Marketing has been around for a while now, but it’s still a very quickly-growing field that is deeply important. And it’s also a field that can be immensely profitable for both corporations and individuals who specialize in it. Put simply, marketing is the study of interactions between companies and their consumers or potential consumers. This can involve advertising, purchasing and selling, PR, and much more. Successful marketing majors use the experience they gain from their degrees to help ensure that these interactions are profitable and valuable for everyone. Although having a degree isn’t essential to becoming a marketer, years of study and practice make candidates competitive in a growing market. Because marketing is so valuable, there are many places where you can get a marketing degree. Several degrees are available, depending on your interests and the skills you want to develop to improve your marketing success.
Types of marketing degrees
One of the barriers to entry for getting started on a marketing degree is simply how many different kinds of degrees there are. Without a basic understanding of the different kinds of degrees, it can be hard to know which one will be the most helpful for your goals—so we’ll go over the major kinds of marketing degrees to help you get started.The first kind of marketing degree is a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, sometimes known as a BSM. This type of degree focuses on how corporations connect with their customers and how to respond to trends and needs in the current market, using both tried-and-true techniques and new emerging ideas.Another marketing-related degree is the Bachelor of Science in Business (sometimes called a BSB). A BSB can have different focuses (such as accounting, finance, leadership, and more), and some business schools will offer Bachelor of Science degrees with a specific marketing focus. This kind of degree will typically have a strong focus on the internal marketing decisions that companies will need to make regarding both customer service and general marketing strategy.Next, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BBA) is also commonly pursued by people who are interested in furthering their marketing skills. This kind of degree focuses on bigger-picture approaches to business, looking not only at marketing and how to respond to the global market, but also at leadership and broader business theory.Finally, you can also get an MBA (Master of Business Administration). This advanced degree has been called the world’s most popular graduate management degree. An MBA program requires you to have some kind of bachelor's degree and is typically focused on learning managerial skills that will help direct your business’s focus. Just like a BSB, many MBA programs offer a focus on learning how to manage employees and strategize in the field of marketing.As a final note, it’s important to note that different schools will offer slightly different takes on these kinds of degrees, so make sure you’re reviewing the course requirements and goals of whatever organization you’re considering learning from. Additionally, some schools may offer different programs entirely that will still help you with marketing skills. But, now that we’ve learned about some of the most common kinds of marketing degrees...
What can you do with a marketing degree?
Marketing is a versatile field, as proven by the many different degrees that relate to it, and every person who goes into marketing will likely find their own area of passion and expertise. From front-line professional sales management workers all the way to executive-level marketing managers, there are many ways a marketing degree can be put to use.Advertising is probably the first thing many people think of when they hear the term “marketing,” and that is certainly a very relevant field. People who work in advertising use their marketing skills to determine how best to promote products, services, and more to their target audience.Sales is another important side of marketing. Obviously, many businesses could not function for long without the revenue that comes from their sales, and sales representatives, managers, and more are needed to help ensure that sales go well for a business. Marketing majors may be able to help in this field by communicating directly with customers and potential customers or by helping things run effectively within the company itself. Consulting is another important field for marketing graduates. Because business owners have so many things to take care of, they often bring in specialists to help them as they develop their marketing plans and strategies. Some consultants work exclusively with one company, while others work freelance for various corporations. On the other hand, you might also find that you’re interested in the Public Relations side of things. Marketing isn’t just for selling products—it can also be for “selling” or promoting particular ideas or ensuring that your company is putting their best foot forward in the PR space. Businesses need skilled marketers to put out effective official statements and best respond to challenging customer service situations.On a related note, marketing can also lead you to media or media planning positions. This is another part of a company’s public face, and one that is centered in a rapidly-evolving sphere of social media and online presence as well as traditional media. Your marketing degree may lead you to a position where you help shape how a business presents itself online.While these are some of the more common types of marketing jobs, you’ll find that this field is versatile, with many different options and many different approaches that might be taken depending on which company a marketer works for.
How much can you earn with a marketing degree?
The salary for someone in marketing varies depending on the position. Market Research Analysts, for example, make around $63,000/year. Those in executive or managerial positions can earn quite a bit more, with marketing, advertising, and professional sales management all making around $120,000/year in the United States. Other marketing positions can earn other amounts along that spectrum, depending on their responsibilities and on the employers.
Best marketing schools/colleges
Now that we’ve talked about what a marketing degree can look like, what you can do with it, and what it can help you earn, we’ll take a look at some of the U.S.’s best marketing schools and colleges. This list is taken from USNews.com, where the list was compiled based on peer assessment surveys of accredited marketing schools.
1. University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan is voted the best marketing school globally and is ranked #4 overall in business degrees. The school is also known for its vast and varied student programs and marketing career services.
2. University of Pennsylvania
Though ranked #2 in marketing degrees, the University of Pennsylvania is ranked #1 overall in business schools. It is one of the United State’s oldest universities and ranks well on overall college rankings in the nation.
3. Indiana University in Bloomington
Indiana University ranks high on the list of best marketing schools (#3) and is in the top ten business schools in the nation. Though they have a large student body, their class sizes tend to be smaller and more focused on average.
4. New York University; University of Texas at Austin
Tied for #4 on the list of best marketing schools, New York University and Austin’s University of Texas also tied for the #5 spot on the ranking for best business programs in the nation. The University of Texas is one of the US’s largest, with a wide variety of marketing graduate programs and undergraduate degrees. New York University is well known for its school of the arts and hosts the Stern School of Business, one of the nation’s best for that field.
5. University of California in Berkeley
At #5 on the list of top marketing colleges (or #6, if you count NYU and UT as two entries), Berkeley’s University of California is a well-known university which also boasts a very high freshman retention rate, indicating that students also find their time there valuable.Although these are the top-rated marketing colleges in the nation, don’t assume that they’re the only place for you. Many other universities offer excellent marketing programs as well, all across the United States, with offerings that may be more or less in line with what you’re interested in pursuing for your education. So take a look at the marketing programs you may be interested in, and spend some time consulting marketing career services about which could be the best fit for you.And if you’re already working on running your own business, consider finding some skilled marketers to help you guide your company in the right direction. At Ampry, our marketing professionals help ecommerce businesses uncover bottlenecks and create an updated marketing strategy. If your company is looking for expert help with your marketing plans, you can contact Ampry for a free strategy call.