Thanks to the Internet, well-established marketing principles are changing, as are business tactics and strategies to gain and keep customers. A master’s degree in marketing is the ideal way to catch up on these developments while also learning tried-and-true marketing principles. Many marketing graduate students work while in school and are looking to earn their degree as economically as possible. Online marketing master’s programs make the process more convenient and affordable than ever.
Choosing the best quality, most affordable master’s degree in marketing can be daunting. To help with the process, we created the following guide. We explain criteria to consider when choosing the most affordable marketing degree program and answer commonly asked questions about how to pay for your degree.
Most Affordable Online Master’s in Marketing Programs for 2022
For many students, the cost of attendance is the single most important factor when choosing a school. With this in mind, we created the following rankings of affordable master’s degree in marketing programs, all of which are available online. But we don’t just focus on tuition. We also considered the academic quality of the program and ranked schools based on metrics and data from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). To learn more about our methodology, please see our “About the ranking” button below.
The master of business administration with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Texas Permian Basin stands out for flexibility. The learning is self-paced, with students controlling how quickly they progress through the program. Therefore, it’s possible to earn the MBA in marketing degree in just four semesters. The school offers a generous transfer policy in which eligible students only need to take 33 of the typical 42 credits to earn their degree. Students can also customize their experience by choosing the specific marketing courses that fit their personal interests and professional needs. The admissions process is straightforward; applicants can expect to be admitted if they have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and at least a 3.00 GPA for the last 60 credits completed at the post-secondary level.
Master of Business Administration—Marketing
- Credits: 33 to 42
- Length: Varies
- Cost: $11,747.67 to $14,951.58
- Format: Fully online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) (school); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Themaster of science in marketingprogram from Texas A& M University—Commerce is ideal both for students fresh out of college who want to learn more about customer relationship management and seasoned marketers who are interested in the most up-to-date analytical techniques. Students earn this affordable master’s degree in marketing fully online, though they have the option of coming to campus and taking traditional classes at the Commerce or Dallas locations. Students progress through the program at their own pace, which means they can accelerate their degree and graduate in less than two years or take their time to make it easier to work full-time while being in school. There is no thesis requirement to graduate.
Master of Science—Marketing
- Credits: 30
- Length: Two years or less
- Cost: $3,412/nine-hour semester (in-state); $7,084/nine-hour semester (out-of-state)
- Format: Fully online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC (school); AACSB (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Prospective students interested in an affordable master’s degree in marketing should consider the master of business administration with a concentration in marketing from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Besides being available fully online, the curriculum is set up so students can earn their degree in as little as 12 months. The curriculum covers current trends, such as social media marketing, consumer behavior, and supply chain logistics. The streamlined admissions process makes applying easy and quick; the application can be completed online and requires no GMAT, GRE, or other admissions test.The minimum GPA for admission is 2.50 with three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a statement of how this degree will help the student meet their professional goals. Students with a minimum 3.0 GPA skip this extra paperwork.
Master of Business Administration—Marketing
- Credits: 36
- Length: One to two years
- Cost: $337/credit
- Format: Fully online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (school); AACSB (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
The master of business administration—marketing from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) works well for students looking to earn their degree quickly, yet still receive the same attention and quality education that more traditional students receive. Courses last only seven weeks, which means students can graduate in just one year. TWU also prides itself on small class sizes, which make it easier for students to receive more tailored instruction and extra attention when learning class materials. Applying is easy, with no GRE or GMAT requirement. Students with at least a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study can expect to receive an offer of admission. Graduates enjoy customized career services from the Career Connections Center. In addition to networking opportunities, students receive guidance on interviewing and salary negotiations.
Master of Business Administration—Marketing
- Credits: 36 to 45
- Length: Varies
- Cost: $284/credit (resident); $692/credit (nonresident)
- Format: Fully online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC (school); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
The online MBA in marketing at Florida Atlantic University offers the best of both worlds when it comes to learning flexibility and peer interaction. Through the accelerated program, students can graduate in just 16 months, with classes offered over eight-week terms. Classes are fully online and asynchronous, meaning students complete their course requirements from anywhere at any time. Despite the quick pace, students still enjoy plenty of group learning, as classes are organized into team-based cohorts. For students who want to take their time and receive extra attention from faculty, Florida Atlantic University offers VIP Concierge Service and Support and the option to complete the degree in about two years. All this combines to make the master’s degree in marketing from Florida Atlantic University one of the more affordable and flexible degrees available. Students interested in applying should have at least a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credit hours of undergraduate instruction and four years of real-world work experience.
