Best Online Bachelor's in Marketing Degrees

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Online marketing degree programs can help enrollees develop practical and versatile skills with high cross-industry relevance. As a professional field, marketing continues to evolve in exciting ways. It increasingly focuses on using digital means to reach consumers, with numerous new specializations emerging as a result.

Experienced marketers command high salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) marketing managers earned a median salary of $157,620 per year in 2023. New graduates often enter the field in coordinator roles: Per Payscale, marketing coordinators earned an average salary of $49,822 per year as of March 2024.

Marketing is also a consistently popular major among undergraduates. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), business subjects accounted for 19% of all bachelor's degrees awarded by U.S. institutions in 2020-2021. The NCES counts marketing as a business field.

This degree guide offers insights into what students can expect from online marketing programs. It also includes a ranked list of top-rated online learning opportunities in this dynamic, growing field.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $236

Out-of-State | $649

Credits to Graduate: 120

FIU's bachelor of business administration with a concentration in marketing teaches students marketing principles, presentation skills, and research strategies. FIU attendees must complete business pre-core and common prerequisite courses with a GPA of 2.5 or higher to pursue any of the school's business degrees. 

Successful business administration enrollees must complete business core, professional development, and major classes. Students interested in additional marketing exposure can join the school's chapter of the American Marketing Association. 

Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $432

Out-of-State | $950

Credits to Graduate: 120

Oklahoma State University's bachelor of science in business administration offers specializations in marketing and marketing communication management. The fully online program offers 24/7 courses and online group projects. 

Enrollees take 63 credit hours of major courses, including marketing analytics, marketing research, and finance. Attendees pursuing the marketing communication management specialization will have the same overall credit requirements as marketing students. However, the marketing communication curriculum has less flexibility in its major course choices. 

Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $374

Out-of-State | $374

Credits to Graduate: 180

Oregon State University's marketing degree can be earned as a BA, BS, HBA, or HBS. The marketing programs teach enrollees buyer decision processes, market analysis skills, and the steps for developing a new product. Attendees have separate business and marketing class requirements, which include communication, economics, and marketing strategy courses. 

Marketing students can pursue the dean's academy or international business option. The dean's academy for honors students offers smaller classes, additional one-on-one time with professors, and extracurricular opportunities. The international business option offers students extra learning experiences about international trade through 15 credits of required courses and one study abroad term. 

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $301

Out-of-State | $301

Credits to Graduate: 120

Louisiana State University's online bachelor of science in marketing focuses on fundamental marketing knowledge, including advertising, pricing, and product research. Enrollees learn about business through finance, statistics, and managerial courses. Students can choose from a concentration in business, hospitality, or sales. 

Prospective attendees must hold a high school degree, have a GPA of 2.0 or above, and submit standardized test scores. Applicants who took the ACT must have an English and math score of at least 18 and 19, respectively. SAT test takes must have at least a 450 in reading and 460 in math. 

Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $567

Out-of-State | $633

Credits to Graduate: 120

Washington State University offers a BA in business administration with classes in international marketing, marketing research, and consumer behavior. WSU enrollees must have a minimum GPA of 2.5, have at least 27 completed credits, and finish prerequisite courses before applying to a business major. 

Accepted business administration students take accelerated seven-week courses, which require 15-20 hours per week. The school designed the accelerated classes to offer a flexible schedule for working students. 

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $761

Out-of-State | $1,385

Credits to Graduate: 124

Temple University's BBA in marketing teaches modern advertisement strategies and analytics tools to prepare students for careers in marketing. Enrollees can pursue a minor in digital marketing, which covers social media, e-commerce, and information management. 

Marketing majors can join the school's American Marketing Association or Professional Sales Organization to further their hands-on experience. The American Marketing Association offers career development workshops, speaker events, and recurring meetings. The Professional Sales Organization helps students with a common interest meet and discuss future career goals. 

Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

Cost per Six-Month Term:

In-State | $3,755

Out-of-State | $3,755

Credits to Graduate: 120

Western Governors University's BSBA in marketing program revolves around traditional marketing concepts, modern marketing, and data literacy. The degree's 39-course curriculum is predetermined with no elective choices. Enrollees usually take one course at a time and complete classes at their own pace. Students should finish at least 3-4 courses per semester but have no upper limit. 

Attendees can graduate at an accelerated rate due to the school's asynchronous courses and self-determined pace. According to WGU, 70% of graduates finish within 39 months.

Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $525

Out-of-State | $525

Credits to Graduate: 120

Mercer University's BBA in marketing helps students learn the tools to pursue careers including marketing management, advertising, and marketing research. The school's curriculum and schedule allow working students to complete classes online in eight-week intervals. 

