MBA Marketing
Online

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

One of the reasons MBA programs are so popular is that they provide students from nearly any academic background with the opportunity to receive a business-centric education. Whether students earned their undergrad in business, English, psychology, or even a STEM-focused field, an online MBA in marketing will send them into the corporate arena with the leadership, advertising, management, business ethics, and finance knowhow to be a valuable addition to any company’s team.

Common Specializations for an Online MBA in Marketing

Many online MBA in marketing programs give students the opportunity to customize their education by choosing a specialization within the marketing branch. Below are some of the most popular MBA marketing emphases that students most commonly gravitate towards.

Online MBA in Marketing Admission Requirements

Once students have selected the school they’d like to attend, the next step will be to verify what programs will require of their applicants. Below are a few of the most common admissions requirements students must meet in order to be accepted into an online MBA in marketing.

• Hold a Bachelor’s Degree: Nearly every graduate-level program will require students to hold a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a properly accredited university. Fortunately, many MBA programs do not require a student’s undergrad degree to be in a business-related field, allowing potential applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds to consider applying for an MBA.
• Professional Work Experience: Some MBA programs may require students to have a certain amount of work experience completed before they can apply. The number of years required will depend on the program students are considering, but it is common for schools to ask for 2-3 years of work experience in any professional field.
• Pre-Admissions Testing: Many grad programs require students to complete some level of testing before they’re allowed to apply. MBA programs often require students to submit valid GRE or GMAT scores to be considered for entry into the program.

Curriculum for an Online Master of MBA in Marketing Program

Depending on your marketing emphasis, these courses will vary from program to program. Students might also consider pursuing a dual degree, which allows students to pursue multiple degree programs with different focuses, so students can combine their education and cut the time of their overall degree. However, these are some common courses offered to online MBA in marketing students.

• Advertising, Audience Engagement and Promotion: This course helps students gain a full understanding of how to strategically implement advertising and sales campaigns that will best drive audience engagement with a product or service. Skills also include budgeting, project management, and researching target audiences and markets.
• Consumer Behavior: This class dives into the consumer’s mind to help students understand how demographics and experience can impact conversion, interest, and how marketing professionals can influence consumers and their behavior.
• Digital Marketing and Advertising: Digital marketing is becoming more and more relevant as more brands turn to the internet, apps, social networks, and other digital platforms to strategically market their product or service. These courses are typically more hands-on, requiring students to get real-life, relevant experience with actual brands.
• Marketing Management: This course has a strong focus on project management and how to strategically manage marketing campaigns, teams, or other initiatives within a company or organization. Topics covered may include how to strategically and effectively promote, budget, and distribute resources.
• Market Research: This course helps students understand how to take consumer behavior analysis and use that information to make strategic, data-backed decisions. Students may learn how to conduct questionnaires and focus groups to better understand the market and consumer insights, and learn how to best analyze research results and data while also looking into secondary source data to back their findings.

Choosing a Quality (and Accredited) Online MBA in Marketing

When researching what program is best for you, it’s important to ensure each program you apply to has proper accreditation that proves their offering relevant, recent, and quality education.

Programmatic accreditation for MBA in marketing programs usually needs eligibility through one of the three main accrediting bodies, which also approve most business programs: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, or the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.

Check out our Accreditation Guide to learn more about accreditation.

Skills Gained in an Online MBA in Marketing Program

MBA in marketing graduates are encouraged to become strategic leaders in the workplace, operating with high-level skills that come with completing an online MBA program. Students can obtain these competitive skills through courses, lectures, collaboration, coursework, and professional, hands-on experience in the workplace. Some common skills student can expect to learn and refine include:

