The 20 Best Online Marketing MBA Degree Programs

Landing on a graduate program that is right for you is no easy task. With so many options to choose from and program characteristics to consider, you will want to weigh your options during the research process. A graduate degree in business is an excellent choice to further your career and open future employment opportunities; to say nothing of the career stability which higher education typically affords business professionals.

A graduate degree in business can come at a steep cost. Besides tuition, fees, and resources required of a program, there is a great cost of time associated with a degree like the Master’s of Business Administration. It is the hallmark of business leadership education and continues to bolster resumes across the nation. One of the other costs a student pursuing a degree like the MBA is the time it takes to complete.

Factors to consider within an MBA include the time spent traveling to and from campus, the hours needed each week to attend classes, and all the extra time needed for group projects, studying, and working on written assignments. The world of business shows no signs of slowing, and it has never been a better time than now to consider an online MBA in Marketing.

Companies continue to spend millions of dollars each year to get their name out there and become part of the world’s social conscience. Marketing managers will always be in high demand for this reason. An online Master’s of Business Administration is designed to train students for fruitful careers in marketing.

The curriculum delivered at most business schools offering an online MBA in Marketing will often mirror the same content classroom students are exposed to. Many online MBA students also enjoy the same tuition rates as in-state students. With factors like these (and more) in mind, we have put together the very best online Marketing MBA degrees.

Methodology

To rank the Online Marketing MBA programs, MBA Central examined almost 550 MBA programs offered in a distance format. First, program where pared down based on their marketing-specific curriculum, and then ranked on Support Services (33%), Affordability (33%), and Quality (33%).
Every online Marketing MBA in this list has been given an Affordability Score categorizing their cost based upon the other online MBA programs in the country. This data is based upon the total base tuition price for each degree and ranges from Very Affordable to Very Expensive. Ranges are:

Very Affordable: under $15,000
Affordable: between $15,000 and $20,000
Average: between $20,000 and $30,000
Above Average: between $30,000 and $50,000
Expensive: between $50,000 and $100,000
Very Expensive: above $100,000

#1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business – Lincoln, Nebraska

An online Marketing MBA is offered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through their outstanding College of Business. Finance, Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, and International Business are also listed as emphases alongside this incredible online MBA. The recognitions for this program are extensive. The Princeton Review, Quacquarelli Symonds, Financial Times, and U.S. News & World Report all claim it as one of the top online MBA degrees available. The program’s excellent support services have not gone unnoticed by U.S. News & World Report, which reports it as the 21st best in the nation for distance learners. Nebraska’s business school is accredited by the AACSB-International while the university itself is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The forty-eight hours of this degree consist of thirty core credits and eighteen elective credits. The business school reports that students wanting to move quickly through the online MBA may graduate in just 18 months while most students will satisfy all requirements for the degree in about three years. HR Management, Financial Accounting, Managerial Finance, Managerial Economics, Business Analytics, Managerial Marketing, and Supply Chain Management are among the core courses students can expect in this degree plan.

The Marketing-intensive courses offered in this program are Marketing and Globalization, Services Marketing, Strategic Issues in Marketing Communications, Strategic Database Marketing, and Advanced Marketing Analytics. Based in the town of Lincoln, the University also offers degrees for two-year associate students, undergrads, master’s, and doctoral students. The university’s current enrollment sits at 26,079 Cornhuskers. The university dates all the way back to 1869 and today is the largest public university in the state.

Accreditation: AACSB, HLC
Affordability Score: Above Average

#2 Fayetteville State University College of Business and Economics – Fayetteville, North Carolina

An online MBA with a Marketing specialization is provided at the College of Business and Economics at Fayetteville State University. In addition to this stellar concentration, distance learners can add credits to their degree and pursue a certificate in Business, Cybersecurity Management, Project Management, or Healthcare Management. Students may be interested in a different concentration like Business, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Healthcare Management, and International Business. Like many modern students in higher education, online MBA students are looking for programs which offer the most bang for the buck. The reason why this excellent degree featured at Fayetteville State scores so highly in this ranking is its attention to detail and high-quality curriculum. For under $14,000 in tuition, a distance learner wanting to accrue a solid MBA in Marketing can complete all 36-credit hours of this program that is backed by a business school accredited by the illustrious AACSB.

