identify and collect digital marketing insights that can help organizations make better business decisions and reach more clientele. In the program, students explore website and mobile design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, online advertising, and marketing automation.
Program objectives include interpreting data to reach organizational goals, extracting pertinent information that persuades target market and key stakeholders, and developing strategies that maximize opportunities. Students also learn international marketing techniques and best practices to comply with varying political or legal environments.
While entry-level roles in digital marketing exist at the bachelor's level, earning an online master's degree provides a competitive advantage in the field, especially when accompanied by experience. This advanced degree can also lead to management and leadership roles.
Employers do not typically demand education beyond a master's degree. However, professionals entering academia do go on to earn a Ph.D.
Common Master's in Digital Marketing Degree Courses
In this course, students learn how to develop business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing strategies. Course objectives include identifying digital marketing needs, developing organizational digital marketing goals, and measuring digital marketing success to calculate an organization's return on investment. Final projects often include presentations or essays.
The best digital marketers understand how to plan, design, and implement search engine campaigns that lead to organic rankings and efficient paid rankings. This course builds upon digital marketing and design principles. Students learn how to collaborate with clients, identify needs, and develop programs that fit within assigned budgets.
This course teaches students how to design, execute, and measure multichannel marketing initiatives for business-to-business and business-to-consumer brands. Course outcomes include understanding the process of multichannel marketing and understanding integrated components of managing customer relationships.
Digital marketers must know how to convert and optimize their outreach. This course explores fundamental principles, functions and techniques of web analytics, conversion strategies, and site optimization. Course outcomes include creating strategies for clients, developing web analytical algorithms, measuring progress, and justifying financial impact of selected strategies.
Digital marketers must understand historical patterns of company data to improve or predict performance. This course provides tools and techniques that lead to effective decision making. Students also develop their critical-thinking and analytical skills. Course outcomes include differentiating methods of data mining and predictive analytics to meet organizational needs.
Related Master's in Digital Marketing Degree Concentrations
Students earning an online master's in digital marketing may want to consider a concentration in international business. Topics include international marketing, cross-cultural management, international business issues, international trade and finance, and international monetary economics.
Digital marketing professionals benefit from understanding how businesses convey information. Organizational communication helps students learn how to use communication strategies to influence and cultivate corporate culture. Topics include shareholder communication and employee awareness. Students also explore human behavior in professional settings and ethical practices.
This concentration prepares students to make better business decisions and gain useful marketing insights. Program outcomes include designing digital marketing strategies and identifying best web analytic metrics to measure influential variables. Courses may include eMarketing design, survey research, and eCommerce.
Students earning an online master's in digital marketing benefit from a concentration in digital communication. Courses include creative process and strategy, digital media ethics, special topics in public relations and advertising, writing for the web, and writing across media. Culminating assignments may include an essay or project.
A concentration in product marketing teaches students how to manage products and customer experiences digitally. Students learn to synthesize consumer research and identify product developmental needs. Courses include customer marketing and brand strategy, customer insights, advertising and promotion, and strategic product management.
Online Master's in Digital Marketing Admission Requirements
Graduate admissions requires applicants to submit official transcripts from their bachelor's program. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements may need to complete additional coursework before gaining admission.
While online schools often waive GRE requirements, an online master's in digital marketing may require this exam. Universities that do not require the GRE may allow students to submit their scores to distinguish themselves from other candidates.
Admissions departments strive to learn as much about candidates as possible during the selection process. Universities often require 1-3 letters of recommendation from professionals who can speak to students' adaptability, work ethic, and potential to succeed.
Universities may require a statement of purpose that outlines students' career aspirations, professional experience, contributions to the field, and research interests. Students should also regard this requirement as a writing sample. Some schools provide a word limit.
An online master's in digital marketing may require students to possess a minimum GPA score in order to narrow its applicant pool. Universities may accept students who do not meet the minimum requirement under academic probation. In such cases, students would need to speak with their school's admissions office to make arrangements.
Online Master's in Digital Marketing Career Paths
An online master's in digital marketing creates multiple career options. Graduates qualify to become digital project managers, who earn about $65,000 on average. They may also become advertising, promotions, or marketing managers, who earn an annual median salary of $132,620. Opportunities exist at the bachelor's level; however, earning a master's provides a competitive advantage.
Executive roles include chief marketing officer. These professionals earn $180,000 on average. This role requires relevant experience and, often, an advanced degree.
Related Careers
Frequently Asked Questions
Professionals who enjoy leading others may want to focus on executive, manager, or leadership options. Graduates should also consider what their local market currently demands.
The marketing industry offers opportunities at all levels. Therefore, earning potential varies. Identifying appealing job roles can help students determine earning potential. For instance, leadership and executive roles often provide salaries well into the six figures. However, students should note that these roles require significant responsibility.
Digital marketing remains a rapidly growing industry that changes constantly and, thus, requires professionals who can adapt. Furthermore, employers value the skills that an online master's in digital marketing offers. Digital marketing also creates flexible work schedules that allow professionals to break away from the classic 40-hour work week.
On average, a master's in digital marketing requires two years with full-time attendance. Part-time students double the program length. Universities may offer accelerated options that shorten time commitments. Concentration requirements vary and may extend the length of average programs.
Yes, students who value the knowledge, skills, and recognition of a business program can earn an MBA with a concentration in digital marketing.
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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.
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