Enrollees must complete 12 business, 7 marketing, and various general education courses to graduate. Attendees can choose three upper-division marketing electives, options include professional selling, public relations, and social media marketing. 

Programmatic Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $395

Out-of-State | $395

Credits to Graduate: 120

The University of Wisconsin Whitewater offers an online BBA in marketing with an optional emphasis in digital marketing. The program provides asynchronous courses and an online discussion board to connect with fellow students. Online enrollees can access the school's academic advising, technical support, and career services. 

Both the general marketing and marketing with an emphasis in digital marketing degrees require the same amount of credits and business core courses, as well as a capstone course. However, the digital marketing emphasis pathway has fewer marketing elective courses compared to the general marketing degree. 

Programmatic Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education

Cost per Credit:

In-State | $480

Out-of-State | $480

Credits to Graduate: 124

University of Mary's BS in marketing helps attendees learn ethical marketing frameworks, research strategies, and evaluation tools. Major courses cover business, marketing, and technical topics, including accounting, computer systems introduction, and international marketing. In-person students must complete an internship or project, but online students receive an exemption for this requirement.   

Applicants to the marketing program will need to complete an online form, pay a fee, and submit official transcripts. Incoming enrollees can earn credit for previous courses, work experience, or military experience. 

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

Online marketing degree programs prepare graduates for entry into careers that offer:

Coursework typically covers about 120 credits. Some schools offer marketing as a concentration within the larger field of business. Others feature specialization options in such areas as:

Bachelor's degrees in marketing can also position graduates for advanced study. Some schools even offer study paths leading to accelerated master's degrees. Online marketing degrees also support future entry into master of business administration (MBA) programs. MBAs are prestigious, highly marketable credentials that qualify degree-holders for high-paying careers.

Curricula vary among schools and programs, but online marketing degree programs typically cover the following subjects:

Public Relations Specialists +6%

Market Research Analyst +13%

With a bachelor's in marketing, you can work in entry-level public relations and advertising positions. The BLS projects that jobs for public relations specialists will increase by 6% from 2022-2032. Alternatively, by focusing on supply chain and operations management, you can pursue a logistics career to help companies coordinate and distribute their goods.

Exciting opportunities are also available in data analytics. The BLS projects market research analyst positions will expand by 13% between 2022 and 2032 — a percentage that translates to more than 116,000 new jobs. By earning work experience or a graduate degree, you may also access leadership roles, such as marketing director and sales manager.

Public relations specialists market a brand or company by creating a positive public image for the organizations they represent. These professionals work for companies of all sizes, as well as nonprofits, schools, and government agencies. Responsibilities include evaluating public opinion, creating press releases, and managing social media. They may also prepare speeches and build brand presence.

Market research analysts use data to study market conditions and product performance. These professionals convert complex data into actionable information to guide company decision-making. By providing insight into market trends, analysts work to increase a company's market share and drive growth.

Advertising or marketing managers plan and oversee program implementation to generate

interest in a product or service. These professionals plan advertising campaigns, negotiate advertising contracts, and coordinate advertising budgets and objectives with department heads. Advertising managers often oversee a marketing or creative team.

Social media specialists manage clients' social media accounts, often with set objectives for engagement or account growth. These professionals develop and implement marketing, customer care, and engagement strategies on various social media platforms to build a client's public image and grow the brand.

Advertising and marketing copywriters produce written content for marketing campaigns. These professionals are skilled at both short ad copy for social media or magazines and long-form ad copy. Responsibilities may include writing blog posts, press releases, shareholder reports, and advertising copy for newspapers, magazines, or broadcasts.

When evaluating online marketing degree options, learners should prioritize impactful factors including:

Business programs, in general, and marketing programs, in particular, are popular among students. Employers highly value marketing skills. The BLS also projects faster-than-average job growth for management-level marketing professionals from 2022-2032.

As of December 2023, Payscale lists marketing executives, senior marketing managers, and marketing directors among the highest-paying marketing jobs available to professionals with bachelor's degrees. These roles demand significant professional experience. Account managers, marketing specialists, and marketing analysts rank among the field's best-paid lower-level roles.

With an online marketing degree, professional experience, and strong job performance, you may qualify for roles that pay six-figure salaries. According to the BLS, marketing managers earned a median annual salary of more than $157,000 in May 2023.

Bachelor's programs in marketing usually require the equivalent of four academic years of full-time study. You can compress the typical timeline if you have existing college credits, take summer classes, overload credits, or enroll in an accelerated program.