The business school at Fayetteville State University is bested by only one other school in the entire country when considering the area of support services for online students. The College of Business and Economics receives incredible marks by U.S. News & World Report for providing distance learners and non-traditional students with an excellent balance of accessibility, flexibility, and support measures readily available to students. Fayetteville State is home of the Broncos and sits nestled in North Carolina in the city of Fayetteville. The school got its start all the way back in 1867 when it was established as the Howard School, named after American historic figure Oliver O. Howard. Today the university oversees a student body of 6,226 and provides degree plans at the undergraduate through doctoral levels.

Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#3 West Texas A&M University Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business – Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University delivers an online MBA with a specialization in Marketing at the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business. A student looking for a general MBA or emphases in such areas as Healthcare Management or Computer Information Systems will also want to consider what the business school offers. The Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business delivers this complete Marketing-focused MBA program exclusively via the Internet. Interested students with access to the campus in Canyon, Texas may also choose to accentuate their graduate student experience by attending classes on campus. This hybrid type of format is a great way for local students to meet all degree requirements. While the school’s campus is readily available to all enrolled, distance learners can satisfy all program requirements for this 37-credit hour degree without ever having to travel to the West Texas A&M University campus. The online coursework is identical to what on-campus students are exposed to during their weekly classes which meet on campus, but the online curriculum features the convenience of learning from anywhere in the world at any time of day. A hybrid model may also be used by students choosing to complete courses on the Canyon, Texas campus in addition to distance learning. Most students satisfy all degree requirements within two years, although some students have completed the program sooner due to individual needs and situations.

Qualified graduate students may be able to waive up to eighteen foundational coursework credits, which saves time and money when pursuing this online MBA in Marketing. Perhaps one of the most attractive features connected to this degree is its very affordable tuition which is currently offered at under $10,000. The low tuition rate comes at no expense to quality, however, as the business school is backed by the AACSB-International and the degree has been recognized by some of the nation’s most-respected ranking entities as one of the best currently available to distance learners.

Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#4 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide College of Business – Daytona Beach, Florida

The College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide offers an online MBA with a Marketing specialization. Other high-quality emphases the business school offers include Accounting, Public Administration, Leadership, International Business, Information Technology, and Finance. The business school keeps a high priority of the relevance to this program’s curriculum and has made a commitment to consistently update content based on the changing demands of the industry. Much of the coursework within this online MBA in Marketing contains a vibrant research component that equips distance learners with crucial experience and an insider’s perspective of global business practices. U.S. News and World Report claims there to be no business school in the country that offers better features in support services than the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide. The trusted ranking entity measures a business school’s support measures, accessibility, and flexibility to accurately compare and predict a distance learner’s experience within a business school. Students will want to take note of U.S. News’ findings and understand all the benefits to be had I this unique online MBA.

The business school’s online MBA in Marketing is delivered for less than $22,000 ranking it as average in affordability. Matching this program’s support services to its business accreditation through the ACBSP reveals an excellent potential for return on the investment of education. The business school carries with it a solid reputation for delivering high-quality programs. The online MBA includes such courses as Strategic Marketing Management in Aviation, International Business Administration, Managerial Accounting for Decision Making, Advanced Aviation Economics, Managerial Finance, and Business Research Methods within this high-powered degree.

Accreditation: ACBSP, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Average

#5 University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Management – Amherst, Massachusetts

The UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management provides an online MBA with a focus in Marketing. Distance learners interested in emphases like Business Analytics, Sport Management, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Administration, and Finance will be impressed by what the business school has to offer. The Isenberg Master’s of Business Administration with a Marketing specialization gives distance learners a balanced combination of marketing elective courses general business classes to meet the needs and educational goals today’s students possess. This 45-credit hour MBA delivers the managerial skills and business knowledge that are critical to successfully process the changing global economy, analyze consumer needs, translate that data into products and services, and create marketing campaigns to bring those products and services to the market for profit. Nine of the forty-five credits included in this degree deal with the Marketing focus and include such courses as Web Analytics for Digital Marketing, Services Marketing Management, Consumer Sale Strategies, Data Management for Business Leaders, Six Sigma for Management Practice Series, Rethinking Ecommerce, Ecommerce Logistics, and Negotiations Theory and Practice.

