Marketing professionals employ various processes designed to create, communicate and deliver messages to potential clients, customers, partners, and the public.
Earning a marketing degree is a good option because a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing is versatile and offers a wide variety of in-demand, well-paying positions, often with excellent job satisfaction.
The median yearly salary for a marketing manager in 2021 is $133,380, which is equivalent to $64,12 per hour.
Marketing professionals, with wages in the top 10%, earn well over $200,000 per year.
What Will I Learn in a Marketing Program? (Curriculum)
Marketing majors graduate prepared to enter the fast-paced and wildly creative business of:
- Promoting
- Developing, and
- Selling Products to unique target markets.
Marketing is about the development and branding of a service or product – and then the creation of strategies that create interest (and sales/profit) about the product or service.
However, in addition to the creative piece of marketing, there are elements of several technical or business-related areas, like pricing strategies, management, finance, and accounting.
Many BS in Marketing degree programs typically include an internship during which students have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge from coursework.
Typical introductory courses for marketing majors include:
- Marketing research.
- Consumer behavior.
- Introduction to marketing management.
- Digital marketing.
- Marketing and society.
The curriculum for a marketing major typically requires the completion of a cross-section of skills that include:
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Knowledge Of Media Trends
- Analytical Skills.
If you have an interest in psychology, the field of marketing is a great fit because consumer behavior is essentially based on psychological principles.
For the more technical students, marketing can also be a good fit because coursework includes consumer research and data analysis to aid in problem-solving.
How to Choose a Good Program?
Deciding on the best bachelor’s degree in marketing program is a potentially life-changing decision.
It is important to take your time and do enough research about a few pertinent and essential aspects.
Remember that each higher learning institution puts its own expert spin on its business and marketing programs.
As you prepare to make your final choice of market degree programs, be sure you consider these crucial factors:
- The college/university’s overall reputation.
- The marketing program’s reputation.
- The type of campus for traditional programs or the distance-learning platform for online marketing degree programs.
- Tuition and financial incentives.
- The student-to-teacher ratio.
- The extracurricular options offered by the school, to name a few.
Is the Marketing Program Accredited?
The process of accreditation represents a formal process in which a school or a specific program is evaluated against pre-defined marketing industry standards.
Regional accreditation is managed by several agencies across the country, run by the U.S. Department of Education’s regional accrediting agencies.
School accreditation is an important factor in determining which marketing degree program will best meet your educational and career goals.
In addition to working as a quality assurance process, accreditation is important if you want to transfer credits, earn a graduate degree or be eligible for federal financial aid.
Note, however, that schools and colleges can voluntarily apply for specialized accreditation.
In the world of business-related education, marketing programs will likely be accredited by one of the following agencies:
- The Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs.
The ACBSP is the second-largest business accrediting organization. Accreditation from the AACSB primarily focuses on program content and applicable teaching methods. - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The AACSB is the oldest business accrediting organization that was initially designed for Ivy League Schools and Public Ivies – those schools that are state-funded. - The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.
The IACBE is a business-related professional organization that accredits business programs at various degree levels.
Online vs. On-campus Marketing Degree Programs
With the explosion of online learning and education options, students interested in earning their B.S. in marketing have more choices than ever before.
And online marketing degree programs offer accelerated study pathways and are often way more convenient.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Bachelor’s in Marketing?
A bachelor’s degree in marketing is typically the minimum education requirement for most marketing careers.
Most traditional bachelor’s degree programs are completed in four years if studying as a full-time student.
Like other baccalaureate programs, an undergraduate degree in marketing will require a student to complete 120-semester credits to meet program requirements.
For schools that follow a quarterly calendar, a bachelor’s degree program requires 180 credit units – although the two programs require the same coursework.
For many entry-level positions in the marketing realm, a bachelor’s degree in business/marketing is the bottom-line minimum to be considered as a qualified job applicant.
A baccalaureate degree in marketing is the perfect springboard to further your marketing education with a graduate program.
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Bachelor’s in Marketing?
The overall cost to complete a bachelor’s degree in marketing will vary, and, at times, the tuition and costs will vary significantly.
In an effort to reduce the expenses of a data analytics education, consider these cost-saving suggestions:
- Start your education at a community college where tuition is typically less than a four-year college or university. After you complete two years, transfer to your preferred school with the higher tuition fees.
- Try to keep your selections from state-funded schools. Public institutions of higher education offer in-state residents significantly reduced tuition.
- Consider the many quality online marketing programs or select a degree program that is delivered in a hybrid format -with some classes available through distance learning. Online marketing and business programs potentially offer reduced tuition, with the added benefit that students will no longer have to travel to and from school. In addition, marketing degrees available online may provide degree candidates with an accelerated degree path, essentially cutting down on the time required to complete the program – and the cost of the marketing degree.
- Ask if the college or university has an existing policy that permits credit towards the degree requirements for previous work or military experience. This, too, is another way to reduce the time and expense of earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
For those students in need of financial assistance, the federal government provides several financial aid programs to help with their education costs.
Higher learning institutions and professional organizations often have scholarship opportunities for high achievers and those with financial needs.
There are private student loans also available, or, for many, the only way to help fund their education is to work while studying.
What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in Marketing?
A marketing degree’s versatility has the potential to lead you to many exciting and rewarding careers – across industry sectors – from retail to public outreach, brand management, or consulting.
Every business in nearly every sector, regardless of its size, relies on marketing to reach potential customers and stay profitable.
The following is a sampling of the typical marketing jobs:
- Advertising Sales Agents – 2021 Median Annual Salary $52,340.
- Advertising Promotions and Marketing Managers – 2021 Median Annual Salary of $133,380.
- Market Research Analysts – 2021 Median Annual Salary of $63,920.
- Public Relations Specialists – 2021 Median Annual Salary of $62,800.
- Marketing Managers – 2021 Median Annual Salary of $135,030.
- Event Planners – 2021 Median Annual Salary of $49,470.
- Sales Managers – 2021 Median Annual Salary of $127,490.
- Fund Raising Managers – 2021 Median Salary Pay of $100,810.
- Promotional Managers – 2021 Median Salary Pay of $94,020.
Marketing majors were, at some point, confined to sales or strict advertising.
However, as technology changes and advances, the use of marketing skills has widened a great deal.
These are some of the other jobs for marketing majors in the modern economy:
- Brand Managers.
- Copywriters.
- Digital Marketing Specialists.
- Market Research Analysts.
- Production Managers.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Manager
- Social Media Coordinators
- Web Marketing Managers, among others.
The reality is that whether a student prefers the business/finance end of marketing or you are interested in the more creative aspects, there are many job opportunities for marketing majors and professionals.
Should I Get a Bachelor’s in Marketing?
Marketing can be an exciting and rewarding career choice, but the field is not an ideal fit for everyone.
These are the characteristics of most marketing majors:
- Creative and analytical.
- Detail-oriented.
- A team-player.
- Someone who enjoys other people.
A bachelor’s degree in marketing is the perfect degree to prepare a student for an entry-level marketing role.
