The MBA That Fits Your Life
- Just over $19K total tuition
- Program accredited by ACBSP
- No GRE/GMAT required
- Complete in about 1 year
- Learn to maximize market potential
- Earn credentials along the way
MBA in Marketing Online Program Overview
Learn how to maximize market potential or brands and businesses when you earn your Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University.
Marketing is about more than selling a product. It's about creating a lasting relationship between a brand and a consumer. As such, it can be one of the most powerful tools there is to drive business – not only today, but in the future.
SNHU's MBA is one of the most affordable master of business administration programs in the nation at only $18,810 in total tuition. And in about a year, you could not only get an MBA, but also earn embedded, industry-recognized credentials to help build your resume and strengthen your personal brand along the way.
The program's coursework – revised in 2021 – can help you understand how to attract buyers of all demographics and use your expertise to meet business marketing objectives. Classes help you develop skills around emotional intelligence and critical thinking to better understand target consumers.
What You'll Learn
- Application of business practices in a marketing context
- Data analysis & interpretation skills to inform decisions
- Adaptable strategy development & advancement
- Models & processes to improve organizations
- Approaches to cultivate globally aware teams
How You'll Learn
At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.
Career Outlook
In the coming years, marketing managers continue to be in demand, as organizations use marketing campaigns to maintain and expand their market share.
Job Growth
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, career opportunities for advertising, promotions and marketing managers are expected to grow 6% — faster than average for all occupations — through 2032.1
Salary
The median annual salary for advertising, promotions and marketing managers was $138,730 in 2022.1
Understanding the Numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.
The revised MBA in Marketing online program is designed to advance your career in agency or corporate marketing, advertising and sales positions.
After completing your master's program, you'll be prepared for many types of senior positions — plus, you'll be armed with specialty marketing knowledge and an understanding of how to appeal to your customer base.
Faced with a truly global marketplace, companies continually seek new ways to make their products and services stand out in a crowded market and connect with consumers. With the recent increase in use of social media platforms to promote companies' brands, products and services, employees with expertise in the latest marketing trends will be especially valued.1
That's why SNHU's MBA in Marketing was revamped in 2021. Designed to help you learn business skills across segments, but also those specific to marketing in the program's core courses, including learning modern, key brand elements, applications of market research and audience identification, as well as how to build strategy across channels.
Plus, recruiting for MBA grads is still high. Even mid-pandemic 2020, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) noted that 89% of recruiters it surveyed still planned on hiring MBA grads in 2021.2
“It’s starting to click a little bit more, and you take a more in-depth look at organizations you’re working with,” he said.
A focus in marketing with a foundation in business can help open up many different doors to your future. Whether you're looking to join forces with an established corporation or use your talents to help build a startup from the ground up, you'll be positioned to take the next step of your career.
Where Could You Work?
Advertising
Create interest among potential buyers of a product/service for a department or entire organization.
Finance
Estimate the demand for products/services that an organization and its competitors offer.
Technical Services
Use customer/trend research to create strategies that will influence how consumers perceive a brand.
Healthcare
Promote healthcare organizations and ensure patients receive information needed to make critical healthcare decisions.
Wholesale
Direct and oversee an organization's sales department, including policies, objectives and initiatives.
Public Relations
Clarify an organization's point of view to its main audience through media releases and interviews.
Start Your Journey Toward an Online MBA in Marketing Degree
Why SNHU For Your Marketing MBA
Flexible
With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7. Our online MBA program offers more fluidity around assignment due dates than before and course resources better suited for the on-the-go learner.
Affordable
As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.
Prior coursework and work experience could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s MBA transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 6 credits from your previous institution. You could also earn college credit for previous work experience.
Respected
Founded in 1932, SNHU is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) — which means our 200+ associate, bachelor's and master's programs meet high academic standards. In addition, many of SNHU's degree programs also carry specialized programmatic accreditation. This includes our portfolio of business programs, which are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
To be regionally accredited, one of 7 regional accreditation organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has determined that the university meets its high academic standards and expectations. Most nonprofit institutions are institutionally accredited.
In addition, SNHU's suite of online business programs, including the MBA, are also programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
In addition, SNHU has been nationally recognized for its efforts to lead the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:
- “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
- A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
- Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium
Extensive Business Alumni Network
Since our first MBA graduate class in 1974, we’ve welcomed over 20,000 MBA graduates to our alumni network. For current students, that means an extensive business networking group, an opportunity to seek out college mentorship opportunities and learn from students who have already walked the path.