The business school’s online MBA in Management can be pursued for just over $40,000 in tuition, and the school’s reputation and strong backing by the AACSB brings with it a high potential for return on the investment. Quacquarelli Symonds and Financial Times sing this degree’s praises by ranking it among the very best online MBAs in the world. U.S News and World Report lists them as one of the top locations for support services for nontraditional and online students. Besides this stellar online NBA, UMass Amherst also features associate programs, bachelor’s degrees, other graduate programs, and doctorates. Over 30,000 students are currently enrolled at the university.

Accreditation: AACSB, New England Commission of Higher Education
Affordability Score: Above Average

#6 University of Massachusetts Lowell Robert J. Manning School of Business – Lowell, Massachusetts

UMass Lowell’s Manning School of Business provides an online MBA with a specialization in Marketing. Accounting, Healthcare, Information Technology, Managerial Leadership, International Business, Entrepreneurship, and Finance are all featured as excellent concentrations within this distance program. Six Foundations Courses are associated with this program, which amounts to eighteen credits. These classes are specifically for those students lacking an undergraduate business background and may be waived for distance learners who have already passed these business courses or who were previously taking graduate courses in business at another university. The required MBA Core Courses offered within this degree amount to seven classes, or twenty-one credits, and include Accounting, Strategy, Corporate Finance, Organizational Change, MIS, and Operations Management. Marketing Option Sample Electives include Marketing Research, New Product Development, Sales Management, Digital Marketing, International Marketing, Current Topics in Marketing, and Sustainable/Green Marketing.

This excellent online MBA in Marketing can be pursued for just under $20,000 in tuition making it ranked as affordable. Accolades for the Manning School of Business include being named the 6th best place in the country for distance learners to experience excellent support services. The university started in the late 1800s as a teacher training institution called Lowell Normal School. Now the University of Massachusetts Lowell offers multiple levels of degrees to the 18,315 students attending classes there through online education and at the campus in Lowell, Massachusetts. The school enjoys an excellent regional accreditation and is home to the River Hawks.

Accreditation: AACSB, NECHE
Affordability Score: Affordable

#7 University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business – Vermillion, South Dakota

The Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota delivers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a Marketing concentration. Health Services Administration, Finance, and Business Analytics are also stand out concentrations offered within this 100% online degree. This online MBA in Marketing has been set up to allow business students to thrive. Candidates lacking a business undergraduate degree are encouraged to apply and will need to be prepared to complete up to eighteen credit hours of foundation courses. These foundational classes will bring a student up to speed by allowing her to gain an understanding of accounting, calculus, statistics, finance, economics and operations management. Students who have already achieved a business degree or who have some experience in business education may waive these foundational courses and move right into advanced courses which amount to twenty-seven credit hours.

The Marketing-intensive courses associated with this program amount to nine-credit hours and include such courses as the required Advanced Consumer Behavior and two electives chosen by the student. Data Mining for Managers, Approved Special Topics, Brand Management, New Product Development, and Supply Chain Management are the electives offered of which two courses are selected. The University of South Dakota’s Beacom School of Business has been providing business students affordable degrees for decades and was one of the first online MBAs in the nation to be accredited by the AACSB. USD is a public university in Vermillion, South Dakota with degrees offered from associate to doctorate. There are 10,261 students enrolled at the University of South Dakota.

Accreditation: AACSB, HLC
Affordability Score: Affordable

#8 University of Wisconsin-​Whitewater College of Business and Economics – Whitewater, Wisconsin

An online MBA with a Marketing concentration is provided at the College of Business and Economics at UW Whitewater. The other stellar options for distance learners desiring an online MBA with top-notch emphases include Data Analytics, Project Management, Finance, IT Management, International Business, and Management. Core courses within this averagely-priced 36-hour degree include Social Responsibility of Business, Business Valuation Using Financial Statements, Quantitative Analysis, Business Policy & Strategy, and Leadership Development. An elective, an Emphasis course, the Required Breadth classes, and Common Body of Knowledge classes combine to form this degree’s course structure. For less than $24,000 in tuition, a student can pursue this degree that U.S. News & World Report calls the fifth best in the country for exemplary support services. The trusted name in ranking also deems this program the 21st best online MBA in the nation.

The College of Business and Economics has designed the Marketing specialization to help develop a student’s professional foundation for leadership and marketing with course examples that include international marketing, digital marketing, consumer behavior, brand management, and entrepreneurial marketing strategy. Nine credits are needed within the Marketing emphasis in order to receive this the Marketing specialization. Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurial Marketing Strategy, Brand Management, International Marketing, and Consumer Behavior are all courses offered within this Marketing concentration. Students can choose any three of the five courses within. The online MBA in Marketing is one of the stellar programs delivered by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. UW-Whitewater began as a teacher training school in 1868 and today educates more than 12,430 students.

