Modern life can be a constant barrage of demands on our attention. Traditional pulls for eyeballs and dollars have given way to digital, mobile, and social media campaigns to push consumers in endless directions. One thing is clear: organizations of all sizes need marketing experts to help them stand out from crowded marketplaces, or bring burgeoning products and services from obscurity to become widely demanded.
Marketing professionals need to have a current education that accounts for the changes in the field, and in our lives. The days of traditional advertising are over, and bright minds must create new campaigns that deal with saturated markets and consumer fatigue. Today, marketing efforts must feel more authentic, organic, and relevant to people than ever before.
So where do you fit in? By earning a Bachelor’s in Marketing, you can claim a place in the field, which promises stable wages and job growth. Most organizations need committed marketing professionals, and you can separate yourself from the old guard by getting a degree that understands current obstacles and opportunities in this sector.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics notes the following about employment and earnings in marketing:
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists made a median annual wage of $63,230 in 2017.
- Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers earned a median annual salary of $132,620 in 2018. The typical entry-level education for these roles was a Bachelor’s with some work experience in the field.
- There were 286,800 Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers in 2018. This was expected to increase by 8% between 2018-28, creating 21,800 new jobs.
On this ranking we’ve selected schools based on their cost per credit hour, the flexibility and adult support they offer, their U.S. News & World Report Rankings, and unique features that separate them from comparable programs.
Let’s check out the 20 Best Bachelor’s in Marketing:
1) Colorado State University – Global
Colorado State University is a public university founded in 1870. CSU’s emphasizes offering accessible, superb educational programs to Colorado residents and people around the world. In 2015 it became the only school to get a STARS Platinum rating for sustainability. It serves 26,400 undergrads. The school offers over 150 degrees through eight colleges and is known for graduate programs in education, business, and engineering. It’s a leading research university that has done significant exploration of infectious diseases, environmental sciences, and clean energy technologies. Of course, these efforts need to be publicized to make the largest impact possible.
CSU offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing. In it, you’ll study how products and services are developed, promoted, sold, and distributed. Students will become well-versed in research and management. You’ll get a sense of how consumers are targeted and approached. This program looks at how business relationships are formed, and decisions are made in the current marketplace. This program is practical, theoretical, and technical. Learning outcomes include understanding competition, market forces, strong analytical skills, make ethical and effective decisions, among many others. There are 18 distinct specializations in this program you can choose to pursue, an uncommon and invaluable feature.
- Tuition: $350 per credit hour (5th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 166th among National Universities for 2020
2) Liberty University
Liberty is a private, nonprofit, research university established by Rev. Jerry Falwell. Liberty is a primarily online Christian university. The school is based in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was founded in 1971. It currently serves almost 46,000 undergraduate students. Liberty has a long history of offering distance education programs and has been doing so since 1985. Liberty features more than 280 online degrees, including health, business, theology, computer science, and much more. Liberty’s ethos is that the secret to success comes through a commitment to biblical truth. It calls itself America’s largest nonprofit online university.
Liberty offers an Online Bachelor of Business Administration program. This program features concentrations on Digital Marketing and Advertising, Marketing Analysis, Marketing: Sales Management, and Professional Selling, among many other specializations. It’s accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This program can be completed in 3.5 years, and up to 75% of the credits it requires can be transferred in. Students will become immersed in accounting, finance, marketing, and more. You’ll build leadership, analysis, management and human resource skills as well.
- Tuition: $390 per credit hour (9th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 230th-381st bracket among National Universities for 2020
3) Old Dominion University
Old Dominion is a public research university founded in 1930. It’s based out of Norfolk, Virginia. ODU offers more than 150 different degrees and serves over 24,000 students. It’s one of the larger distance learning schools in the country. ODU is known for its military-friendly atmosphere, and 25% of its students have a direct military connection. ODU has a strong research emphasis, especially on entrepreneurship. In fact, Old Dominion University initiatives bring almost $2.6 billion to Virginia’s economy annually. Old Dominion University’s 100,000+ alumni are in all 50 states and 67 countries. USNR ranks it 128th in Top Public Schools.
