Online Bachelors in Marketing

There’s more to marketing than what you see on “Mad Men.” Most major companies rely on marketing professionals for both creative and technical decisions. Aspiring business professionals can use marketing degrees to launch careers in various fields where demand is always high. Aspiring marketing students have hundreds of options to choose from, including online programs that can be completed in as few as 18 months.

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What Is an Online Bachelor’s in Marketing?

Marketing is a catch-all term that covers everything from copywriting to market research. To put it simply, individuals who work in marketing specialize in increasing business for organizations by appealing to consumers. The specifics of the marking role vary widely, and no two marketing jobs are exactly the same. One marketer might work as part of a team specializing in freelance marketing services for big businesses, while another might work as the sole marketer for a startup.

Some professionals prefer to work on big picture marketing projects, such as branding. Branding refers to the process of shaping what customers think of when they think of your business. Is your organization eco-friendly? Is it trendy? How do your commercials or stores make people feel? All of these aspects (and more) are carefully crafted by marketers who do branding.

Other marketing professionals prefer to focus on the nitty-gritty of sales, such as writing advertising copy. Copywriting (not to be confused with “copyrighting”) is what marketers do when they write the actual words to be used in a sales letter, commercials, or Facebook ads. These words are carefully calculated to draw as many consumers to the business as possible—and those who are good at it can have successful careers.

How Much Does a Bachelor’s in Marketing Cost?

Your bachelor’s degree in marketing costs will vary depending on which program you choose. Traditional, on-campus Bachelor’s programs can range from around $20,000 for in-state tuition to over $80,000 at a private university. In addition to tuition costs, books and fees can cost several hundred dollars per semester. This does not include expenses for housing and meal plans.

Online programs may be less expensive and offer greater flexibility, ranging from around $15,000 to $25,000. Some online programs have unique pricing models that offer incentives for taking more classes at once. For example, they may charge a flat fee per term, during which a student may take as many courses as they can.

Marketing degrees have a relatively low number of scholarships available due to their high earning potential. The best place to find scholarships is by inquiring at individual universities.

Average Salary for Professionals with a Bachelor’s in Marketing

The salary of marketing professionals varies based on factors such as the field, years of experience, and job description. The salary ceiling for most marketing jobs is relatively high, and opportunities for promotions and growth are limited only by the organization’s size.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for market research analysts and marketing specialists is about $74,000. Payscale puts that figure slightly lower, with a median wage for marketing specialists of around $52,000.

Salary outlook increases significantly foradvertising, promotions, and marketing managers, whose median salary is around $141,000 per year.

Not all marketing jobs have the word “marketing” in the title. According to Payscale, the median salary for copywriters is around $53,000 per year. Meanwhile, brand managers make approximately $72,000 per year, and market researchers come in at about $58,000 per year.

What Is the Job Outlook for Bachelor in Marketing Degree Holders?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs available to marketing managers is projected to rise by 6% by 2029. This growth rate is considered to be faster than normal. Meanwhile, the job growth for market research analysts is projected to be three times that—18% by 2029, which is much quicker than normal.

The rapid rise in demand for market research analysts demand is likely due to the internet. As consumers become more connected online, companies are able to gather data at unprecedented levels. Market research analysts are at the cutting edge of figuring out how to use such vast amounts of data to sell products.

Courses in an Online Bachelor’s in Marketing Program

There are many types of marketing jobs available, and marketing professionals must be prepared to handle everything from writing advertisements to overseeing strategy implementation.

A bachelor’s degree in marketing gives you the foundation you need for anything in the marketing field, while graduate degrees allow you to specialize. As a result, bachelor’s in marketing degrees must cover a wide range of topics. Courses could include:

Economics

Marketing Principles

Research Methods

Market Research

Marketing Strategies

Branding

Social Media Management

Business-to-Business Marketing

Global Marketing

Financial Principles

Consumer Behavior

Business Ethics

Of course, business-related courses are upper-level material. Bachelor’s degree students must complete a certain number of undergraduate basic coursework first. That means before you get to study marketing principles, you’ll have to take Writing 101. The undergraduate coursework will help lay the foundation you need to complete the business part of your education—for instance, learning the math you’ll need to know for research methods.

