Best Online Marketing Degrees

If you’re ready to improve your life and reach your full potential by going back to school, an online Bachelor of Marketing is an excellent choice of degree. Marketing is everywhere, and a degree in marketing will equip you with highly transferable hard and soft skills — such as communication, finance, management, creativity, leadership, data analysis, business, and persuasion — that can translate well to success in a variety of roles. You can obtain an online marketing degree at practically any college or university at the bachelor’s or master’s level, and doing so can help you get your foot in the door in many industries.

Now that you’ve made the exciting decision to get your marketing degree online, it’s time to select an institution. You’ll notice very quickly that the options out there are seemingly endless, which is why we’re here to give you our professional recommendations. We want to make it as easy as possible for prospective students like you to get the information they need to choose a school, so we’ve created a comprehensive list of the best online marketing degrees for your reference. Let’s look into these online marketing degree options so you can find the best one for your goals.

What Is an Online Marketing Degree?

An online marketing degree is a set of academic courses that teach students how to advertise services and products to specific audiences. Marketing studies branding, promotion, consumer behavior, public behavior, marketing strategy, and many other areas of study. As you work your way through an online marketing degree, you will learn to analyze market trends and sell to target markets. If you are curious, creative, adaptable, and find yourself excelling in sales and communication, you are an excellent candidate for a degree in marketing.

Marketing majors often specialize in one or more of the following:

  • Brand management
  • Business management
  • Public relations
  • Market research
  • Brand copywriting
  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Digital marketing
  • Sports marketing
  • International marketing
  • Branding and packaging design
  • Luxury brand management
  • Business psychology

Regardless of which route you choose, online bachelor’s degree programs in marketing usually require around 120 credits for graduation. If you go to school full-time, you can finish in four years, but taking more credits at once or attending marketing online classes in the summer can accelerate your degree completion.

Featured Online Programs For a Bachelor's in Marketing

All colleges and universities claim to offer the best online marketing degrees. It can be difficult to cut through all the noise and determine which accredited schools truly offer the best overall value in terms of tuition costs, educational quality, flexibility, degree options, and more. We’ve taken the liberty of using our own methodology to pinpoint which online marketing programs check the most boxes for prospective marketing students like you.

Featured Online Programs For a Bachelor's in Marketing

All colleges and universities claim to offer the best online marketing degrees. It can be difficult to cut through all the noise and determine which accredited schools truly offer the best overall value in terms of tuition costs, educational quality, flexibility, degree options, and more. We’ve taken the liberty of using our own methodology to pinpoint which online marketing programs check the most boxes for prospective marketing students like you.

1

University of Minnesota Online

Online BS in Marketing

Location: Online (Based in Twin Cities, MN)

Acceptance rate: 70%

Graduation rate: 80%

Cost of attendance: $437.00 per credit hour

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Admission requirements

  • Complete application
  • $30 application fee or fee waiver
  • Send high school transcripts
  • Optional letter of recommendation
2

Western Governors University

Online BS in Business Administration — Marketing

Location: Online (based in Salt Lake City, UT)

Average time to graduation: 3.5 years

Acceptance rate: 96%

Graduation rate: 52%

Cost of attendance: $3,575 per 6-month term

Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Admission requirements

General admission requirements

  • Complete the application
  • Pay the $65 application fee
  • Send official transcripts by mail or email
  • Complete FAFSA application
  • Complete intake interview
  • Arrange for tuition payment
3

Washington State University

Online Bachelor of Marketing

Location: Online (based in Pullman, WA)

Acceptance rate: 80%

Graduation rate: 59%

Cost of attendance: $554.00 per credit hour (residents), $617.00 per credit hour (non-residents)

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Admission requirements

  • Pay $70 application fee
  • Send transcripts
  • Fill out application
4

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Online Bachelor of Marketing

Location: Online (based in Hampshire County, MA)

Average time to graduation: 6 years

Acceptance rate: 65%

Graduation rate: 80%

Cost of attendance: $16,952 (resident), $38,172 (non-resident)

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education

Admission requirements

  • Fill out application
  • Submit transcripts
  • Letter of recommendation
  • $85 application fee
  • Optional SAT/ACT scores
5

Oregon State University

Online BS in Business Administration — Digital Marketing

Location: Online (based in Corvallis, OR)