Accreditation: AACSB, HLC
Affordability Score: Average

#9 North Carolina State University Poole College of Management – Raleigh, North Carolina

An online MBA with a Marketing Management concentration is offered at the Poole College of Management at NC State. Students looking for other concentration options will be happy to know the business school also features Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization, BioSciences Management, Supply Chain Management, and Financial Management as other attractive specializations. This business school and online degree holds great esteem and stands among the most recognized programs for excellence. Global ranking entities Financial Times and Quacquarelli Symonds deem the program as the 17th and 40th best globally. This program is hailed as the 17th and 9th best in the country according to U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review, respectively. Also reported by U.S. News, this program sits as the #50 location in the country for excellent support services for distance learners.

Students with demanding private and professional schedules or those with a less-yielding workload may take up to six years to complete this degree. Online learners desiring a quicker program experience can accelerate their degree plan and graduate in less than two years. The bulk of content for this online MBA in Marketing is provided through distance learning yet the Poole College of Management does include six total days in which students will need to travel to the university’s campus in Raleigh, North Carolina for short residencies. There should be no interruption to a professional’s typical work schedule as the visits only take place over two Saturdays and Sundays during the program. The AACSB-International backs North Carolina State University’s business school while the university is accredited SACSCC.

Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Above Average

#10 Lehigh University College of Business and Economics – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh’s College of Business and Economics provides an online MBA with a concentration in Marketing. Other stellar specializations associated with this degree include Corporate Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Project Management, and International Business. The business school’s Flex online MBA in Marketing is the perfect hybrid degree for today’s active professionals desiring to enhance their business skills. The curriculum is offered within a part-time context that working professionals will appreciate as they pursue this self-paced advanced degree. This 36-hour program delivers an unparalleled level of convenience and flexibility to today’s professional businessperson. Graduate students can choose to participate on campus at Lehigh or online each day through the school’s impressive ClassroomLIVE experience. The options are completely in the student’s hands and depend on their personal and professional schedules. A student may prefer the networking advantages of being on campus yet need to travel for a work project for two weeks. The class format easily adjusts to scenarios like this one. The student can simply attend classes in person, and when it is time to leave town, join classes online Live during the time away. It truly is the ultimate hybrid learning environment.

Acknowledgment from some of the most trusted ranking organizations in the world have praised this online MBA for offering one of the very best experiences for MBA students in the nation and the world. The program’s excellent support services for nontraditional and online students have placed it in the top ten by U.S. News & World Report. For years Lehigh University has been providing students with quality education. The school started back in 1865 and today is regionally accredited by the MSCHE. Lehigh has a current enrollment of 7,017.

Accreditation: AACSB, MSCHE
Affordability Score: Above Average

#11 University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management – Richardson, Texas

The University of Texas at Dallas offers an online MBA with a specialization in Marketing is offered by the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. Innovation & Entrepreneurship Systems Engineering & Management, Finance, Accounting, Business Analytics, Information Technology Management, Supply Chain Management, Energy Management, Strategic Management, Healthcare Leadership and Management, Internal Audit, Real Estate, International Management, and Leadership in Organizations can also be pursued as high-quality specializations within this degree. No stranger to recognition from raking entities that have discovered its merits, this 53-credit hour program shines with a nod from Quacquarelli Symonds as the 22nd best online MBA in the world. The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report also state they would put this one up to just about any other program in America with a #12 and #6 ranking respectively. UTD’s business school has been accredited by the AACSB-International for years, and this accreditation allows students to trust in the academic and organizational integrity of the school itself and the degrees it offers.

The online MBA in Marketing is just one of the excellent programs offered at the University of Texas at Dallas. UT Dallas prides itself on delivering bachelor, master, and doctoral programs to 27,600 students on campus and through distance learning. The university’s online MBA comes with an above average tuition of just over $45,000 Achieving an MBA has proven itself over the years to yield a high return on the investment of education as employers value the rigorous nature of this degree in business leadership. UT Dallas has a campus in a city surrounding Dallas proper known as Richardson, Texas.

