Are you looking to boost your marketing skills without breaking the bank? As companies increasingly shift marketing efforts to digital platforms, skilled professionals who can guide strategy online and across channels are in high demand. 

We’ve done the research to identify top affordable online master’s in marketing, allowing working professionals to upskill their way to greater career success on a budget.

Top 10 Affordable Online Master’s in Marketing 

With the high transportation and other educational expenses, an on-campus degree is getting quite expensive. The most affordable option is to opt for an online degree, especially for those who work part-time and want a balanced learning environment. 

However, finding a budget-friendly option with quality education from the pool of options can be challenging. Here’s a sneak peek at the top 10 affordable options. 

California Coast University 

California Coast University offers an online Business Marketing Master of Business Administration. It’s designed for professionals who are set to enter the business market and want to become familiar with the principles and theories needed for the global economy sector. 

The degree has 13 compulsory courses, including strategic management, global marketing, marketing management, and value marketing. These courses focus on examining professional research in management while comparing and contrasting issues related to marketing products or brands locally and internationally. 

• Financial Aid: 10% discount for corporate partner employees
• Tuition Fees: $250 per unit 
• CH: 39 units
• Completion Time: Self-paced
• School Type: Private For-Profit 
• Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission

Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University’s MBA – Marketing is an online program designed to equip professionals with the skills to learn strategic management campaigns and understand consumer behavior. It mainly aims to polish the leadership capabilities necessary for guiding an organization’s marketing strategy in a global business environment. 

In this program, you must complete some major courses for 24 credit hours, including human resource management, research methods, corporate finance, and advanced marketing. Other than that, the marketing-specific concentrations of 12 credit hours will focus on strategic marketing, marketing research, new product marketing, and B2B marketing.

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $349 per credit hour
• CH: 36 
• Completion Time: maximum 10 weeks per course
• Acceptance Rate: 100%
• School Type: Private For-Profit
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Fitchburg State University 

Fitchburg State University offers a Master of Business Administration in Marketing, an online program that uses Blackboard as its learning management system. Anyone with an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.8 can apply for this degree without a GMAT. You may even be considered with a GPA of less than 2.8 if you have work experience. 

The curriculum is structured with a combination of 18 hours dedicated to advanced core requirements, mandatory 9 hours focused on marketing concentration courses, and additional 3 hours of elective courses. 

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $436 per credit hour
• CH: 30 
• Completion Time: Can be completed in 12 months
• Acceptance Rate: 86%
• School Type: Public 
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education

The University of Alabama

The University of Alabama offers an MS in Marketing that can be completed entirely online through the Blackboard platform. This program will equip you with valuable marketing skills, preparing you for career prospects such as marketing managers, analysts, or specialists. 

To secure admission, you must have a resume, two recommendation letters, and a 580 GMAT score. This Master’s degree offers two main routes. Firstly, a general MS in Marketing consists of 30 credit hours. You can also go with an MS in Marketing with concentration options – Marketing Analytics of 33 credit hours or Digital and Social Media of 30 credit hours. 

The core courses cover marketing aspects, including global sustainability and consumer behavior. You will also have to complete a capstone project. 

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $440 per credit hour
• CH: 30 to 33 hours
• Acceptance Rate: 80%
• School Type: Public 
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota offers an online Master of Business Administration program with a Marketing specialization that provides valuable skills for various marketing areas. It also provides resources like a handbook, a library for e-books, career planning help officers, and an online tutoring platform. 

The marketing specialization consists of 9 credit hours covering advanced consumer behavior and elective courses related to marketing. Both thesis (Plan A) and non-thesis (Plan B) options are available with different credit requirements. To get admission, you don’t have to have any GRE or GMAT; a statement of purpose, your transcripts, and a resume will be enough. 