ODU offers an Online Marketing Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Students will learn how to analyze complex data, deeply study the current marketing environment, including its strategies and systems. Graduates will understand how to solve marketing problems and create successful campaigns. This degree can be taken as a degree completion program for qualified students who need 30 credit hours or more to graduate, up to 120 credit hours for other students. This generous transfer policy sets it apart from comparable programs. This program has been commended by multiple online reviewers.
- Tuition: $407 per credit hour (12th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 263rd among National Universities for 2020
4) The University of Alabama-Birmingham
This public university was founded in 1969. It serves over 13,800 undergraduates. In addition to its strong rank among National Universities, it’s also ranked highly in Best Value Schools (166th) and Best Colleges for Veterans (121st) by USNR for 2020. It offers students ample opportunities for internships, resume-building, and do significant research. The school is divided into 11 distinct schools. Alabama has produced Marshall, Fulbright, Truman, and Rhodes scholars.
Alabama-Birmingham offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing. It’s AACSB accredited. The program covers using current communication technologies, how to create growth, and, most importantly, how to build a sustainable, longterm career in marketing. It’s 100% online, yet lets students access networking opportunities and has scholarships available for qualified students. You’ll study sales techniques, marketing communications, e-commerce and digital media, and multinational business practices, among many other topics. Graduates can work as market research analysts, sales managers, social media marketers, public relations specialists, and more.
- Tuition: $441 per credit hour (16th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 166th among National Universities for 2020
5) Regent University
Regent is a private interdenominational Christian research university. It’s based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Regent was established in 1977. It offers associate, Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in over 130 areas of study. Over 4,600 undergraduate students attend Regent. It hit 49th on USNR’s Top Performers on Social Mobility category for 2020. It aims to give students an education in areas predicted to be highly demanded in the years to come. It’s known for its programs in business, education, nursing, accounting, computer science, engineering, and cybersecurity.
Regent offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing that tackles consumer behavior, advertising and promotions, social media marketing, and marketing research. You’ll come to understand why consumers make the choices they do and have your education couched in a Christian outlook. This program features 8-week course sessions, and can also be taken on-campus for those who do or want to live in the Virginia area. The faculty of this program are eager mentors that have the top degrees in their fields. Regent also offers several related degrees, including multiple communication studies programs, and an MBA in marketing.
- Tuition: $395 per credit hour (11th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 281st among National Universities for 2020.
6) New Mexico State University
New Mexico State is a public university established in 1888. It’s headquartered in Las Cruces, New Mexico. There are nearly 11,700 undergraduates attending the school. It’s known for its programs in education, engineering, and business. Undergraduates can choose between almost 90 distinct Bachelor’s degrees, while graduate students can access over 50 Master’s programs. One distinct aspect of the school is its Chile Pepper Institute, which does research and promotion for New Mexico’s state vegetable.
New Mexico State offers an Online Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing. The online version of this program is a degree completion program. Students are expected to have earned general education credits that lead into the marketing curriculum, probably at an accepted Associate’s program. Make sure to contact NMSU if you’re interested in making sure you have the required credits. Sample courses include Marketing Research, Strategy and Policy, and Principles of Marketing. Graduates will be prepared to match customer needs and desires with different products, services, and concepts.
- Tuition: $253 per credit hour (2nd)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 263rd among National Universities for 2020
7) Florida International University
FIU is a public university in Miami. It was founded in 1972. Over 48,400 undergraduates attend FIU. Around 60% of its students are Hispanic, and it’s one of the top schools in the country for granting Hispanic students Bachelor’s degrees. The school prioritizes research and enhancing the lives of local and global communities. Its most popular majors are in Marketing, Business, Management, Psychology, Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Communication, and Journalism. U.S. News & World Report has noted that FIU students have far less debt than average American college students. It is ranked 12th by USNR in the Top Performers on Social Mobility in 2020.
