This Year’s Most Affordable Online Master’s in Marketing

Author: Shannon Lee

Editor: Staff Editor

On this page we highlight and rank 28 of the most affordable accredited online master’s in marketing programs and discuss other ways to lower the cost of your master’s degree. Read on to learn if these affordable online master’s programs are right for you.

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Three professionals, two men and a woman, discussing over a laptop in a modern office with whiteboards in the background.

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 featuring a comprehensive ranking of this year’s most affordable programs. We also explain criteria to consider when choosing between affordable marketing degree programs and answer commonly asked questions about how to pay for your degree.

Most Affordable Online Master’s in Marketing Programs for 2024

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.

About the ranking
1
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$

The MBA degree program with a specialization in marketing at La Salle University equips students with an in-depth understanding of competitive strategies in both domestic and global markets. Students learn to work effectively and collaboratively in a team, and they gain a better understanding of how cultural, economic, and political factors shape management. The program requires 14 courses, including three foundation courses, four core courses, three marketing specialization courses, four executive perspectives courses, and a capstone course. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and they must submit a professional resume. They can also have their GMAT waived.

Program Highlights:

Master of Business Administration Marketing Specialization Online

  • Credits: 33 to 42
  • Length: 14 to 16 months
  • Mode: Fully online
  • Accreditation: AACSB

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation MSCHE
2
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

Students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration in Marketing online program at Fitchburg State University study various forms of marketing and communication within advertising, promotion, public relations, and publicity. Students currently enrolled in the MBA program and who have a 3.0 GPA or higher may request to enroll in one other concentration after their first semester. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree and to demonstrate they’ve earned at least a 2.8 GPA in their undergraduate studies. They also must submit official transcripts and a professional resume and pay a $50 fee. Those with lower GPAs may still be considered for admission based on their professional work experience and a letter of recommendation. No GMAT is required to apply.

Program Highlights:

Master of Business Administration in Marketing

  • Credits: 30
  • Length: One year
  • Mode: Fully online, on campus
  • Accreditation: IACBE

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
3
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

The Master of Science in Marketing and Marketing Analytics degree program prepares students to develop and implement business plans based on factors that drive the market. This program helps experienced professionals expand their skill sets and gain a marketing edge. Classes can be completed online and in eight weeks. Core courses include Marketing Management, Consumer and Buyer Behavior Analytics, and Product Innovation and Supply Chains, among others. Students can also earn certificates in auditing and forensic accounting, business analytics, economics and U.S. healthcare, operational excellence, and tax accounting. The program doesn’t require a thesis, and students do not need to take an entry exam to apply.

Program Highlights:

Master of Science in Marketing and Marketing Analytics

  • Credits: 30
  • Length: 18 months
  • Mode: Fully online
  • Accreditation: AACSB

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
4
Williamsburg, Virginia
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
5
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
6
Lynchburg, Virginia
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
7
Newton, Massachusetts
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
8
Dekalb, Illinois
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
9
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
10
Mequon, Wisconsin
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
11
Gainesville, Georgia
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
12
Saint Charles, Missouri
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
13
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation MSCHE
14
Saint Louis, Missouri
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
15
Lubbock, Texas
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
16
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
17
Denver, Colorado
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
18
Tiffin, Ohio
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
19
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
20
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
21
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
22
Nashua, New Hampshire
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
23
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
24
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
25
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
26
Harrogate, Tennessee
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
27
Manchester, New Hampshire
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
28
East Lansing, Michigan
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

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