Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024
A marketing associate is an entry-level role in the marketing industry that helps marketing teams research, plan, and monitor advertising and marketing campaigns. Although they may not have as much training as someone with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, they perform similar tasks as marketing specialists and can be vital to a marketing team’s success.
Employers typically seek candidates with a marketing associate degree for these positions. This degree takes about two years to complete and introduces concepts like consumer behavior, managerial accounting, and marketing decision-making.
A 2020 report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that graduates with associate degrees in marketing, business management, or administration earn a median salary of $40,000-$50,000.
Explore this guide to learn what to expect from a marketing associate degree, the kinds of jobs it can lead to, and how it can propel your marketing career. Browse some of the top online marketing associate degrees based on our ranking methodology.
The Best Online Associate in Marketing Programs
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $330
Out-of-State | $330
Credits to Graduate: 60
Southern New Hampshire University's AS in marketing can help you gain critical skills for an entry-level job in marketing. The program's 60 credits can also transfer into a bachelor's degree in digital or social media marketing.
Courses include business law, principles of integrated marketing communications, and social media and marketing communications. You can transfer up to 45 credits into this 100% online program. The university waives standardized tests and application fees, and you can begin at one of six start dates throughout the year.Â
- In-State$15,000
- Out-of-state$15,000
- In-State$18,900
- Out-of-state$18,900
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled145,533
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
Zane State College
- Zanesville, OH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $194
Out-of-State | $381
Credits to Graduate: 61
Zanesville, Ohio's Zane State College offers an online associate of applied business in marketing management degree. This distance program introduces creative marketing and digital analytics to prepare you for a business career. Courses include advertising, graphic design, and retail management. The degree takes about two years to complete.
To apply, you should hold a high school diploma or GED certificate or have completed a comparable homeschool program. The college waives test scores and does not require an application fee.Â
- In-State$5,520
- Out-of-state$10,830
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,731
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment58%
- AccreditationYes
Fox Valley Technical College
- Appleton, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $205
Out-of-State | $205
Credits to Graduate: 62
Fox Valley Technical College's AAS in marketing can prepare you for careers in wholesale, manufacturing, hospitality, or nonprofit management. Though located in Appleton, Wisconsin, the college offers this program 100% online.
Courses include content creation, digital media buying, and data technology tools for marketing. As part of the program, you also complete a 144-hour internship. The college reports that in 2022, 74% of its graduates were employed, 59% in the digital marketing field, earning an average salary of $43,250 within six months of graduation.
- In-State$3,860
- Out-of-state$6,977
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled11,664
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
Tulsa Community College
- Tulsa, OK
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $117
Out-of-State | $342
Credits to Graduate: 60
Tulsa Community College's AS in marketing can provide the necessary skills to create sales presentations, understand marketing theory, identify social influences on customer behavior, and develop effective customer service techniques.
Courses include consumer behavior, principles of marketing, and advertising and promotion management. After graduation, you can pursue entry-level marketing careers or a four-year program. Admission requires a high school diploma or equivalent, along with scores from the ACT or a similar test.Â
- In-State$2,701
- Out-of-state$8,101
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate56%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled14,428
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
Hinds Community College
- Raymond, MS
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $150
Out-of-State | $275
Credits to Graduate: 64
Hinds Community College's AA in marketing can prepare you to pursue advertising, fundraising, and marketing careers. This fully online degree covers products, pricing, promotion, and placement of goods and services.Â
Courses include business calculus, introduction to entrepreneurship, and introduction to marketing. After graduation, you may be able to transfer your coursework directly into a bachelor's program at another Mississippi college. To apply, submit your high school transcripts or GED certificate, along with ACT or Accuplacer test scores.
- In-State$3,500
- Out-of-state$6,550
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled10,802
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus
- Sewell, NJ
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $120
Out-of-State | $148
Credits to Graduate: 60
Rowan College of South Jersey's AAS in digital marketing can prepare you to conduct successful marketing projects in the contemporary digital space. This program emphasizes communication, technology, and digital marketing strategies. Courses include business communications, principles of advertising, and social media/internet marketing.
Fall and spring courses operate on seven-week cycles, while winter and summer sessions use a five-week model. The entire program lasts two years for full-time students. The school's free application takes about 5-10 minutes to complete.
- In-State$4,170
- Out-of-state$4,170
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled5,667
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
Southeast Technical College
- Sioux Falls, SD
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $305
Out-of-State | $305
Credits to Graduate: 62
You can complete Southeast Technical College's associate degree in marketing online, at a campus in Sioux Falls, or through a hybrid of the two settings. This customizable degree allows you to explore fundamental principles of advertising, consumer behavior, social media, and management.
Courses include market research, principles of marketing, and a capstone. To apply, you need a high school GPA of 2.0 or above, a GED subscore greater than 144, an ACT score of 15 or higher, or an SAT of 830.
- In-State$3,720
- Out-of-state$3,720
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,381
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Cuyahoga Community College District
- Cleveland, OH
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $125 (in-county) or $155 (out-of-county)
Out-of-State | $291
Credits to Graduate: 61
Cuyahoga Community College's AAB in marketing prepares you to meet customer needs in creative, fast-paced work environments. This fully online degree allows you to stack a certificate in digital marketing onto an associate of marketing to learn strategies for a digital marketplace.
