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 2023
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.
With West Texas A&M University’s Master of Business Administration – Marketing Specialization, full-time employed professionals can take the time they need to complete their degrees. While most students complete coursework in two years, they have up to six years to accomplish their studies. Courses are asynchronous and are available 100% online during five semesters each year, making it easier to balance the demands of work, life, and pursuing a master’s degree. In addition to core MBA courses, the marketing specialization requires nine credit hours of graduate-level marketing courses. Prospective WTAMU MBA students should note that additional undergraduate-level coursework may be necessary to establish proficiency in finance, accounting, and statistics.
Program Highlights:
Master of Business Administration – Marketing Specialization
- Credits: 37-46
- Length: 2-6 years
- Cost: $500-$540/credit
- Mode: Fully Online
- Accreditation: AACSB
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
At Liberty University, students can earn a master’s degree in marketing online in as little as 18 months. This degree is ideal for both experienced marketing professionals who want to take the next steps in advancing their careers and those launching a first-time career in the field. LU’s program pairs students’ passion for marketing and communications with industry knowledge and advanced problem-solving skills. Once core marketing coursework has been completed, students must select a specific area of specialization, such as digital marketing and advertising, sports marketing and media, project management, social media management, or public relations. Graduates can anticipate careers with corporations, non-profit organizations, advertising agencies, or consulting firms.
Program Highlights:
Master’s in Marketing Online
- Credits: 36
- Length: 1.5 years
- Cost: $565/credit
- Mode: Fully Online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Students pursuing an advanced degree can earn an MS in Digital Marketing in just one year at Northern Illinois University. Classes are built around today’s digital marketing disciplines, including social media marketing, digital marketing, and mobile marketing. All online courses are led by the same faculty who teach NIU’s on-campus business programs and business practitioners chosen for their digital marketing expertise. This program is particularly well-suited to students who need flexible scheduling, with fully online courses scheduled into five- and eight-week sessions offered throughout the year. Students can customize their degrees by selecting the digital marketing foundations courses that best suit their needs and career goals. Those with significant undergraduate coursework in business may be waived from some or all of the prerequisite coursework requirements, allowing them to earn a degree in a shorter amount of time.
Program Highlights:
MS in Digital Marketing
- Credits: 30
- Length: 1-2 years
- Cost: $903/credit
- Mode: Fully Online
- Accreditation: AACSB
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Florida International University’s Master of Science in Marketing online program prepares students to enter the field as marketing and brand managers, digital media specialists, and marketing analysts. Prospective students can choose from a 10-, 16-, or 20-month course progression before joining a lock-step cohort group program. This program covers various skills, including digital marketing, the psychology and economics of buyer behavior, and marketing analytics. Personal and professional brand development is built into each course, reinforcing practical brand development skills. Alongside their degrees, students earn certifications in Google Ads and Analytics, Interactive Sales, and Lean Six Sigma. FIU designed the MS in Marketing to accommodate working professionals, with all courses conveniently available online.
Program Highlights:
Master of Science in Marketing-Online
- Credits: 30
- Length: 10, 16, or 20 months
- Cost: $27,500
- Mode: Fully Online
- Accreditation: AACSB
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
As a part of Lindenwood University’s online digital marketing master’s program, students can complete an advanced degree in just 12 months. This 100% online program provides a foundation in key marketing topics, including personal branding, audience analysis, and media literacy. The program’s core curriculum comprises 18 credit hours, including research and academic writing courses. Depending on their individual education goals, students choose specialized course topics in social media and digital content marketing to fulfill the remaining 18 credit hours. In addition to traditional coursework and assignments, students gain practical experience by creating digital marketing content for clients. After graduation, students can look forward to careers in marketing leadership, such as social media manager, marketing manager, or public relations specialist.
Program Highlights:
Master’s in Digital Marketing
- Credits: 36
- Length: 1-2 years
- Cost: $540/credit
- Mode: Fully Online
- Accreditation: HLC
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NECHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NA |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | ACCSC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NA |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NECHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | WSCUC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NECHE |
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.