FAQs on Online Bachelor’s in Marketing

What jobs require an Online Bachelor’s in Marketing?

Jobs that require a marketing degree or the equivalent include:
– Brand/Product Manager: Brand managers handle the way consumers view their company. Product managers do the same for individual products. Depending on the size of the company, this could be a supervisory position or a one-person department.
– Market Research Analyst: Research analysts study data from consumers—buying trends, reviews, surveys, etc. They help companies use this information to inform and plan marketing strategies.
– Social Media Manager: Social media managers run company social media accounts and customer interactions. They also write and plan social media ad campaigns.
– Content Strategist: “Content” refers to what a company offers its customers online—blog posts, videos, social media posts. Content strategists are in charge of planning these pieces to optimize consumer engagement.
– Public Relations Specialist: PR specialists ensure that the reputation of their company is carefully controlled. They handle proactive PR, such as pitching stories to news sources, and reactive PR, such as responding to controversies.
Not all marketing jobs are in the private sector. Many nonprofit and governmental organizations employ marketing professionals to help maintain their relationships with the public.

Does an Online Bachelor’s in Marketing offer good job prospects?

An online Bachelor’s in Marketing offers promising job opportunities, both in quantity and quality. The BLS projects that jobs in the field will grow by at least 6% by 2029. Salaries can range from around $55,000 to more than $150,000, depending on the level of experience and field of work.
Marketing is a constantly developing field. Forty years ago, marketing was about billboards, magazines, and radio jingles. Today, companies pay marketers millions of dollars to figure out how to market to consumers online. As technology advances, so must marketing techniques, guaranteeing a continued demand for marketing professionals.

What are the different fields of an Online Bachelor’s in Marketing?

Most online marketing programs are generalized. However, a few offer the option to focus on specific pathways in marketing. For example, some programs offer a concentration in professional sales, social media marketing, or digital marketing,
Bachelor’s in Marketing degrees provide intentionally broad training. When marketing professionals want more specialized training, they typically enter grad school. Master’s programs often offer specializations like marketing communications or consumer research.

How long does it take to get a marketing degree?

It can take between 18 and 48 months to complete a marketing degree. With no prior credits and an on-campus setting, you can expect the degree to take the entire four years. Some online programs offer accelerated options that students can complete in as few as 18 months.
Some of these accelerated programs may have stricter prerequisites. Take timelines with a grain of salt—you may have to come into the program with college credits already under your belt. Luckily, most prerequisites can be completed on the cheap at your local community college.

What does Online Bachelor’s in Marketing program curriculum typically include?

In general, you can expect courses on the following topics:
– Marketing Principals, in which students begin to understand the role of marketing in businesses and how the basics of marketing work in real-life scenarios.
– Market Research, in which students learn how to look at consumer data and use it to guide marketing decisions.
– Marketing Strategy, including classes on topics such as digital marketing, business-to-business marketing, and nonprofit marketing.
– Consumer Behavior, focusing on how and why people make purchasing decisions.
– Business Ethics, where students consider implications of social responsibility and corporate behavior.
Some programs offer connections to internships. These internships are invaluable in helping students apply learning to the real world. The real value in internships, though, is networking. Internships are often the springboard for a successful marketing career.

Core Takeaways for an Online Bachelors in Marketing

On-campus programs typically take four years to complete.
Online programs can take between two and four years to complete.
Accelerated programs are available.
Some programs offer credits for eligible related work experience.
Optional concentrations include social media marketing, digital marketing, and sales.

Prepares students for a career in the fast-growing marketing field.
Marketing jobs have a high salary potential.
A wide range of job opportunities, including remote employment.
Many universities offer alumni networks to assist in job search.
Some programs can be completed in as little as 24 months.

Online Bachelor's in Marketing Degree Programs