Courses include principles of advertising, digital marketing design, principles of management and organizational behavior, and social media content strategies and analytics. You can receive admission if you are a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate.Â
- In-State$4,472
- Out-of-state$8,586
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate39%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled17,523
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment86%
- AccreditationYes
Northcentral Technical College
- Wausau, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $157
Out-of-State | $230
Credits to Graduate: 62
You can pursue Northcentral Technical College's associate in marketing fully online or at a Wisconsin-based campus. The curriculum covers product promotion, market research, and selling strategies. You also learn to anticipate market needs. Courses include video for social media, advanced sales, and graphics for web design.Â
New students can pursue certificates that provide credit toward the associate degree in marketing sales, marketing promotions, and marketing basics. The school reports that graduates earn an average starting salary of $31,030-$38,982.
- In-State$3,384
- Out-of-state$5,076
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled6,116
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
Florida Institute of Technology
- Melbourne, FL
- 4 year
- Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $520
Out-of-State | $520
Credits to Graduate: 67
Florida Tech's AA in marketing can equip you with skills and knowledge in market segmentation, price determination, product demand, and startup markets. With this degree, you can pursue a career as a merchandiser, account manager, junior marketing associate, or product marketing manager.
Courses include statistics, entrepreneurial marketing, integrated marketing communication, and global business perspectives. To apply, you need a high school diploma, GED certificate, or 24 semester hours from an accredited college or university. New classes begin six times a year.
- In-State$12,240
- Out-of-state$12,240
- In-State$16,128
- Out-of-state$16,128
- Retention Rate6%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled1,461
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Is Marketing the Right Career Path for Me?
The marketing and business field attracts diverse candidates. Some aim to work with specific products and services, while others pursue the field for its flexibility. In general, marketing and sales careers often appeal to individuals with strong communication and organizational skills. Professionals usually possess high levels of self-confidence and initiative.
You Might Enjoy a Career in Marketing and Sales if You Have…
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Persistence
- Creativity
- Belief in yourself
- Problem-solving skills
What Is an Online Associate Degree in Marketing?
Associate degrees in marketing equip students with knowledge related to promoting goods and services. In addition to teaching learners marketing and selling strategies, most marketing degrees at this level offer general business and marketplace training.
Typically, an online associate degree in marketing features approximately 60 credits and takes students two years to complete. Learners often encounter general education classes, along with coursework in research and management.
While many graduates enter the workforce after completing associate degrees, these programs also provide an pathway to further education. Associate degree-holders can often transfer their credits directly to online bachelor’s degrees in marketing to save money when compared to a four-year degree.
Associate Degree in Marketing Courses
The exact curriculum in a marketing program varies by school, but students can expect to encounter some common courses along the way. In addition to general education and business foundation courses, enrollees may take the following marketing-specific classes:
- Professional selling
- Digital marketing
- Market research
- Advertising
- Consumer behavior
Marketing Skills Learned
Students can pick up human and technical skills that apply to most careers in marketing, including:
- Business communication
- Campaign planning
- Market research
- Social media management
- Basic design
- Marketing technology
Choosing an Online Associate in Marketing Program
Prospective students should consider multiple factors when choosing an online college to ensure it meets their needs and professional aspirations. As with on-campus schools, learners should research program curricula, specializations, and available student services.
They should also explore online-specific options, such as asynchronous vs. synchronous course delivery, flat-rate tuition policies, and residency requirements.
What Kind of Jobs Can You Get With a Marketing Associate Degree?
Graduates with associate degrees in marketing can qualify for entry-level positions as marketing assistants, media planners, content creators, and brand representatives. They may work under promotions or advertising managers or take on sales-related roles.
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives
Median Salary (May 2022): $67,750
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives establish purchasing contracts and sell products to other businesses. They may help develop pricing and selling strategies while collaborating with technical experts to provide clients with in-depth product information. Sales representatives also attend trade shows and research potential markets.
Advertising Sales Agents
Median Salary (May 2022): $58,450
Advertising sales agents sell their organization’s services to people and other companies. They may sell advertising space, ad placements, or entire campaign management services. These agents create presentations, attend trade shows, and work with commercial printers to create the final products.
Insurance Sales Agents
Median Salary (May 2022): $57,860
Insurance sales agents sell insurance coverage and plans to individuals and organizations. They work with customers to determine the best coverage for their needs and expand their customer bases with sales strategies. They provide consumers with policy information, oversee account changes, and process renewals.
Common Questions About Marketing Degrees and Careers
The American Marketing Association offers certifications for experienced marketing professionals. A certification candidate typically needs a degree and several years of experience for eligibility.
Most students take two years to complete associate degrees in marketing. Some programs offer accelerated pathways and/or part-time options.
Yes. An associate degree in marketing may include math courses in statistics, economics, finance, and pricing.
Yes. The marketing field offers some of the most competitive wages in business. For example, marketing managers make a median annual wage of $141,490, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you want to test the waters of the marketing industry before committing to the field, a marketing associate degree can provide an excellent place to start. This degree provides the skills necessary for an entry-level role, allowing you to gain experience in the field. You can also transfer this degree into a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a similar field, like business, human resources, or finance.