• Knowledge of Key Marketing Principles: Marketing is a multifaceted field, and this quality is reflected in the principles students grow to understand throughout an MBA in Marketing program. Students will be trained in understanding consumer behavior, project budgeting, time management, advertising practices, and market research.
• Interpersonal Skills: Effective communication is a cornerstone of the marketing field. If a product or service cannot be communicated properly, it will not be successful and will not turn a profit for the company. Students in an online MBA in marketing program will not only learn to effectively communicate with their team members, but also with customers and shareholders.
• Leadership: Graduates from an online MBA in marketing program often find themselves in leadership positions in which other employees are looking to them for guidance. Students will learn how to inspire and motivate the employees they oversee, as well as how to ensure company goals are being met in an effective manner.
• Creativity: Successful marketing often requires marketing professionals to be able to think their way through problems to make a product or service successful. MBA programs in marketing will train students to find creative solutions to common marketing problems, as well as how to take a fresh look at products that might not be suffering, but could still improve in certain areas.
• Long-Term Strategy: Marketing is not an immediate thing; it takes time for a successful marketing campaign to build trust with its audience. Students will develop the skills necessary to know what needs to happen at each individual stage of the marketing process, and how to ensure any potential roadblocks a campaign comes across are dealt with quickly and effectively.

The cost of an online MBA in marketing can seem overwhelming at first, but it’s important to remember that there are many options to help fund your degree. Many students take part in academic and professional programs, scholarships and awards, or other methods to help cover the cost of their graduate program. Learn more about these opportunities below.

Techniques for Paying for Your Online MBA

Tuition Reimbursement Programs

Those who are already working in the field might have access to tuition reimbursement programs through their employers. Many companies and organizations offer this benefit to help their team grow in expertise and support their employee’s academic goals.

Paid Internships

Internships are a great way to earn some money while receiving field-specific work experience that can help them land a job down the road. Some internships may also qualify for class credit, so it’s important to talk to your MBA program to see if you qualify.

Student Loans

Once students have exhausted their tuition reduction techniques, student loans can help students avoid paying the full, out-of-pocket amount for their degree. While many types of student loans exist, we recommend looking into federal loans since they are more likely to have lower terms of repayment.

Scholarships for Online MBA in Marketing Students

Scholarships are a great way to help students finance their online MBA in marketing degree. Below are a few scholarships that are available to current and prospective graduate students that plan to focus on marketing.

• Semify Internet Marketing Scholarship

Who Can Apply: This scholarship is open to students who have completed at least one year of college and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The scholarship is awarded to the strongest applicant who can also demonstrate their passion for internet marketing.
Amount: $1,000

• GMAT Tutor Brightest Minds MBA Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Offered twice each year, this scholarship gives prospective MBA students to win the $25,000 award by registering with the contest website and taking their free online GMAT practice test. Whoever scores the highest on the practice test is awarded the scholarship.
Amount: $25,000

• Chester Burger Scholarship for Excellence in Public Relations

Who Can Apply: Made possible by the PRSA, this scholarship is open to students pursuing a graduate program in public relations, journalism, marketing, or related fields. Candidates must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, do not have to be members of the PRSSA, and complete an essay on the posted topic.
Amount: $1,000

Students who earn their online MBA in marketing will have a more competitive edge when seeking our career opportunities, although each student’s eligibility depends on factors such as area-specific job markets, company structures, and personal knowledge and branding. To help understand job opportunities for online MBA graduates, we’ve listed some common job prospects below, along with their annual median salaries, job growth percentages, and a description of the career-specific duties.

Those interested in pursuing an online MBA in marketing may benefit from various professional organizations and networking platforms in this field. These resources can help students gain a better understanding of marketing, current events, network with other professionals in the field, and find careers.

• American Marketing Association: The AMA works to offer the most relevant, up-to-date information for the marketing community. Their website hosts extensive resources for students and professionals, and users can also learn about branding, consumer metrics, audience engagement, and more.
• Association of National Advertisers: The ANA can help students and professionals connect with peers in the field, hear from global thought leaders, access training and educational material, and participate in webinars and various workshops.
• Internet Marketing Association: The IMA is an internet marketing group that offers resources for current and aspiring marketing professionals, with members in different fields including sales, entrepreneurship, marketing, programming, and creative development.
• Public Relations Society of America: The PRSA is a leading national organization for communications professionals for professional development, advocacy, ethics, and more. They host various student chapters on college and university campuses (PRSSA) with opportunities for student involvement and membership.
• Society for Marketing Professionals: SMPS comprises more than 6,000 marketing professionals, with support from around 3,500 marketing organizations and firms throughout the U.S. Active members have access to networking events, job alerts, and full access to the SMPS online marketing center.