Average time to graduation: 6 years

Acceptance rate: 82%

Graduation rate: 66%

Cost of attendance: $4,397.00 per term (resident), $11,661.00 per term (non-resident)

Accreditation: AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Admission requirements

  • Apply online
  • Pay $65 application fee
  • Send transcripts
  • Send SAT/ACT test scores (optional)
6

Temple University

Online BBA in Marketing

Location: Online (based in Philadelphia, PA)

Average time to graduation: 6 years

Acceptance rate: 71%

Graduation rate: 72%

Cost of attendance: $17,136.00 (residents), $30,864.00 (non-residents)

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Admission requirements

  • Submit your ACT/SAT scores (optional)
  • Fill out the application
  • Pay the $55 application fee
  • Submit transcripts
  • Provide any additional information
7

University of Maryland Global Campus

Online Bachelor of Marketing

Location: Online (based in Adelphi, MD)

Acceptance rate: 92%

Graduation rate: 27%

Cost of attendance: $312 per credit (resident), $499 per credit (non-resident)

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Admission requirements

  • Graduate high school or pass the GED
  • Submit transcripts
  • Pay $50 application fee
  • Complete application
8

Capella University

Online BS in Business — Marketing

Location: Online (based in Minneapolis, MN)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Graduation rate: 19%

Cost of attendance: $357 - $415 per credit hour

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Admission requirements

  • Pay $50 application fee
  • Submit transcripts
  • Agree to Capella policies/program requirements
  • Provide valid government-issued ID
  • Meet minimum GPA requirements for the marketing program
  • Prove English proficiency
9

Columbia Southern University

Online BS in Business Administration — Marketing

Location: Online (based in Orange Beach, AL)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Graduation rate: 55%

Cost of attendance: $245 per credit hour

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Admission requirements

  • Have a high school diploma
  • Complete an application with basic contact information
  • Meet admissions documentation guidelines
10

National University

Online BA in Integrated Marketing Communications

Location: Online (based in San Diego, CA)

Acceptance rate: 89%

Graduation rate: 12.7%

Cost of attendance: $370.00 per credit

Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission

Admission requirements

  • Create an NU account
  • Complete admissions application
  • Submit transcripts
  • Apply for financial aid
  • Work with an enrollment specialist
11

Southern New Hampshire University

Online BS in Business Administration — Marketing

Location: Online (based in Manchester, NH)

Acceptance rate: 94%

Graduation rate: 32.7%

Cost of attendance: $320 per credit hour

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE)

Admission requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Speak to admissions counselor
  • Submit transcripts
12

Strayer University

Online BBA in Marketing

Location: Online (based in Arlington, VA)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Graduation rate: 20%

Cost of attendance: $1,480.00 per course

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Admission requirements

  • Complete application and enrollment agreement
  • Provide transcripts
  • Provide a government-issued ID
  • Access admissions portal
  • Pay application fee
  • Speak with admissions officer

Earn an Affordable Degree in Marketing Online

More than half of students indicate that affordability is one of their top considerations in picking an online degree program. If low tuition cost is one of your priorities, we have also picked several schools offering the most affordable online marketing degrees. Here are our top-three institutions that have proven to be especially cost-effective for a wide range of students.

1

Purdue University Global

Online BS in Business Administration – Global Marketing Management

Location: Online (based in West Lafayette, IN)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Cost of attendance: $371 per credit

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

2

Liberty University Online

Online BS in Business Administration – Digital Marketing and Advertising

Location: Online (based in Lynchburg, VA)

Acceptance rate: 50%

Cost of attendance: $390 per full-time credit hour, $455 per part-time credit hour

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

3

Arizona State Online

Online BS in Marketing

Location: Online (Based in Tempe, AZ)

Acceptance rate: 88%

Cost of attendance: $458 per credit hour

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Online Marketing Degree FAQ

Is it worth it to pursue an online bachelor's in marketing?

Absolutely. Online programs remove many of the barriers to higher education by providing you with the flexibility you need to fit school into your busy life. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for marketers is expected to increase by 10% over the next decade — which is faster than average for nearly all other professions.

If that’s not enough to convince you of the value of a marketing degree, consider that the median annual wage for marketing managers is approximately $142,000 per year, with the top 10% of marketing majors making up to $208,000 annually. There are many high-paying, in-demand marketing jobs with high levels of employee satisfaction and ample opportunities for continued education.

