Completing a bachelor’s degree is a life-changing accomplishment, but many students find themselves wondering what the next step may be. Some of these students choose to apply their undergraduate education to starting a career, but others consider continuing their education at the graduate level, in this case – a digital marketing degree. While a master’s in digital marketing online is often pursued by former business administration, marketing, journalism, or communications majors, this is also a degree path that may be appealing to any student eager to learn more about how the modern marketing landscape has been shaped to fit into the reality of a virtually connected digital world. Completing a master’s in digital marketing can open up the doors to working in diverse settings such as digital marketing strategy, international marketing, business strategy, mobile marketing, consumer behavior, and more.
This guide sheds light on a master’s in digital marketing and highlights the many educational opportunities made available through this advanced degree.
Several factors determine whether or not a school is good, such as affordability, graduation rates, accreditation, the quality and experience of faculty, reputation of the institution, etc. The team at OMC conducted an exhaustive school search of digital marketing offerings and trusted partner programs based on all these and other factors, to draw up a list of the top ten online master’s degrees in digital marketing available in the United States:
College Name & Address | Tuition | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|
#1 Brandeis University 415 South Street, MS 084 Waltham, MA 02453 | $51,940 | 88% |
#2 Temple University 1810 N. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA | $16,956 | 73% |
#3 East Tennessee State University 1276 Gilbreath Dr., Box 70300, Johnson City, TN 37614 | $23,760 | 45% |
#4 Fairleigh Dickinson University 1000 River Road Teaneck NJ 07666 | $22,186 | 54% |
#5 Southern New Hampshire University 2500 North River Road Manchester NH 03106 | $39,071 | 54% |
#6 Golden Gate University 536 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94105 | $24,525 | NA |
#7 Yeshiva University 500 West 185th Street, New York, NY 10033 | $32,995 | 83% |
#8 Full Sail University 3300 University Boulevard Winter Park, FL 32792 | $14,498 | 31% |
#9 Liberty University 1971 University Blvd Lynchburg, VA 24515 | $7,980 | 48% |
#10 Northern Illinois University 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, IL 60115 | $8,922 | 46% |
Data Source – Integrated Post secondary Education Data System & universities data.
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year
**NA – data not available
Methodology – A custom mathematical formula that is based on the following factors – Accreditation, Affordability, Graduation rates, Courses availability throughout the year, curriculum details and other factors. All baked into a formula to determine the rankings.
Methodology – A custom mathematical formula that is based on the following factors – accreditation, affordability, graduation rates, availability of courses throughout the year, curriculum details, and other factors – all baked into a formula to determine the rankings of a digital marketing master’s degree.
It’s not uncommon for a digital marketing online program at one institution to look slightly different than an online digital marketing program at a different institution. Courses in these programs can span diverse topics, from search engine optimization to marketing management. Online learning of digital marketing consists of several concentrations and comes in different formats as well. Students should therefore understand which version of the online master’s in digital marketing may be the best fit for their goals.
A master’s in digital marketing often offers students the opportunity to gear their coursework towards a specific digital marketing concentration, sub-specialization, or emphasis, that allows students to fine-tune their schooling to match their long-term goals. Below are a few popular specializations that fall under an online master’s in digital marketing, along with career outcomes that align with these specializations.
Area of Focus | Description |
---|---|
Social Media Marketing | Social media is one of the most powerful marketing platforms available to modern companies. This emphasis will train students to analyze marketing trends, utilize social media communication theories, and expand brand visibility to new audiences through social media exposure. Careers include analytics manager, social media strategist, and brand ambassador. |
Information Systems | An information systems focus is designed to train students to understand the relationship between marketing practices and the computer technology used to facilitate these practices. Students going into the workforce with this degree emphasis will likely be tasked with overseeing the production and management of software systems that allow for marketing data gathering and analysis. Possible career titles include computer marketing specialist, database administrator, or systems developer. |
Social Media Marketing | Social media provides a direct line to consumers. Social marketing professionals coordinate ad campaigns that take advantage of instant messaging and social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and Twitter. These may pay for specific placement on pages with search results. |
Marketing Analytics | This emphasis focuses on training students to gather, analyze, and make decisions regarding big data that is produced by large companies. Many of these programs also emphasize preparing students for executive roles within a company. Possible career titles include marketing research analyst, director of market research, or marketing consultant. |
Audience Analytics | For students interested in learning about consumer and audience research methods and analytics, a concentration in Audience Analytics is an excellent choice of major. To better understand and serve a wide range of consumers, students learn to apply analytical methods and methodological frameworks to datasets pertaining to audiences around the world. Some universities like the University of Florida offer this concentration, opening the doors to diverse work settings across various industries. |
Web Design | Students who pursue a web design concentration will learn to code HTML, JavaScript, and other languages in order to develop websites from the bottom up. Students will also learn how to use design software like InDesign and Illustrator to their advantage. Individuals with these technological skills, paired with content development, marketing, and UX theory courses, will be able to create appealing websites from start to finish, as well as assist in the construction of distinctive and effective marketing materials. |
Digital Strategy | The master’s concentration in digital strategy is designed to push students to create effective messaging that will increase conversions and create loyal customers. Digital strategy students learn how to generate leads through creative and strategic messaging, write compelling copy for any digital channel from websites to email marketing to social media, develop meaningful branding that resonates with consumers, and design websites with an efficient and effective user experience. |
Digital marketing is a vast subject that covers a diverse range of topics. Curricula usually include some business core courses, along with digital marketing-related courses. Here are some common topics found in an online digital marketing degree:
Another aspect to take into consideration when looking into an online master’s in digital marketing is the degree’s structure. The most common formats of digital marketing online programs are a Master of Science (MS) typically offered by advance collegiate schools, or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) that is typically offered by a business school. A prospective digital marketing student must always understand and find a program that best suits their professional goals because each program is designed for a different purpose. Trusted partner programs in digital marketing designed to cater to specific specializations are also good to consider.
An MS in digital marketing will strongly emphasize a marketing-specific curriculum and focus less heavily on other areas of business practices such as leadership and management skills. Some topics emphasized in this advanced degree will be advertising, social media marketing, sales, and consumer relations.
The MBA, usually offered by a business school, is designed to provide students with a more well-rounded approach to learning the business field. While much of the education will emphasize digital marketing, students will also be exposed to curricula involving business management, leadership skills, finance, and economics, among other subjects. Interested students should read about online MBA Marketing Degrees for more information and a quick school search.
Digital marketing degree programs have different admission requirements that vary by advance collegiate schools. In general, an online master requires incoming digital marketing students to have earned an undergraduate degree. Other prerequisites may also need to be fulfilled before applying for an online master’s in digital marketing. Here are a few common admissions criteria to apply for a digital marketing master’s degree:
Note: It is always advisable for students to check the digital marketing program overview for specific admissions requirements and exact information.
Some other common roles, responsibilities, and work settings for graduates of digital marketing programs include:
Adding a digital marketing master’s degree to a resume can add a lot of value for one’s career, and graduates can likely further leverage those skills by joining a marketing management organization with other professionals. Networking with other professionals within the same industry can provide individuals with job opportunities, up-to-date information for this fast-changing field, and accelerate their learning curve in digital marketing. Here are a few resources for students and professionals of an online master’s in digital marketing to explore:
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