Marketing Degree Guide
Key Takeaways
- A marketing degree prepares students for careers in advertising, public relations, sales, and brand strategy by developing creative, analytical, and business skills.
- Students can earn marketing credentials at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level, with specializations in areas like digital marketing, branding, and consumer psychology.
- Graduates may pursue roles as market research analysts, brand managers, or marketing managers, with salaries ranging from $59,440 to $161,030 depending on position and experience.
A marketing degree can lead to exciting careers in consumer retail, business consultation, public outreach, and brand management. With a marketing degree, you can find employment as a market research analyst, marketing specialist, or marketing manager.
This versatile major also leads to job opportunities in advertising, sales, and public relations. Marketing professionals research consumer demand for products and services, investigate pricing strategies, and build interest in new product releases through social media and advertisements.
This guide explores different types of marketing degrees, plus available career paths and resources for graduates.
What Is a Marketing Degree?
A marketing degree teaches you all about branding, business analytics, consumer behavior, and market research. They also cover topics in communications, public relations, and sales strategy.
By combining a marketing degree with professional experience, you can qualify for managerial or executive roles. Graduate-level credentials can support your advancement to these upper career levels.
Some schools offer degrees specifically in marketing. Others offer a business or management degree with a concentration in marketing.
Marketing Degrees: From Associate to Doctorate
You can earn a marketing degree at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Many colleges also offer marketing certificates that provide specialized training.
Each degree prepares you for different marketing degree jobs. For example, marketing specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree, while many marketing managers hold a master’s degree.
Associate Degree in Marketing
- Program Length: 2 years
- Potential Jobs: Customer relations coordinator, market research assistant, sales assistant
An associate degree in marketing introduces you to foundational business concepts. You’ll take courses in business, accounting, and finance, as well as strategic marketing and integrated marketing communications.
Earning an online associate degree in marketing takes two years of full-time study. After completing the degree, you can transfer to bachelor’s programs to advance your education. You can also pursue careers in direct marketing, sales, and administrative support roles.
Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing
- Program Length: 4 years
- Potential Jobs: Account manager, digital marketing specialist, market research specialist, media planner
Marketing majors study pricing strategies, consumer behavior, and competitor research. At the bachelor’s level, you’ll also gain business skills through business administration, management, finance, and accounting courses. Some programs incorporate real-world projects and internships to help strengthen marketing skills.
A bachelor’s degree in marketing prepares you for many entry-level roles, like marketing specialist and market research analyst. With experience, you can move into management roles. Earning a bachelor’s degree generally takes four years for full-time students.
Master’s Degree in Marketing
- Program Length: 2 years
- Potential Jobs: Data scientist, marketing manager, public relations manager
A master’s program in marketing offers advanced training in marketing research, strategic marketing, and marketing management. During a graduate program in marketing, you’ll strengthen your analytical and research skills.
Depending on the program, you may also complete internships to develop practical experience. You can pursue a career as a marketing manager, social media manager, or internet marketing manager.
Earning a master’s in marketing typically takes two years, though some programs offer an accelerated option that enables you to earn the degree in less time. In addition to online master’s in marketing programs, you might also consider a dual master’s degree program.
Doctoral Degree in Marketing
- Program Length: 4-7 years
- Potential Jobs: Marketing executive, postsecondary instructor
A doctorate in marketing prepares you for the most advanced roles in the field. For example, marketing professors typically need doctorates before pursuing tenure-track professor roles. Senior marketing executives and market researchers can also benefit from earning doctorates in marketing.
During an online doctoral program in marketing, you can specialize in areas like consumer psychology, pricing strategy, or business marketing research. After meeting coursework requirements, you must pass comprehensive exams and complete original research projects or dissertations. Doctoral candidates must successfully defend their dissertations to graduate. Earning a doctorate can take 4-7 years.
What to Consider Before Applying to a Marketing Program
While many factors can influence your choice of marketing program, three merit particular mention: accreditation, career relevance, and admission requirements. Explore each of these considerations in full detail:
- 1
Accreditation for Marketing Programs
You should always research accreditation before applying to marketing programs. Institutionally accredited schools meet high standards for educational excellence. Many employers only hire graduates with accredited marketing degrees; professional certifications may also require an accredited degree.
Some marketing programs also hold programmatic accreditation, usually through the business school. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business grants accreditation to business programs, including marketing programs.
- 2
Degree Type and Career Goals
While many marketing programs share similar content, some more directly prepare you for certain career paths than others.
For example, a program that emphasizes business analytics and quantitative methods might serve you best if you’re interested in a market research career. Similarly, a more interdisciplinary program with a strong communications focus could make a better match if you want to work in public relations or advertising.
Review curricula and concentration options carefully before applying, and prioritize programs closely aligned with your interests and career goals.
- 3
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate marketing programs require a high school diploma or the equivalent. In most cases, you’ll need to satisfy the institution’s GPA requirements. You may also need letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and SAT or ACT scores.
For graduate programs, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree and relevant undergraduate coursework. Many graduate programs consider applicants from diverse majors, but a background in business, marketing, data analytics, or another related field may strengthen your application.
What Can You Do With a Marketing Degree?
A marketing degree prepares you for various marketing, advertising, public relations, and sales roles. You can go on to work for marketing firms, advertising agencies, and public relations agencies. With some experience, you may also land a role as a marketing manager, though some employers may prefer an advanced degree.
Marketing salaries vary by title, professional experience, and degree level. The following chart includes the median annual salary and projected job growth for several top marketing careers.
In addition to these marketing careers, you can pursue opportunities in event planning, project management, and more.
| Marketing Career | Median Annual Salary (2024) | Projected Job Growth (2023-33) | Minimum Degree Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising and Promotions Manager | $126,960 | +8% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Brand Manager | $144,530 | +8% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Market Research Analyst | $76,950 | +8% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Marketing Manager | $161,030 | +8% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner | $59,440 | +7% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Public Relations Specialist | $69,780 | +6% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Sales Manager | $138,060 | +6% | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Technical Writer | $91,670 | +4% | Bachelor’s Degree |
*May require more specific training
Marketing Degree Salary
The salary you can earn with a marketing degree depends on your role, length of service, location, and industry. Your degree level can also have an impact, especially since many employers prefer candidates with graduate degrees when filling managerial and executive vacancies.
The following graph explores the average salaries earned by marketing graduates from the class of 2023, using data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):
How Much Does a Marketing Degree Cost?
The range of potential tuition costs you may encounter as a marketing major varies. You’ll likely find the most affordable options at public institutions and in programs delivered entirely online. According to the National Center for Education Statistics’ most recent data (2020), the average annual tuition cost for online bachelor’s in marketing degrees was about $7,500. For traditional, on-campus marketing degrees, the average was nearly $12,000, or about $4,500 more.
Degree level also affects average costs, as documented in the table below:
| Degree Level | Online Programs | Traditional, On-Campus Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | $2,239 | $2,207 |
| Bachelor’s | $7,367 | $11,749 |
| Master’s | $8,025 | $13,332 |
| Doctorate | $10,902 | $14,310 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Marketing Degrees
In May 2025, professionals with a BBA in marketing earned an average salary of $72,000 per year, while marketing professionals with an MBA in marketing earned $100,000, according to Payscale.
Some marketing careers, like marketing directors and senior marketing managers, pay a higher-than-average wage. Marketing professionals with over 10 years of experience also earned higher average salaries.