Accreditation: AACSB, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Affordability Score: Above Average

#12 Colorado State University College of Business – Fort Collins, Colorado

The College of Business at Colorado State University delivers an online Marketing MBA. Specializations in Finance, Computer Information Systems, and Professional Enrichment can also be attained at the College of Business. CSU’s online MBA in Marketing has been created for motivated students from around the world who desire to learn together in one inspirational environment. The online degree provides a comprehensive curriculum committed to bringing the on-campus classroom setting to working professionals through online learning and streaming presentations. The College of Business has designed the distance degree for maximum flexibility allowing students to maintain an established career while obtaining a business-focused graduate degree. This online MBA plan of study anticipates that candidates have a basic understanding of specific business and leadership concepts before progressing in the program.

The Marketing-rich courses presented within this program include Service Marketing Management, Strategic Selling for Business Customers, Consumer Behavior, Quantitative Marketing Research Methods, Search Engine Marketing and Optimization, and Qualitative Marketing Research Methods. Coupling these excellent classes with the program’s solid core courses are a definite way to receive a solid business education. Financial Times and Quacquarelli Symonds have both ranked this online MBA as one of the very best offered in the entire world. This online MBA in Marketing offered by Colorado State has also proven itself to deliver excellent support services to online students with a ranking as a top 50 among all programs in America by U.S. News & World Report. The university has been delivering excellent degrees since 1870 when it was founded as Colorado Agricultural College.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Above Average

#13 University of Florida Warrington College of Business – Gainesville, Florida

The Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida delivers a hybrid online Master’s of Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis. Entrepreneurship, Global Business, and Finance are the other top-notch specializations offered alongside this premium online MBA. The business school offers an incredible program here with options that truly make a difference based on the needs of a distance learner. Many business professionals discover their current positions and past training has left them ill-equipped to lead in modern business. An online MBA in Marketing is the perfect fit for leaders who need to grow from a global perspective of business that utilizes technology and cutting-edge analytics of education. The Warrington College of Business’ 16-month long online degree is perfect for the working professional who needs to move quickly through a distance degree. This program can be pursued for less than $50,000 in tuition and features tow start dates each year; one in January and one in August. While the bulk of this program is offered online, there are Saturday and Sunday residencies required which allow students to network and enjoy quality interaction with professors and fellow students. These residencies take place on the University of Florida’s campus in Gainesville, Florida.

The exciting elective courses attached to this online MBA in Marketing can be experienced a number of ways including a one-week on-campus format, 100% online, or as an international trip. The perfect candidate for this degree is a business professional possessing at least two years of work experience and who completed a bachelor’s degree in business within the last seven years. In addition to this 16-month accelerated program, the Warrington Business School at UF also features a two-year part-time program which gives students even more flexibility when planning their academic calendar. The school’s online degree has been the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions naming it as one of the very best distance degrees for business students in the nation and across the globe.

Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Above Average

#14 Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business – Stillwater, Oklahoma

The Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University provides an online MBA with a concentration in Marketing. Looking for an online MBA without a specialization? The business school has you covered with a general MBA. Students interested in an emphasis in Business Sustainability, Human Resource Management, Data Science, Energy Business, Entrepreneurship, Global Marketing, Nonprofit Management, Information Assurance, or Marketing Analytics will also want to check out the Spears School of Business. This Marketing-focused Master’s of Business Administration is a perfect educational structure for an ambitious, full-time working professional who may struggle with relocating for education, is unable to add travel obligations to an already full schedule, or otherwise does not have the margin of time required for a traditional classroom MBA. The curriculum for this degree has been designed to integrate the experience, skills, and knowledge that are crucial to achieving career goals. This program stands out from other online or virtual MBA degrees in that it values the same teamwork component featured in a full-time MBA. Students are intentionally directed in getting to know others who are simultaneously earning their MBA degrees. An integrated team orientation that is so important in business leadership will be formed and maintained throughout the degree.

The online format for this 42-credit hour program is considered a part-time degree, and while candidates are required to have already completed a four-year degree from an accredited college or university, no business education is required of business school candidates. Students possessing some experience in quantitative skills and calculus will have an advantage within this program in Marketing. This program offered at Oklahoma State University ranks high in support services and has been awarded as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News.