FIU offers an Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing that prepares students to work in many different aspects of the field. Students will be prepared to work in communications, logistics, marketing research, advertising, e-marketing, and sales management. As an online student, you’ll be paired with a success coach, and the program has starts three times a year. In total it requires 120 credit hours, 60 of which are general education and business pre-core courses, the other 60 being marketing-specific.
- Tuition: $345 per credit hour (4th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 218th among National Universities for 2020
8) Huntington University
Huntington is a private, Christian university in Huntington, Indiana. It was established in 1897. It’s a cozy school, with just over 1,100 undergraduate students. The school features over 70 distinct programs of study and dozens of clubs for students to choose from. It has a large percentage of students who volunteer in the community or serve abroad. The school also features its signature Enterprise Resource Center, which helps students find internships and job opportunities. In 2020 USNR ranks it 11th in Best Value Schools.
Huntington offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing completion program. It’s perfect for working adults, and in 2018 approximately 80% of its incoming students received financial aid. This program features five-week accelerated online courses. You’ll study public relations, social media, and digital media. You’ll work to understand consumers, conduct and interpret market research, and figure out how brands and consumers interact in mutually beneficial ways.
- Tuition: $380 per credit hour (7th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 40th among Regional Universities Midwest for 2020
9) Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University is a public university with campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia. It’s part of the University System of Georgia. KSU was founded in 1963. It has two main campuses located in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia. Nearly 32,300 undergraduates attend the school. It’s known for its programs in education, computing, business, arts, engineering, health, and human services, among others. It prizes public service, research, contributions to economic development, and service to local communities. Its student body represents 92 countries, and it offers almost 150 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.
Kennesaw offers an Online Bachelor of Business in Marketing that will prepare graduates to work in areas like retail store management, advertising, marketing research, or industrial selling. Courses will cover assessing competitive markets, controlling and managing merchandise, creating and delivering sales presentations, and managing sales forces. You’ll also study how direct mail works, modern advertising, and public relations. It addresses working nonprofit and for-profit environments.
- Tuition: $232 per credit hour (1st)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #293-#381 bracket among National Universities for 2020
10) Temple University
Temple is a public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884. Almost 29,500 undergraduates attend the school. First-year students are not required to live on campus. It’s known for its schools of business and management, law, medicine, engineering, and education. The school takes a novel approach to admissions and affordable tuition. There are more than 570 academic programs offered through 17 schools and colleges at Temple. In addition to its stellar National Universities ranking, USNR ranks Temple 99th in Best Value Schools and 69th in Best Colleges for Veterans.
Temple offers an Online Bachelor’s of Business Administration that comes in several distinct majors, including marketing. The school offers several start dates per year, and students can opt for a traditional 15-week semester, or accelerated 7-week sessions. You’ll become invaluable to companies of all sizes.ve on Curriculum will cover the development and innovation of new products, efficient promotional programs, and their distribution throughout the global economy. Students will benefit from skills-building that will apply throughout a variety of marketing positions, and ample professional development opportunities.
- Tuition: $595 per credit hour (23rd)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 104th among National Universities for 2020
11) University of Wisconsin Whitewater
UW-Whitewater is a public college in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It’s part of the University of Wisconsin system. Whitewater was founded in 1868. It’s known for its programs offered through colleges of arts and communications, educational and professional studies, letters and sciences, and business and economics, Education and Professional Studies, and Letters and Sciences. The Princeton Review has called its Business and Economics college one of the best in the country. Nearly 10,750 undergraduates attend Whitewater.
Whitewater offers an Online Marketing Major within its Bachelor of Business Administration umbrella. It will prepare students to help create new products and services, find new markets to present them, and forge long-term, valuable relationships between customers and organizations. You’ll study in-person, digital, and mobile marketing campaigns. Students will get a deep understanding of design, pricing, research, analysis, promotion, distribution, and overall marketing strategy. Students can also opt for a Digital Marketing or Professional Sales focus.