93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.
Admission Requirements
Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:
- Completed free application
- Undergraduate transcripts, which we can retrieve for you by submitting a transcript request form
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms.
How to Apply
If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:
- Complete free graduate application
- Submit undergraduate transcripts
- Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through application process
What SNHU Students Are Saying
"Earning my MBA in Marketing was not only a huge personal accomplishment, but one that comes with a number of professional benefits as well. Knowledge is power, and the more you learn, the more of an asset you become to any organization."
Courses & Curriculum
With an overhaul in 2021, the online MBA program has features that can benefit all business students.
The marketing MBA program is now made up of 7 core classes and 3 concentration classes – allowing you to finish your program in about a year should you attend full time.
In your business core, you'll study topics like leadership, strategy and innovation. But unlike other MBA programs out there, all topics are weaved throughout the courses so that more business practices come together at once – giving you an efficient MBA experience.
With the MBA program, one course you – as a marketer – might be particularly interested in is the Optimizing Brands class.
Here, you'll learn how to balance brand management with impactful marketing strategies. You'll also study the key brand elements of identity, trust and building habit-forming brand experiences. Throughout the course, you'll get hands-on experience as you develop a marketing strategy for an organization, applying skills you're building like market research, target market identification, customer trends in the marketplace and ethical considerations.
You'll find that you'll gain that real-world experience throughout your business core. The curriculum now features scenario-based learning activities throughout the program. You'll "live" in an interactive storyline, meaning you'll be assigned a situation that needs a solution. Then you'll work your way through it by using what you're learning in the classroom – skills like critical and creative thinking, problem-solving skills, or disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge.
You then have 3 concentration courses in your program. Each explores a different area of marketing, helping you build a toolkit of skills you can successfully apply in the real world:
- Promotions Management addresses the specific activities involved in managing an advertising campaign, including research, media selection, copywriting, layouts and the role of ad agencies.
- Consumer Behavior and Marketing investigates psychological, sociological, economic and anthropological influences – both theoretical and research based. Applying these principles, you'll then learn how to design effective marketing strategies and ultimately a fully-fleshed out marketing plan.
- Brand Management helps you develop an understanding of the theories, models and strategies that enable an organization to achieve its branding goals. Through a combination of text and current research publications, students will be exposed to current and emerging brand theories and models.
For Michael Krupa ’20, the Brand Management course functioned as a perfect capstone to the MBA in Marketing.
"Brand Management was the class that stood out to me the most," Krupa said. "The course taught me so much about the various levels of branding, what a brand truly is and how it is so much more than a logo and colors."
The assignments and hands-on learning format, he said, helped him connect the dots and extract deeper meaning from the material.
"While the readings, discussions and assignments were exciting, my instructor was also engaging," Krupa said. "Ultimately, I learned that successful branding can truly define the personality and unique identity of an organization."
Should you be interested in learning even more about marketing beyond your MBA, you could also pursue a graduate certificate beyond the standard degree program. This allows you to list another significant credential on your resume with minimal additional coursework. If you chose to earn your marketing graduate certificate, you could enhance your marketing know-how and add an additional credential to your resume with just 2 extra courses.
Don't have a business background? No problem. Our MBA is accessible to everyone. Interested students must have a conferred undergraduate degree for acceptance, but it can be in any field. Those without an undergraduate degree in business or a related field may be asked to complete up to 2 foundation courses to get started. These foundations cover essential business skill sets and can be used to satisfy elective requirements for the general-track MBA. With foundations, the maximum length of your online MBA would be 36 credits.