Accreditation: AACSB, HLC
Affordability Score: Average

#15 Wichita State University Barton School of Business – Wichita, Kansas

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is known for an excellent online MBA with a Marketing concentration. This 100% online degree is also available as a general MBA. An affordable online MBA in Marketing for less than $17,000 in tuition yet offers a program backed by accreditation through the AACSB-International is nothing short of amazing. Wichita State has obviously done its homework in figuring out what distance learners seeking higher education in business prioritize. Decision making Analysis, Advanced Strategic Management, Managerial Accounting, Law and Ethics for Business, Marketing Management, Managerial Finance, and Organizational Behavior are included in the Barton School of Business’ excellent curriculum. The business school has designed the degree to prepare students for advanced positions of leadership in government, business, government, and health-related organizations. Special attention has been given to developing a keen awareness of the organization as an integrated system. This program touts itself as the oldest and most established higher education program in the state of Kansas. This business school offers the only MBA program in Wichita and all of South-Central Kansas to hold the distinction of being an AACSB accredited.

The coursework for this degree in Marketing is delivered in eight-week terms, which allow students to move through the course’s content quickly yet comprehensively. Students interested in applying for this affordable program in Marketing need to submit two professional references, a current resume, a personal goals essay, and proof of a bachelor’s degree into the admissions office in order to initiate the acceptance process. A GMAT requirement is also attached to the acceptance process, yet the business school does offer a GMAT/GRE waiver for qualified applicants.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Affordable

#16 City University of Seattle School of Management – Seattle, Washington

City University of Seattle delivers an online MBA with a focus in Global Marketing at the School of Management. Distance learners looking for a concentration in Accounting, Change Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Management, Global Marketing, Human Resource Management, Specialized Study, Project Management, Technology Management, or interested in a general MBA will want to consider the options the School of Management currently offers. This excellent distance degree from CityU has been designed to position students for advancement into leadership roles while shaping communication skills and business acumen. The rigorous curriculum constructed by the business school’s leadership will prepare graduates to advance their careers by focusing on needed skills. The ability to apply a broad range of business disciplines, theories, and technology is just one of the priorities. The power to implement strategies that foster social connections to a product and seizing the opportunity to capitalize on current business trends and opportunities within a changing industry is also highlighted. This excellent online MBA in Global Marketing can be just the ticket for professionals interested in taking on future roles as a management consultant, business analyst, marketing or sales director, or CEO, CMO, or COO.

Global Marketing-intensive courses associated with this high-quality MBA include Consumer Behavior, Marketing Metrics, Marketing Internship, Strategic Brand Creation and Management, and Marketing Communications. Students with academic experience in business can complete all requirements for this program by taking just 48 credit hours while students needing foundational work may need to add an additional three hours. The tuition for this above-average degree is less than $35,000. City University of Seattle is based out of Seattle, Washington and currently serves 2,199 students degree plans at the associate through doctoral levels.

Accreditation: ACBSP, NCCU
Affordability Score: Above Average

#17 Florida International University Chapman Graduate School of Business – Miami, Florida

Florida International University delivers a Marketing-intensive online MBA at the Chapman Graduate School of Business. Students looking for other concentration options may also be interested in the specializations of Business Analytics, Finance, Healthcare, Strategic Negotiations, International Business, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Accolades and recognitions for this online MBA and the business school which provides it abounds. Trusted and esteemed ranking organizations like Quacquarelli Symonds, U.S. News & World Report, and Financial Times all agree that there are few programs offered in the United States and around the world as match the quality and value offered at Florida International University. QS puts the degree as the 26th best on the planet while Financial Times has deemed it the 18th best among all degrees offered at this time in the world. While U.S. News & World Report puts it as #51 among the best in the country, the organization also credits the business school as offering exemplary support services as well. There is an above average affordability rating for this degree with a tuition of less than $45,000.

Although the Florida International University campus in sunny Miami, Florida is impressive, online MBA students enrolled in the Marketing program will never have to set foot on it as 100% of the degree’s curriculum is offered online. FIU was founded in 1965 and since then has been delivering excellent degrees to associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral students who have gone on to be successful professionals in an array of professions. Over 56,000 students currently attend classes at the university, both on campus and online through distance learning. The SACSCC grants the university its regional accreditation while the AACSB accredits the Chapman Graduate School of Business at FIU.

Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Above Average

#18 University of North Texas College of Business – Denton, Texas

The College of Business at the University of North Texas provides an online MBA with an emphasis in Marketing. Students interested in another concentration may want to consider a focus in Strategic Management, Marketing Analytics, and Supply Chain Analytics. UNT’s College of Business understands that marketing is a crucial component of any business’ success. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the overall employment of advertising, marketing, and promotions managers will grow faster than the national average for other occupations over the next few years. The MBA in Marketing from the University of North Texas allows distance learners to acquire the knowledge and skills that will be critical for an executive role of leadership in the marketing field. Students can expect to learn about consumer behavior, retail strategy, marketing metrics, and global marketing for better decision-making and problem-solving. The degree consists of 36-credit hours offered at an average rate of affordability with a tuition of just over $20,000.

The curriculum written for this program offers team collaboration, experiential learning, and industry reciprocity. The intentional cohort format is designed to offer optimal amounts of industry interaction. The overarching intent of this MBA program is to equip future business leaders with the needed tools to shape them into agents of change within their organizations. This online MBA with a concentration in Marketing exposes students to explicit knowledge of a myriad of business aspects across many sectors and aids students in the art of translating that knowledge into tacit skills. Students applying to this degree in Marketing need to fill out an online application on UNT’s website to begin the acceptance process.

Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Average

#19 University of South Florida St. Petersburg Kate Tiedemann College of Business – St. Petersburg, Florida

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Kate Tiedemann College of Business provides an online MBA with an emphasis in Marketing Strategy. Corporate Social Responsibility, Information Systems Management, Finance, Forensic Accounting, Management, and International Business can also be pursued as concentrations at the business school. It is a unique scenario to find a very affordable 36-credit hour online MBA, but that is just what the business school at USFSP provides. For less than $15,000 a distance learner will experience core courses based on solid business theory and relevance alongside three concentration courses which dive deep into the business topic of Marketing Strategy. The Kate Tiedemann College of Business encourages students to customize their course loads with the option of being able to adjust from a full-time schedule to a part-time format if needed. Working professionals will typically use the part-time option while those students with the margin and desire to finish quickly will take courses on a full-time basis. A full-time student is considered one who completes over nine hours each term while a part-time learner will register for three to eight credits each term. The business school provides excellent flexibility by allowing students to complete all courses through distance learning, in the classroom, or as a combination of the two with distance learning.

U.S. News & World Report places the Kate Tiedemann College of Business within the top 50 business schools in the nation for offering a stellar online degree with exemplary support services for business students. While the business school is accredited by AACSB-International, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg is accredited by the esteemed SACSCC. UFSPS is a relatively younger university having been founded in 1965 as a branch of the University of South Florida. The school achieved autonomy from the establishing university in 2006. There are 4,895 students currently seeking degrees at USFPS.

Accreditation: AACSB, SACSCC
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#20 National University School of Business and Management – La Jolla, California

National University’s School of Business and Management provides a Marketing-intensive online MBA. Other high-quality concentrations associated with this online MBA include Financial Management, Human Resources Management, Integrated Marketing Communication, Organizational Leadership, International Business, Management Accounting, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, and Mobile Marketing and Social Media. Students less-interested in an emphasis can pursue this program as a General MBA. The business school delivers this top-notch degree as a 63-quarter unit degree spread amongst 16 courses. Distance learners can pursue this degree for less than $28,000 in tuition classifying it as average in affordability. Excellent recognition for optimal support services and a ranking as one of the nation’s best online MBAs comes from U.S. News & World Report. Each course for this program is only four weeks long which allows a fast-paced delivery. The business school’s objective for this degree includes a student’s being proficient in evaluating the processes and systems utilized throughout an organization including the decision-making, planning, group dynamics, supply chain, management, technologies, and marketing. Graduates of this program can expect to create alternatives to solve business issues using critical thinking, sound ethical decision making, and quantitative analysis.

Marketing Management, Managerial Support Systems, Organization Management & Leadership, Economics for Managerial Decisions, Statistics for Business, Global Business, and Managerial Accounting are some of the core courses provided within this online MBA. Electives offered in the program include Strategic Decision Systems, Business Simulation, International Experience, Managerial Communication, and Ethics and Class Theories. This program is just one of the top-shelf degrees National University offers to the 17,097 students currently enrolled there. National’s main campus is in La Jolla, California was founded in 1971.

Accreditation: IACBE, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission
Affordability Score: Average

Why is marketing so important?

