Best Online MBA Programs in Marketing

Although the MBA in general is one of the most popular postgraduate degrees available because graduates can apply it toward multiple fields, an MBA in marketing may be even more valuable. According to PayScale, employees with an MBA in marketing see a 108 percent increase between their starting and mid-career salaries. And online programs have made the degree more accessible than ever. Read on to learn about the different types of programs and benefits of an online MBA in marketing.

Not all MBA students come from the same background or go on to achieve the same career goals after graduating. Here’s just one example of how an MBA can act as a cornerstone accomplishment in a marketing professional’s life.

High School: Scores highly in statistics, runs school’s spirit store

Bachelor’s Degree: Majors in marketing, minors in a foreign language

First Job: Gets feet wet as an advertising sales agent

MBA: Completes online MBA in marketing

Promotion: New credentials lead to marketing manager role at Internet retailer

Keynote Speaker: Gives inspiring brand strategy speech at major conference

There are many benefits to online education, the most obvious being convenience and flexibility. For many MBA students, the flexibility online MBA programs allow is simply desirable, but for mid-career professionals who cannot take time off work to further their educations, it may be essential.

Online MBA programs are also great for people who are not in the business sector but want to switch careers without first leaving their current position. In that sense, getting an MBA online is cost effective because students not only cut down on transportation costs, but can also continue working while studying.

While students may have to log into their classes at specific times for live discussions, many other formats used in online MBA programs allow students to log in whenever it is convenient for them. Along with live discussions, simulations and projects, online courses often utilize asynchronous forums, where students can discuss the course and complete assignments. Recorded lectures are another common format used in online education.

One benefit of business school is the numerous networking opportunities, so prospective online students might be skeptical about their ability to connect with new and interesting people. Luckily, business schools with online MBA programs tend to understand their students’ needs for networking opportunities and have devised ways to connect peers. For instance, some universities have residency requirements that bring students together in person for events before or during their MBA studies. Such events may involve an introduction to the online MBA curriculum, intensive for-credit courses or team projects with classmates.

Other programs spend time fostering strong social media communities and student organizations. Further, live video discussions, team projects and simulations in the curriculum allow students to connect with peers and educators in a manner similar to a traditional classroom experience.

Prospective marketing students may choose to get their MBAs at various points in their lives and careers, so it’s no surprise that online business schools offer different types of MBA programs to fit the needs of their students. By picking programs that align with their level of work experience and availability, students set themselves up to complete their program while balancing work and personal commitments. There are three common online program options: executive, full-time, and part-time.

Keeping track of the tasks they need to complete before their MBA program start date can help students prepare themselves for their online MBA in marketing. Prospective students can make a schedule of important dates to make sure they fulfill the program’s requirements and don’t miss key deadlines. Below is an example schedule for a prospective marketing student.

Prospective students can give themselves a leg up by preparing for their MBA education as early as high school. They should continue preparing by taking certain classes and developing skills throughout their undergraduate education and career.

Not all curricula are the same, but certain courses and skills are commonly found in quality online marketing MBA programs:

Marketing Management

Many programs begin by giving students a general overview of business practices in marketing. Marketing management courses, which include lessons on pricing, promotion and distribution, often serve as the foundation for learning how to operate market-driven organizations.

Marketing Research

Marketing research courses are designed to help students understand consumer behavior and use that information to make decisions. Students may learn how to effectively utilize focus groups, samples and questionnaires. They should also gain skills in analyzing research results and secondary source data.

Consumer Behavior

These classes can be highly theoretical studies of sociological, environmental and psychological influences on consumer decisions and may explore the practical implications of consumer behavior as it relates to marketing.

Digital Marketing and Advertising

Digital marketing courses allow students to learn about and implement marketing strategies related to social networks, mobile apps, email and other digital platforms. These courses can be hands-on, and students should be prepared to make profiles on various social media sites in order to complete projects.

Advertising and Promotion

Advertising and promotion courses give students the skills needed to formulate promotional advertising and sales strategies. Such skills include setting objectives, creating budgets, finding target audiences and selecting the right media for projects. Topics such as ad effectiveness, scheduling, creative strategy development and communication theory may be covered.

Choosing the right business school isn’t always easy. To narrow down their options, students should think about what qualities are most important to them in an online marketing MBA program. Here are some things to consider when comparing online business schools:

When sorting through business schools with online marketing MBA programs, students should determine whether schools are accredited and, if so, by which bodies. Accreditation is an optional, ongoing process that schools or programs undergo to both prove they are quality educational institutions and remain eligible for federal financial aid. Unaccredited institutions often make employers nervous, so they may be less likely to hire students who graduate from programs lacking accreditation.

Online marketing MBA programs are often accredited by the same organizations as other MBA concentrations within a business school. Visit our primary MBA page for a deeper look at online MBA accreditation.

Most marketing jobs only require a bachelor’s degree, but applicants with higher credentials are more likely to get hired for managerial positions. The following are a few higher-level marketing positions that students can vie for upon completing their online MBA in marketing.

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers are usually in charge of finding marketing opportunities and organizing campaigns for those opportunities. Marketing managers need strong organizational skills to oversee whole projects and effectively enlist employees to brainstorm ideas.

Advertising Manager

Advertising managers are similar to marketing managers in that they devise and oversee projects, but these managers focus specifically on the advertising aspect of a marketing campaign. They monitor projects and analyze their results, tracking trends to help the company maximize profits.

Sales Manager

Sales managers set their sights on the internal functions of a company’s sales team, setting targets and making sure staff hit them. They also are charged with finding new clients and keeping them, thus broadening demand for the company’s products.

Market Research Analyst

Market research analysts go through reams of data to figure out what products the market wants, which consumers would buy them, and how much they would pay. Market research analysts must be able to go through information and accurately assess it to increase company profits.

Public Relations Manager

Public relations managers can be found in numerous industries, where they are in charge of creating and maintaining a positive image of a company. They execute campaigns to make the public aware of their company, and they work to ensure that public opinion is favorable.

Marketing careers generally don’t require certification, but certain types of careers can still benefit from the extra distinction certification provides.

If an MBA in marketing sounds interesting, prospective students should consider some related MBA programs.

Entrepreneurship MBA

Students who are more interested in marketing their own product or service than somebody else’s should look into MBA entrepreneurship programs.

Finance MBA

Students in finance MBA programs can enter a range of careers helping people and companies manage their money, make investment decisions and discover new markets.

MBA in International Business

Students looking to go abroad and learn about global markets and business relations should consider an MBA in international business.

All data was collected between 6/14/21 and 7/3/21. Respondents were fielded by Lucid LLC. All 343 respondents in the study were screened by multiple quality checks, including systems like Relevant ID, and responses were manually reviewed to ensure consistency and accuracy. Survey participants include 169 currently enrolled MBA students and 174 graduates from MBA programs within the past 6 years. Respondents are between 21 and 78 years of age and identified as 45% Female, 54% Male, and 1% non-binary.

Student testimonials have generally been obtained with the offer of compensation for completion of a survey (e.g., entrance into a gift card drawing). Such testimonials are the opinions of such students and surveys are designed to avoid influencing such testimonials either positively or negatively. All student respondents were supplied by Lucid LLC.