Attend full time or part time. Students in the MBA have the option to enroll full time (at 2 classes per term) or part time (with 1 class per term). Full-time students should be able to complete the program in about 1 year, while part-time students could finish in about 2 years. Our SNHU students are busy, often juggling jobs, family and other obligations, so you may want to work with your academic advisor to identify the course plan that works for you. The good news is, you can switch from full time to part time and back again as often as you want.
| View Full Curriculum in the Catalog |
|---|
| MBA - Marketing |
| Courses May Include | ||
|---|---|---|
| MBA Marketing Online | ||
| MBA 580 | Innovation and Strategy for High-Performance Organizations | High performance organizational leaders cultivate innovative thinking and processes and their application to developing successful business strategies. Students will analyze the attributes of innovative thinkers and cultures and how organizational structure and policy can promote or inhibit innovation. The course will explore the market and technology forces that drive the adoption of innovation and the tools and methods--such as risk analysis, economic analysis, statistics, and forecasting--to drive the analysis, selection, and implementation of innovative products and processes. |
| MBA 645 | Optimizing Brands | Organizational leaders balance brand management and its relationship with impactful marketing strategies. Students will study the key brand elements of identity, trust, and building habit-forming brand experiences. By applying market research, target market identification, customer trends in the marketplace, and ethical considerations, students will develop a marketing strategy for an organization. |
| MKT 610 | Promotions Management | This course addresses the specific activities involved in managing an advertising campaign, including research, media selection, copywriting, layouts and the role of ad agencies. |
| MKT 620 | Consumer Behavior and Marketing | This course focuses on the market's consumer behavior by investigating its psychological, sociological, economic, and anthropological influences, both theoretical and research based. Designing effective marketing strategies will be explored using the knowledge of these influences. |
| MKT 678 | Brand Management | Strong brands are increasingly recognized as one of a company's most valuable assets. Brands create expectations in consumers, and by their nature implicate the company in delivering on those expectations. Therefore, the tasks of creating, building and managing brands are critical success factors for a firm. This course seeks to develop in students an understanding of the theories, models, and strategies that enable a firm to achieve its branding goals. Through a combination of text and current research publications, students will be exposed to current and emerging brand theories and models. By analyzing cases, and reading and reviewing current business literature, students will gain understanding into how those theories and models translate into strategies and implementations. |
| Total Credits: 30 | ||
Minimum Hardware Requirements
|
Component Type |
PC (Windows OS) |
Apple (Mac OS) |
|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
Currently supported operating system from Microsoft. |
Currently supported operating system from Apple. |
|
Memory (RAM) |
8GB or higher |
8GB or higher |
|
Hard Drive |
100GB or higher |
100GB or higher |
|
Antivirus Software |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
|
SNHU Purchase Programs |
||
|
Internet/ Bandwidth |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
Notes:
- Laptop or desktop? Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.
- Note: Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.
- Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government.
- Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Technical Requirements
Video Communication Platform:
- Mac or PC desktop or laptop (not a mobile device or tablet)
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Required: At least 1 Mbps upload/download speed
- Learn more about our detailed technical requirements
Internet Connectivity for Virtual Labs:
- Recommended: 5Mbps upload/download speed with less than 40ms latency
University Accreditation
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
| Online Graduate Programs | Per Course | Per Credit Hour | Annual Cost for 15 credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree/Certificates | $1,911 | $637 | $9,555 |
|
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* |
$1,410 | $470 | $7,050 |
Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
*Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.
Additional Costs:
Course Materials ($ varies by course). Foundational courses may be required based on your undergraduate course history, which may result in additional cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an MBA worth it for marketing?
Most definitely. Results from the Corporate Recruiters Survey 2020 from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) look promising: Even during the 2020 pandemic, 89% of recruiters surveyed said they had plans to hire MBAs in 2021.2
Given marketing’s essential role in growing business, SNHU’s online MBA in marketing is a worthwhile investment in your career.
What are the subjects in MBA in Marketing?
An MBA in Marketing covers a lot of ground in business.
For example, at SNHU, there are 7 core business courses in the program. Here, you'll cover leadership, strategy, innovation and more.
Two classes that may be of interest to you in this part of your program are Optimizing Brands and Measuring Success in an Organization.
In the first course, you'll learn how to create awareness of your brand, while in the second class, you'll better understand how to quantify the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.
In addition to the business courses, SNHU's MBA in Marketing requires 3 concentration courses in marketing. These may include:
- Promotions Management: This course can help expose you to the critical elements of an advertising campaign. You'll explore specific marketing activities including research, media selection, copywriting, layouts and the role of ad agencies in helping you execute your specific marketing and business goals.
- Consumer Behavior and Marketing: Marketing is all about reaching people. From identifying target audiences and demographics, to observing their desires, pain points and motivators, this course goes in depth into what drives consumer behavior. You'll specifically examine psychological, sociological, economic and anthropological factors, both from a theoretical and research-based perspective. Finally, you'll learn how to design effective marketing strategies based on these influences, using both quantitative and qualitative research to back your findings.