Together with finance, statistics, and accounting, marketing is one of the core pillars of today’s business world. Businessmen and women need to have the skills to find their target market, identify needs, craft their unique pitch, and meet the customer in order to generate revenue. This is marketing, and it is the backbone of every business.

Without marketing, no matter how good a company’s product or service is, it is likely that they will not reach their customer base. And without a customer base, there is no profit. And without a profit, there is no business. A solid marketing plan is the key as it is able to clearly and effectively communicate what an organization has to offer, confirm to the consumer that they need it, and how they can easily buy it. This type of plan takes analytical research and planning that is full of creativity and drives the overall long-term business vision.

A good business marketing plan includes cohesively building an overall company brand as well as smaller product brands. The average attention span for humans right now is eight seconds. And with social media and other technologies, this attention span length is expected to keep decreasing. This ever-decreasing window to catch the eye of the consumer means that most marketing is lost in the noise of the internet. Never ingested by the public. This demand for a quick, captivating, and clear message means that the demand for knowledgeable marketing managers is higher than ever before. The demand might seem overwhelming for some, for today’s marketing managers, it is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in the life of a company.

Some might confuse the aspects of public relations (PR) and marketing. Generally, PR is about creating a general public awareness to generate trust, whereas marketing is a focused plan to create demand and generate profit. While they are both important and should promote a cohesive organizational story, they perform two different functions. PR can have more widespread accessibility and general attraction to a large group of people, but marketing needs to be specific and intentional at all times. Marketers must understand business strategy, market trends, and public communication.

What does a marketing manager do?

A Marketing Manager is a professional that helps create, implement, and lead a marketing plan, whether it be for a specific product or service, or a greater organizational brand. Marketing cannot be parsed down as the business sector for the artists. While marketers can build upon artistic qualities within themselves and teams, they must have a strong business vision and planning background and work with the leaders of organizations. These professionals must be able to drive strategies and increase sales. Today, marketing managers must have high competencies in email marketing, social media marketing, and marketing strategy. The average marketing manager has a take-home salary of over $63,000, with an average increase of 23% throughout their career.

Every company, of every size and in every sector, needs marketing professionals. Some marketing professional might solely create the marketing plan and every aspect therein. In fact, with the increased e-commerce ability of social media sites, integrated analytics, and free online design tools, every professional can drive their marketing. But there is also room to for marketers to grow into management roles that oversee larger marketing groups or marketing firms. Marketing managers must have the ability to oversee web design employees, print designers, social media professionals, software engineers, and more. Marketing leaders might also venture out on their own and develop their own marketing business.

What will an Online Marketing MBA entail?

Online MBA programs are becoming more and more popular with each passing semester, and the stigma of online degrees is long past. In our global marketplace, graduate students are able to leverage the unique nature of an online Master’s of Business Administration more than ever before. An online MBA lets employers immediately reap the benefits of a highly educated workforce without the cost of turnover. These flexible online programs help students develop the skills to work virtually with others. Whether it is working with a coworker or on a work project or interacting with customers, virtual communication skills are in demand. Many programs are offered in a 100% online format, giving students the highest level of flexibility. Other MBA programs are offered with on-campus residencies, or in a hybrid format, that lets students reap the benefits of face-to-face learning and networking, as well as flexible online coursework.

The curriculum of an online MBA is one that stands on par with the highest level of business education from around the world. Students are now able to pursue degrees with business accreditations from IACBE, ACBSP, and even AACSB. These top-notch business schools impart the highest level of business education and they offer a network of high caliber classmates and extensive alumni networks. Most online MBA courses are taught with the same basic curriculum and by the same high-caliber professors that teach on-campus programs.

The curriculum of an online MBA is one that every professional can get excited about. Every online MBA student will typically have at least one marketing-centered course. That is how important this topic is. Students will then round out their foundational business management courses with business law, accounting, finance, and quantitative analysis. These core courses not only give marketing managers a good grasp on overall business function, but it gives marketing entrepreneurs invaluable information on how to start their own venture.

Those online MBA students that pursue marketing specializations, concentrations, or certificates will then get to pursue a myriad of marketing topics. Courses in these programs could include topics in New Product Development, Services Marketing, Brand Management, Marketing Communications, Consumer Behavior, Marketing Analytics, Marketing in the Age of Social Networks, and Marketing and Globalization. Business professionals looking to gain more tools and a greater depth of knowledge in the field of marketing should seriously consider an online Marketing MBA.