What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Marketing?
Marketing masters enjoy access to a wide range of leadership opportunities in business, advertising, public relations, and more. Earning an advanced degree in marketing will give you an opportunity to dive more deeply into specialized areas of marketing such as promotions, branding, and sales, while also helping you build on valuable organizational leadership skills such as communication, project management, and business administration. Marketing masters have access to a wide variety of leadership roles in virtually limitless business sectors and media. This means that graduates with advanced marketing degrees generally enjoy strong job growth and a promising earning potential.
Just getting started in the field? Check out our look at the marketing major to find out how you can get an undergraduate degree in marketing.
If you’re ready to earn your graduate degree at one of the most prestigious schools in the world, get started with a look at the Most Influential Schools in Marketing.
Or read on to find out what you can expect as a marketing master.
Featured Programs
Why get a master’s degree in marketing?
Marketing is a highly competitive and interdisciplinary field, one that touches on business administration, communications, and psychology, among numerous other subject areas. A master’s degree in marketing gives you the chance to choose an area of focus in this extremely varied and far-reaching field.
Indeed, marketing touches on every aspect of our lives, shaping the way we perceive organizations, products, and people. This, in turn, has a profound influence on how we eat, dress, shop, and live. Marketers create innovative ways to convey this influence. Today, top influencers in marketing are breaking new ground in strategic marketing, mobile app development, communication to multicultural audiences, and more.
How can I qualify to get a master’s degree in marketing?
Some marketing master’s programs (though not all) may require you to complete a Graduate Record Examination (GRE). If your advanced marketing degree is actually the focus of a graduate MBA program, you may be required instead to complete a GMAT.
If the GRE is needed, your program may either require a general exam, or a GRE specific to the subject of marketing. Some programs may require you to meet a certain scoring threshold while others may merely require that you complete the exam. These requirements will vary from one marketing master’s program to the next.
For testing tips, check out our Guide to the GRE.
If no GRE or GMAT is required, the primary requirement for gaining eligibility into a marketing master’s program is completion of a bachelor’s degree from a properly accredited undergraduate school. While programmatic accreditation is not specifically required in this field, most regionally-accredited graduate schools will require that your bachelor’s degree be granted by a regionally-accredited college or university.
Some colleges may offer bundled bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, where you could earn your advanced degree in one continuous five-year program. This option could save you time and money if you already know that you’ll be pursuing your advanced degree. However, the accelerated pace of such a program may make this a challenging way to earn both degrees. Find out if your school offers this bundling option and ask about eligibility requirements. But be sure you’re up to the added challenge!
For any additional questions about eligibility, refer to your intended program and learn more about application requirements and any additional requirements such as work experience, academic performance thresholds, and referrals.
If you’re still working on building your qualifications, check out our look at the marketing major to find out how you can get an undergraduate degree in marketing.
What kinds of marketing degrees are there?
Earning an advanced degree in marketing (or earning your MBA with a concentration in marketing) is a great way to stand out in a competitive field. And if you’re already working in a real-world marketing context, your organization may even be willing to provide some financial support for your pursuit of a master’s degree. Consider the following advanced degree options:
- Master of Marketing (MA, MS, MBA): Marketing is a competitive field. An advanced degree in marketing could make you a more attractive job candidate and produce greater opportunities for executive leadership. You could pursue this two-year advanced degree in marketing, or you may also be able to use your bachelor’s degree in marketing to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on marketing. You’ll study subjects like brand management, sales operations, and consumer behavior.
- PhD in Marketing: If you wish to teach marketing as a professor at the post-secondary level, or you hope to lead peer-reviewed research in the field of marketing, you’ll need to earn this three-to-five year terminal degree.
What are some popular marketing specializations?
Marketing touches on so many aspects of our lives, from entertainment, education and retail shopping to sports, fashion, and food consumption. This means that an advanced degree in marketing could take you practically anywhere. Choosing a specialization can help you sharpen your focus on the right sector, setting, and role. Popular marketing specializations include:
- Marketing Research
- International Marketing
- Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations
- Merchandising and Buying Operations
- Retailing and Retail Operations
- Selling Skills and Sales Operations
- Fashion Merchandising
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
- Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations
What courses will I take as a marketing master?
Your specialization will determine many of the courses you’ll take as a marketing master. Likewise, you will be required to take a number of requisite courses on foundational topics such as Business Communication and Statistical Analysis. However, you’ll also have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of courses based on your professional and personal interests. Common marketing courses include:
- Marketing Management
- Consumer Behavior
- Marketing Research
- Advanced Behavioral Marketing
- Strategic Market Intelligence
- Ethical Marketing
- New Product Development
- Digital Marketing Strategy
- Pricing Strategies
- Brand Management
Is a master’s degree in marketing worth it?
Organizational leaders and project managers are in high demand in the marketing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers are projected to grow at a rate of 6% by 2029. At present, this high demand means that, in 2019, the median pay for jobs in this sector was a healthy $135,900. Earning a master’s degree in marketing will provide you with the credentials to compete for the top leadership roles (and highest pay rates) in your field.
Career Outlook for Students with Marketing Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolMarketing/Marketing Management
Degree Level: Master's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $12,287
- Avg. Expenses*: $17,819
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $65,917
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $86,020
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 5 years
- Job Growth: 8.62%
- Number of Jobs: 2,070,000
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
| Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Managers | 6.61% | $121,728 |
| Sales Managers | 4.06% | $117,002 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 1.62% | $110,533 |
| Fundraising Managers | 5.04% | $103,968 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 7.01% | $86,765 |
Average Career Salaries
| Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|
| $52,480 | $91,488 | $155,413 |
Promising Job Markets
| State | Cost of Living | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| #2 New York | 5% higher than average | $124,962 |
| #3 Michigan | 15% higher than average | $94,978 |
| #4 Georgia | 13% higher than average | $94,639 |
| #5 New Jersey | 13% higher than average | $122,883 |
| #6 Virginia | 5% higher than average | $102,618 |
Top Industries
| Industry | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Managers | $121,728 |
| Sales Managers | $117,002 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $110,533 |
What are the top jobs with a master’s in marketing degree?
Marketing plays a part in every industry and sector. This means that mastering in marketing can be your pathway into any field you desire. Moreover, because marketing occurs across various physical and digital media, you could specialize in many different areas of marketing. As such, your advanced marketing degree can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:
- Advertising, Promotion and Marketing Managers
- Market Research Analysts and Market Specialists
- Purchasing Managers, Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- Public Relations Specialists
- Advertising Sales Agents
Curious how far you could go with a master’s degree in marketing? Start with a look at the top influencers in the field today!
***Now that you know how to earn a masters in marketing, check out The Most Influential Schools in Marketing:
Check out the full list here and get started on your path to an advanced marketing degree.
And if you’re still shopping for the right college, be sure to bookmark our Resources on critical issues like Accreditation, Scholarships, Financial Aid, and more!