- Brand Management: What does it take to form and preserve a brand? It's a lot more than a logo or a tagline – and this course explores the nuances of what that really means. You'll learn about theories, models and strategies that can help companies achieve their branding goals. You'll also study current and emerging brand theories and models. Finally, you'll analyze cases and review the current literature – including both academic and business journals – to see how these theories and models translate into real-world strategies and implementations.
Dr. Jessica Rogers, SNHU’s associate dean of marketing, offers further insights on SNHU’s online MBA marketing programs.
“Our marketing programs are different in that they were designed with a very strategic approach by our academic team, including myself,” said Rogers. “We have connected and aligned our programs to industry.”
What can I do with an MBA in Marketing?
There's so much you can do in marketing once you've earned your MBA.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, graduates of the marketing MBA online can pursue a variety of marketing-related jobs. A master’s degree often improves job prospects, and likewise for those who can navigate the digital world.1 Typical roles include:
- Advertising managers fuel interest in a product or service among consumers. They work in ad agencies that create advertising campaigns for clients, in media firms that sell ad space or time on a variety of media channels, and in organizations with large advertising budgets.
- Promotions managers lead programs that use incentives to boost sales. Tactics might include everything from digital display ads and paid social media to in-store displays, direct mail, newspaper ads and special events. Incentives range from discounts or rebates to free samples, sweepstakes and contests.
- Marketing managers project demand. They might monitor trends, identify potential markets and develop pricing strategies, working with sales, public relations and product development teams. They might even help develop a product or service and create a marketing plan for it.
Is there an MBA in Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is so prevalent today that any well-designed MBA in marketing incorporates it. Whether it’s search engine optimization, social media marketing, mobile marketing or marketing analytics, digital marketing is integral to modern-day marketing plans.
SNHU’s online MBA marketing program integrates digital marketing throughout. The program includes a course on marketing and strategy that focuses specifically on brand management. This course approaches marketing from a strategic partnership perspective, covering concepts like pricing strategies, market analysis and product differentiation. Students learn how the marketing mix, particularly digital marketing, factors into organizational decision making.
That said, if you're interested in an online master's that takes a deeper dive into digital marketing strategies, check out our master's in digital marketing degree.
Is an MBA in Marketing a good choice?
Certainly! Depending on who you are and where you'd like to go in your career, it can be the right choice for you. Not only is an MBA in marketing a versatile and desirable degree, but it also opens up diverse, well-paid employment opportunities.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of marketing managers is expected to increase by 6% through 2032– faster than the national average for all occupations.1 In 2022, the median annual wage for these roles was reportedly $138,730 – well above the median annual salary for all U.S. workers.1
This growth is partly driven by the evolving use of digital media marketing strategies. Businesses throughout all different sectors and industries rely on websites, social media and digital videos to share their brand stories and reach consumers. An expertly crafted digital campaign can be a powerful business tool, especially when paired with consumer expectations for lightning-fast, one click away e-commerce options.
Apart from positive career projections and above-average pay in the field, an MBA in Marketing can also be a powerful vehicle for personal growth.
For Michael Krupa ’20, earning his degree marked a big step forward in his life and career.
"SNHU’s MBA in Marketing gave me an opportunity to learn from instructors with experience, interact with classmates through detailed discussions, and compile research on topics I found most interesting and wanted to know more about," he said.
Virtually every aspect of business – identifying the needs of prospective customers, designing products and packaging, setting prices, sales and distribution – depends on marketing.
As Dr. Jessica Rogers, SNHU’s associate dean of marketing, puts it, “marketing is the driving force in business.”
Those interested in an advanced degree may also want to consider earning an online master's in marketing.
Related Articles
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SNHU Spotlight: Luis Polanco, BS in Business Administration Grad
SNHU Spotlight: Lynda Jarrett, BS in Business Administration Grad
References
Sources & Citations (1, 2)
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/OOH/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023).
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
2Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), The Impact of COVID-19 on the Hiring of Business School Graduates: Corporate Recruiters Survey 2020 [PDF], on the internet, at https://www.gmac.com/-/media/files/gmac/research/employment-outlook/business-school-hiring-report_corporate-recruiters-survey-2019_may-2019.pdf (viewed Nov. 8, 2020)