Master of Business Administration—Marketing
- Credits: 40 to 46
- Length: 16 to 23 months
- Cost: $800/credit
- Format: Fully online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC (school); AACSB (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Funding Your Online Master’s Degree in Marketing: 5 Ways to Save
As you’re comparing schools, the cost of attendance is often the determining factor. But notice how the key term is cost of attendance, not the tuition rate. That’s because there are so many other factors that affect your cost to earn a degree.
A perfect example of this is the availability of financial and. A great financial aid package can make all the difference in your choice of an affordable master’s degree in marketing. Here are five common forms of financial aid to pursue.
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Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships
These forms of financial aid are highly desirable because they don’t need to be paid back. But they can also be very competitive. One way to boost your chances of getting an award is to apply for financial aid offered exclusively by the school or offered only to marketing students. Examples of schools with scholarships include the University of Colorado—Denver and the University of Alabama.
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Work-Study or Assistantships
Work-study isn’t common for online master’s degree marketing programs. That’s because it requires students to be on or near campus to work. Assistantships are similar in that they require students to be on campus to help a professor or faculty member with research or other academic tasks. Despite this, some online marketing programs for master’s degree students, such as the one at Ball State University, have these financial aid options available for interested students.
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Employer Tuition Reimbursement Programs
Employer tuition reimbursement programs are benefits that some employers provide to encourage employees to further their education. Depending on the program, an employer may pay the entire cost of the schooling or a portion up to specific limits. There’s usually a catch in that an employee that takes advantage of this program must promise to continue working for their employer for a set amount of time after graduation. Some schools, such as Texas Woman’s University, even offer this benefit to their employees.
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Payment Plans
Many schools offer payment plans to give students more time to pay their tuition for a particular term. Instead of paying the entire tuition before classes begin, students make a partial payment. Then every month (or for some other set period), the student makes a partial payment toward tuition so that by the time their term is over, they’ve paid their full obligation. Most payment plans don’t charge interest, such as those from Liberty University, but do ask the students to pay a nominal fee of $100-$200 to set it up.
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Paid Internships
Paid internships are common for business school graduate programs, including those in marketing. To find one, go to your school’s career services department. Most business departments that offer affordable master’s degrees in marketing have a robust system in place to help students find both paid and unpaid internships. A great example is Florida State University.
FAQs about Affordable Master’s Programs in Marketing
Q. What impacts the affordability of an online master’s program?
The single most important factor is tuition rate. But how much tuition you pay depends on several variables, such as whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state resident (if attending a public school) or if you’re enrolling in a private school. Other ways to make tuition more affordable include finding grants, scholarships, or other forms of financial aid that don’t have to be paid back. You can also lower your tuition by reducing the number of classes you have to take or the time you need to spend in school. One common way to do that is to obtain transfer credits for prior learning.
Q. What is the ROI on an online Master’s Degree in Marketing?
Many marketing positions require only a bachelor’s degree. So you might wonder if a master’s degree in marketing is worth it, no matter how affordable it is. Your return on investment depends on what you’re doing now and why you want a master’s degree. For example, if you’re a successful marketing manager with years of experience, simply adding a master’s degree to your resume probably won’t result in a big increase in your median salary of $135,030. But if you want to shift into a position with more leadership, such as becoming a chief executive, the median salary rises to $179,520 and a master’s degree, such as an MBA, is common.
Q. How can I ensure that an affordable master’s in marketing program is high quality?
To confirm the quality of a particular program, look for a few characteristics. First, see if it’s been accredited by AACSB or the ACBSP. Second, see what kind of career services and networking opportunities the program offers. Third, see if the school shares job placement statistics for recent graduates. Ideally, you want as close to 100% of graduates as possible finding gainful employment within six to nine months after graduation.
Q. Is an online master’s degree more affordable than an in-person one?
Some schools charge online students a lower rate than their in-person counterparts, while others charge more. However another thing to consider is the flexibility offered by online learning. Even if it’s the same cost as an on-campus program, the ability to continue working while taking marketing classes can make an online master’s degree far more affordable than a traditional master’s degree in marketing.
Q. Can job experience count toward my master’s degree and help cut costs?
Most affordable master’s degree marketing programs won’t give course credit for work experience. Instead, they will prefer (or require) applicants to have at least a few years of work experience as a prerequisite for admission. However, many programs, like the one at Southern New Hampshire University, accept transfer credits for classes taken from other schools.
Q. How can I know if an affordable master’s degree program is right for me?
The answer depends on what you’re looking for in an affordable master’s degree in marketing program. You might place importance on a curriculum that’s mostly or completely online, thus reducing the need for on-campus visits. Or you might want some classes to be on-campus to improve your opportunities to network with classmates. When deciding if a particular online master’s degree in marketing program is right for you, make a list of key program traits that are important. This list will help you narrow down your prospective schools so you can start your affordable master’s degree in marketing program.