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $470.45 per credit hour
• CH: 36 to 42 
• Acceptance Rate: 99%
• School Type: Public 
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 

Lasell University

Lasell University has a Master of Science in Marketing, which you can complete online through the Canvas LMS. To get admission, you need to have an undergraduate degree. Lasell does not ask for any GMAT or GRE score. 

The curriculum is designed for working professionals and includes courses like digital marketing, marketing research, and global marketing. During this program, you will gain an understanding of marketing strategies, including public relations, advertising, media relations, and crisis management.

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $649 per credit hour
• CH: 36 
• Completion Time: 12 to 24 months
• Acceptance Rate: 85%
• School Type: Private 
• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

Colorado Technical University

Colorado Technical University offers an Online MBA in Marketing, ranked among the best online MBA programs according to the US News and World Report for eight consecutive years. This program is designed for working professionals and gives the benefit of convenient scheduling and leadership development opportunities. 

The curriculum consists of 32 credit hours in core MBA courses covering finance, analytics, and strategic management. Additionally, 16 credit hours are dedicated to marketing concentration, where you will explore marketing research, digital marketing, and international marketing and complete an MBA Capstone. 

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $610 per credit hour
• CH: 48 
• Completion Time: Can be completed in 12 months
• Acceptance Rate: 100%
• School Type: Private For-Profit 
• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

University of Massachusetts Global

The University of Massachusetts Global offers a Master of Business Administration program specializing in Marketing. This program is completely online. You can easily get admission here if you have an undergraduate degree, as no special exam scores are required. 

The curriculum of this program covers important marketing concepts and includes courses like marketing research, new product development, advertising and promotion, and international marketing. It requires 36 credit hours, where 24 are for the core courses and 12 focus entirely on marketing aspects. 

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $709 per credit hour
• CH: 36 
• Acceptance Rate: 93%
• School Type: Private Non-Profit 
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission

Texas A&M University-Commerce

The Texas A&M University-Commerce presents an online MS in Marketing and Marketing Analytics, which utilizes the BrightSpace LMS for classes. You might have to take an extra statistics course if you are an undergraduate degree holder with a non-business major. 

Through this MS degree, you can take core marketing courses, various elective courses to customize your degree, and the opportunity to pursue minors in Marketing Analytics or Digital Marketing. You will also have internship opportunities to gain real-world experience. 

• Financial Aid: Available
• Tuition Fees: $758 per credit hour
• CH: 30 
• Completion Time: maximum 1.5 years 
• School Type: Public 
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College

Marist College

Marist College offers a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication, delivered through a completely online curriculum by the BrightSpace LMS. You can complete this degree as a full-time or part-time student. 

This program is for students and working professionals looking forward to gaining more knowledge and skills in the marketing field. The curriculum covers several marketing subjects, including branding, social media, advertising, digital marketing, communication, and public relations.

• Financial Aid: Available 
• Tuition Fees: $920 per credit hour
• CH: 30 
• Completion Time: 1 or 2 years
• Acceptance Rate: 60%
• School Type: Private 
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Related Questions 

Is It Worth Doing a Marketing Master’s Program?

Yes, a Master’s in Marketing is worth it. It provides advanced knowledge and opens doors to higher-level positions with increased salary packages. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, marketing managers in the U.S. made an average of $140,040 per year in 2022. 

What Master’s Degree Should I Get for Marketing?

A Master’s degree in Business Administration focusing on marketing is a good option as it gives broad knowledge of different marketing aspects. Also, master’s in integrated marketing, digital marketing, and strategic management are available if you want to focus on a single path. 

Does Marketing Have a Future?

The marketing field is expanding rapidly. With every brand set to market its products and services, the need for marketers is increasing rapidly. According to BLS, the marketing sector is anticipated to experience a growth rate of 6% between 2022 and 2032, which exceeds the overall average of other fields. 

Conclusion

Now that you know the top affordable online master’s in marketing, you should go with the one that perfectly complements your preferences. Once you get your degree, getting a high-position marketing role at a reputed firm will be easier!