Earning a Master's in Marketing Online

What You’ll Learn & What You Can Do After Graduation

Should I Pursue a Master's in Marketing Online?

A master's in marketing online program prepares students for a career in sales, branding, and promotions. Marketing positions exist in nearly all industries, including both public and private sectors. Most organizations and companies require promotional services to ensure that knowledge of their goods or services reaches consumers and clients. Such positions demand artistically-minded and results-oriented individuals with a passion for creative communication. An advanced degree promotes formal strategies and techniques to implement a marketing plan in a business context.

Pursuing a master's in marketing online presents a few advantages over on-campus coursework, including more flexible scheduling and often more affordable tuition. The online format can also help accommodate students with additional responsibilities, such as a full-time job or childcare obligations.

Employment Outlook for Master's in Marketing Graduates

Master's in Marketing Salary

Graduates with an online master's in marketing can look forward to an average annual salary of $71,000-$84,000 in the United States. Salary can fluctuate depending on geographic location, an individual's work experience, and the particular occupation or position within each company.

Top Paying States for Market Research Analysts

State Employment Annual Mean Wage
New Jersey 18,330 $84,970
Washington 17,730 $82,190
Delaware 1,820 $80,470
California 96,600 $80,020
Texas 2,820 $79,480
United States 596,450 $71,450

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay by Experience Level for market Research Analysts

  • Entry-Level (0-5 Years):
    $49,000
  • Mid-Career (5-10 Years):
    $62,000
  • Experienced (10-20 Years):
    $80,000

Source: PayScale

Master's in Marketing Careers

Graduates can enjoy a variety of unique career paths after earning their online master's degree in marketing. While the term marketing generally brings to mind campaigns that advertise a particular product, marketing can also apply to noncorporate entities. For instance, government organizations and nonprofits require promotional services to bring awareness to available community services.

Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

Annual Median Salary: $129,380

Projected Growth Rate: 10%

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan events, ad campaigns, or programs to garner interest for an organization's goods or services. Professionals conduct market research, develop promotional and pricing strategies to attract consumers, liaise with advertising sales agents and art directors, and coordinate the daily activities of the advertising, promotions, and marketing staff.

Market Research Analysts

Annual Median Salary: $63,230

Projected Growth Rate: 23%

Market research analysts conduct studies on market conditions and consumer needs to determine the sales potential of particular goods or services. While some employers hire professionals with bachelor's degrees, many positions require a master's degree, especially those involving technical research.

Sales Managers

Annual Median Salary: $121,060

Projected Growth Rate: 7%

Sales managers coordinate, oversee, and direct an organization's sales staff. Professionals analyze sales data, review budgets and approve expenditures, determine pricing for goods and services, implement sales techniques to garner interest in products, and coordinate training programs for sales staff.

Brand Managers

Annual Median Salary: $69,794

Projected Growth Rate: N/A

Brand managers coordinate ways to bring brand awareness to the public. They implement branding strategies and techniques in order to make consumers form a positive association with their company's trademark or logo. Some companies hire those holding only a bachelor's degree, but many higher-level positions require a master's degree in marketing or a related field.

Directors of Sales and Marketing

Annual Median Salary: $82,817

Projected Growth Rate: N/A

Directors of sales and marketing oversee the entire sales and marketing department of an organization or company. Professionals coordinate research and marketing activities, hire and train new staff, and explore ways of increasing productivity to increase sales. Directors of sales and marketing generally need an advanced degree in a business-related field.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statstics / PayScale

What Can I Expect From an Online Master's in Marketing Program?

Online master's in marketing programs generally require 30-36 credit hours and typically take between one and two years to complete. Requirements, such as core coursework, formatting, and capstone completion, vary by program. Students should select the option best suited to their learning needs.

Curriculum for an Online Master's Degree in Marketing

The following list includes common courses students might encounter in a master's in marketing online program.

Marketing Analytics

Students examine quantitative tools and techniques commonly used in marketing research in order to gain insights into market potential and consumer behavior. Students learn to analyze statistical data and make marketing decisions based on analysis.

Consumer Behavior

This course introduces students to sociological, psychological, economic, and anthropological theories and research that explain human purchasing and consumption behaviors. Students learn how to apply these theories toward designing marketing strategies and evaluating the efficacy of those plans.

Marketing Communications

Learners explore storytelling skills and the tools of persuasion often used in marketing communications to establish an overall brand image. Students learn how to create a meaningful context for a brand through the use of tone, diction, and voice. These skills help develop branding or marketing campaigns.

Strategic Internet Marketing

This course focuses on the various platforms and technological outlets available for online marketing and brand communications. Students learn about consumer behavior through online media, strategies for implementing and managing online campaigns, and how to use automation tools without compromising originality.

Ethical and Legal Issues in Marketing

Students examine ethical issues marketing professionals might face in navigating corporate interests, consumer interests, and marketing laws. Topics include ethics in conducting marketing research, pricing, advertising, product liability, privacy, and corporate intelligence. Students analyze ethical case studies, discuss ramifications, and propose solutions.