- Tuition: $389 per credit hour (8th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 61st among Regional Universities Midwest for 2020
12) Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is a private, nonprofit, non-denominational Christian university in Phoenix, but hours outside of the tourist section of the city. It was established in 1949. It serves tens of thousands on its campus, and significantly more through online courses. It grants undergraduate degrees through six colleges, most notably the Ken Blanchard College of Business and the College of Fine Arts and Production. It’s also renowned for its Biology majors with emphases in pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, and pre-physician assistant, in addition to art design majors in animation, screenwriting, web design, or production. USNR also ranks it 42nd in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
GCU offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Advertising that blends creativity and business skills. It’s perfect for those looking to apply to entry-level marketing and advertising positions upon graduation. Students will study general business practices, communication strategies, business operations, legal, ethical, and value-based business practices, information literacy, and data analysis. Online courses are offered over eight-week sessions. Coursework will specifically cover creating marketing plans, developing customer relationships, determining strategies that lead to sales, and much more.
- Tuition: $470 per credit hour (18th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #293-#381 bracket among National Universities for 2020
13) Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public, metropolitan university with five campuses in Phoenix, plenty of regional centers throughout Arizona, and a robust online school. It’s one of the largest public universities in the country. It was founded in 1885. ASU’s online offerings include undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in business, legal studies, nutrition, English, electrical engineering, behavioral health, health leadership, and more. The school’s online resources prize their enrollment counselors, academic advisers, and success coaches. ASU Online lets students pick from six start dates each year.
ASU offers an Bachelor’s in Marketing that can be completed on its Tempe campus or entirely online. Students can take advantage of internships, career programs, dozens of business clubs, and organizations from wherever they study. Sample courses include Brand Management, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Digital Marketing in Practice, Consumer Behavior, among many marketing-specific courses. They can also opt for concentrations in Professional Sales or Digital and Integrated Marketing.
- Tuition: $827 per credit hour (28th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 117th among National Universities for 2020
14) University of Massachusetts-Amherst
UMass Amherst is a public research university in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was established in 1863. Over 23,500 undergraduate students attend the school, and Amherst offers more than 100 majors to choose from. Students can also create their own through its unique BDIC: Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration. It’s a member of the prestigious Five College Consortium, including Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire. Students can take courses across the consortium. It has been designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a school with the highest level of research activity.
UMass Amherst offers an Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing that will produce innovative storytellers and marketers. You’ll do significant analysis, study retail, consumer behavior, distribution strategies, digital marketing, communication, sales, and much more. Most graduates work in sales, advertising, market research, or retaining. Students can choose electives in finance, management, accounting, hospitality and tourism management, operations and information management, sports management, and more.
- Tuition: $475 per credit hour (19th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 64th among National Universities for 2020
15) Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian university, and part of the Wesleyan Church. It’s based in Marion, Indiana. IWU was founded in 1920. Over 2,800 undergraduates attend the school. IWU is known for working with professional adults who want to earn a new degree. It features degrees in biblical literature, youth ministries, and Christian worship, along with traditional degrees in areas like marketing, public relations, computer science, and accounting. USNR ranks it 78th among Top Performers on Social Mobility in 2020.
IWU offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing that can be supplemented with focus areas in marketing analytics, social media, service and nonprofit marketing and digital branding, advertising, and promotions. Sample courses that all students take before choosing a focus include Foundations of Marketing, Management Perspectives, Statistics for Marketers, and Information Technology for Marketers. The program takes a problem-solving approach, along with doing significant analysis to make beneficial business decisions that include building diverse, engaged audiences for products and services.
- Tuition: $449 per credit hour (17th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 25th among Regional Universities Midwest for 2020
16) Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University is a private, nonprofit university in Saint Leo, Florida. The university was founded in 1889 as a Roman Catholic school. It has nearly 2,100 undergraduate students. Saint Leo was one of the first American institutions to provide distance learning opportunities, offering courses to people serving in the armed forces during the Vietnam War. Undergraduates can study in over 40 fields, and graduate students can access degrees in business administration, education, criminal justice, theology, and more. USNR ranks it 5th in Best Value Schools.