The field of marketing is always growing and changing, and having marketing skills qualifies you for working in a variety of careers. If your goal is to build the next big brand, an online marketing degree can provide you with the problem-solving and creativity needed to succeed. Earning an online bachelor’s in marketing can also prepare you for the pursuit of a master or doctoral program, which will be especially beneficial if you are seeking teaching or leadership positions.

Is there a demand for marketing majors — and what is the career outlook?

Every business requires the help of marketers to spur its growth. With increasing global competition and an expanding social media presence worldwide, there is expected to be tremendous growth in marketing career potential as brands strive to strengthen their presence across channels.

The job outlook for marketing graduates is bright. According to the BLS, marketing managers are less impacted by downsizing than other positions, and the global marketplace is likely to continue creating new marketing jobs. Those who enter the marketplace with skills in computers and new media are most likely to secure a good job.

As far as career outlook goes, completing an online bachelor of marketing will help to prepare you for a career in the for- and non-profit sectors of the industry. Graduates of online marketing programs are likely to find employment in communications, public relations, sales, digital marketing, retail, branding, advertising, event planning, and more in these types of positions:

  • Event planner
  • Product/brand manager
  • Copywriter
  • Market research analyst
  • Account or promotions manager
  • Public relations manager
  • Direct marketing
  • Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative
  • Marketing coordinator/director
  • Marketing communications director
  • Consumer representative
  • Sales representative
  • Marketing manager

How much money can I make with a bachelor's in marketing?

BLS statistics estimate that, on average, graduates with an online bachelor of marketing make around $141,500 per year in common positions like marketing research. However, salaries differ by role, and your earning potential is linked to how much experience you have.

For example, Glassdoor shows that entry-level jobs for event marketing assistants and social media coordinators range from $37,000 to $44,000 per year. Mid-level marketing jobs, such as copywriter, social media manager, and market research analyst, range from $55,000 to $93,000 per year. And, should you wish to pursue leadership, salaries for executive-level marketers range from $125,000 for market research directors to $176,000 for CMOs.

Salaries also vary based on where the job is located. In areas where the cost of living is more expensive, like New York and California, salaries tend to be higher.

What kinds of courses can I take in an online marketing program?

Every institution has its own marketing degree names and pathways, so required and elective marketing online classes will vary from school to school. But although the class names may vary slightly, students will learn the same concepts and skills required to succeed in the marketing industry. Here are some common classes you can expect to take over the course of your online marketing degree:

  • General education (English, science, math, etc.)
  • Economics
  • Finance and management
  • Communication
  • Marketing principles
  • Business psychology
  • Computers
  • Business-to-business marketing
  • Marketing research
  • Marketing strategy
  • Retail and sales management
  • Corporations and financing
  • Global marketing techniques
  • Product management

Marketing students often choose to emphasize in a specialty area of digital marketing, like social media management, SEO, content management, email marketing, or analytics. You’ll likely discover your strong suit within the field as you work your way through the online business marketing degree program.

What to Look for in an Online Degree Program

Enrolling in online school can feel like a bit of a gamble. Of course, you’ve done all your research, spoken to online advisors, taken a virtual tour, and browsed the course catalog, but how can you find assurance that you’ve chosen a high-quality program that will yield returns?

First, you should look for the school’s accreditation. Accrediting agencies affirm that a college or university meets certain standards. Accreditation also indicates that those who have graduated from the institution have had a high-quality experience and positive post-graduation outcomes. You can find out if a school is accredited through the US Department of Education website or through the website of the school’s accrediting agency.

Another aspect to pay attention to when researching online degree programs is the school’s reviews. There are plenty of third-party websites devoted to unbiased, honest reviews from students about the quality of their degree programs. You could also consider joining social media groups of students in your degree program and see what people are saying about the courses, instructors, and institution as a whole. Just remember that some students create problems for themselves that do not reflect on the university.

Thirdly, you should find out what kinds of resources are offered to remote students. Because you won’t be on campus as you work through an online degree, you’ll want to make sure you can find online tutors and writing centers, an accessible online library, and more. You should be able to determine the availability of these resources through the institution’s website, but if not, call their registration or admissions office to ask.