by our College Data Analytics TeamClever marketing and advertising serves an extremely valuable function to both businesses and consumers. Marketing is necessary to alert consumers to products or ideas that will improve their life. If the marketing attempts are successful, the business gets a loyal customer. This benefits everyone!
I'm sure everyone has seen a bad ad, but even more of us have seen ads, commercials, marketing slogans or social media campaigns that are fun and interesting. If you are a creative, analytical and energetic person with an interest in business, Marketing would be an excellent major for you.
A program in Marketing will educate students about how to create and sell products and services that will intrigue a consumer audience and move the supply off the producer's inventory. There are a few concentrations within this major; they include Marketing Research and International Marketing. While studying Marketing, you will be taking courses in consumer behavior, marketing research, marketing management, advertising and promotion, and marketing strategy.
Marketing was the 17th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 52,078 degrees in this year alone. This year's Best Marketing Schools ranking compares 616 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom marketing rankings further below.
Creative thinkers are often found in this major. Marketing is about standing apart from the competition, making innovative ad campaigns and ideas are essential. The ability to collaborate with others and work with a team is important for success in college and in your career. Strong oral and written skills are two important skills needed for this major.
Marketers need to thoroughly understand their product, as well as the marketplace to understand what it is customers want. Research and critical analysis will be integral functions as well as an interest in human behavior.
Gaining work experience while still in college may help you find a job after graduating. Take advantage of internship programs, or find a part-time job that gives you experience in the business or customer service field. There is opportunity to gain a Master in Marketing if you decide to further your education.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic marketing program qualifications, to serve in some marketing careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different marketing degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in marketing to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the marketing degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to marketing, with approximately 46.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for marketing workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 38.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 17.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 16.2% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 3.7% |
| Some College Courses | 2.4% |
Most workers in marketing have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in marketing have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the marketing career you are seeking.
Graduates with a degree in Marketing have many different career options they can pursue. They find work as Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relation Specialists, Art Directors, Market and Survey Researchers, and Buyers and Purchasers. These careers all involve helping companies promote their products and services. Job demand varies depending on what area you pursue.
Want a job when you graduate with your marketing degree? Marketing careers are expected to grow 15.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to marketing.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 733,700 | 23.2% |
| Sales Managers | 414,400 | 7.5% |
| Marketing Managers | 240,400 | 10.1% |
| Business Professors | 123,000 | 18.0% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 33,000 | 5.4% |
Marketing graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $48,378 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $10,614 to as high as $183,993. As you might expect, salaries for marketing graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for marketing graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers marketing grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Managers | $147,240 |
| Sales Managers | $140,320 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $133,090 |
| Business Professors | $103,330 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $70,960 |
With over 2,205 different marketing degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased marketing school rankings to help you with this.
Marketing is one of 21 different types of Business, Management & Marketing programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General | 49,275 |
| Other Marketing | 1,331 |
| Digital Marketing | 677 |
| International Marketing | 482 |
| Marketing Research | 313 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration & Management | 403,753 |
| Accounting | 93,982 |
| General Business/Commerce | 56,779 |
| Finance & Financial Management | 54,690 |
| Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods | 48,037 |
Image Credit: By Nick Youngson under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