Saint Leo offers an Online BA in Business Administration with a Marketing Specialization. It builds a deep understanding of marketing functions and concepts. Students will become immersed in predicting and satisfying consumers’ desires and needs. Its curriculum covers market research, formative business skills, international business, and advertising management, among many other topics. Graduates will go on to work in advertising, marketing management, consumer relations, small business operations, and more.
- Tuition: $370 per credit hour (6th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 25th among Regional Universities South for 2020
17) Concordia University-Saint Paul
Concordia is a private liberal arts school in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was established in 1893. It’s part of a ten-member system, founded by the second largest Lutheran church body in America, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). It serves nearly 3,100 undergraduates. Many of its programs are offered through its affiliates and separate online division. It’s known for its competitive pricing and letting students access more than 80 programs across undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and degree completion divisions. It’s ranked at 53rd among Best Value Schools
Concordia Saint Paul offers an Online Bachelor of Arts in Marketing that requires 40 credit hours. It was created for busy adults who need flexibility while earning their degree. The school notes that graduates of its undergraduate marketing program earn the highest salaries among alumni in the state of Minnesota. Learning outcomes include becoming an effective marketing and project manager, doing analysis that drives business, getting new opportunities in business and marketing, and using their education to solve current market inefficiencies and create new opportunities for themselves and their organizations.
- Tuition: $420 per credit hour (14th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 76th among Regional Universities Midwest for 2020
18) Linfield College
Linfield is a private, four-year school in McMinnville, Oregon. It was established in 1858. Almost 1,400 undergraduates attend Linfield, with about a third being students of color. The school offers strong relationships between professors and its small student body. Students can access over 54 majors through the school, which offers a school of nursing in Portland and its online college in addition to its Mcminnville campus. Over 90% of its professors have terminal degrees in their fields. Winfield has also been ranked 86th among Top Performers on Social Mobility for 2020.
Linfield offers an Online Marketing Bachelor’s Program for students looking for an affordable program while building their marketing professional credentials. Sample courses include Business Law, Financial Management, Strategic Management, and more. Students can choose electives like International Marketing, Promotions Management, Sales, and Sales Management. They can also opt for independent studies or internships for credit.
- Tuition: $556 per credit hour (21st)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 117th among National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2020
19) Penn State World Campus
Penn State is a public, research university with multiple campuses in Pennsylvania. The school was established in 1855. Penn State is known as a “Public Ivy” because of its strong academic reputation. More than 40,300 undergraduate students attend Penn State. It’s also known for an incredible online school, the Penn State World Campus. The World Campus began in 1998, aiming to offer the esteemed Penn State education to students around the world. PSWC was created by Professor Michael G Moore, who designed and taught some of the world’s first online courses.
World Campus offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing. It takes a traditional marketing education and incorporates cutting-edge trends with the innovative tradition of Penn State’s World Campus. It’s perfect for people who want to start or complete a degree. Graduates will be able to provide in-depth, results-centered strategic marketing plans for organizations across the economy. It’s taught by doctoral faculty that have corporate marketing experience, and a diploma from Penn State lets employers know you went to one of the premier schools in the country.
- Tuition: $617 per credit hour (25th)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 57th among National Universities for 2020
20) Minot State University
Minot is a public university in Minot, North Dakota. It was founded in 1913. Over 2,900 undergraduates attend the school. It’s focused on providing a comprehensive learning experience to all students, providing public service, and delivering a great education to students of all ages. Students can expect a high level of career support, as well. USNR has ranked it 145th in Top Performers on Social Mobility and 32nd in Top Public Schools.
Minot offers an Online Marketing Bachelor’s. It covers when and how to advertise, how public relations impacts marketing, how social media is impacting marketing, and much more. It builds a broad range of skills in marketing, oral and written communication competence, and graduates that understand business fundamentals. Coursework covers consumer behavior, logistics, managerial accounting, business research, and much more.
- Tuition: $316 per credit hour (3rd)
- U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 111th among Regional Universities Midwest
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