Best Online Master’s in Digital Marketing Programs

In a master’s program in digital marketing, students learn how to make data-driven marketing decisions and create targeted content for any audience. The training expands on foundational marketing and business concepts and equips learners with skills in analytics, content strategizing, and market research. Graduates may qualify for careers in marketing, business, and management.

The rise in digital marketing and the globalization of markets has created a need for fresh thinking at organizations.

As a result, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 8% growth for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers between 2023 and 2033, higher than the projected growth rate for all occupations. These professionals also earned a high median annual salary of $156,580 in May 2023.

Master’s programs in digital marketing can lead to many business careers and ddegrees at the doctoral level. However, prospective students still need to be thoughtful when choosing a graduate program to ensure it will prepare them for the specific career they want to pursue. To get potential marketing grad students started, we put together information on the training and the application process, plus a list of the best online master’s in digital marketing programs from the top online schools.

To best prepare for graduate school, prospective students should expect to complete 30-45 credits over the course of 1-2 years.

Digital marketing programs attract aspiring business professionals with creativity and a desire to solve problems with innovative solutions. Throughout their training, learners will acquire skills in market research, data analysis, search engine optimization (SEO), and communications.

A master’s in digital marketing typically combines business and marketing coursework, market and consumer research, and practical exercises. These exercises may extend to full internships or practicums in some programs. Students may also complete a thesis for their degree.

Schools may award different types of digital marketing degrees, including MS and MBA degrees, which are the most common. While much of the training in these programs overlaps, they may differ in their focus and professional direction.

For instance, MBA programs emphasize management practices and business applications, whereas MS programs feature more specialized and analytical training.

Another major difference is that digital marketing is always a specialization within an MBA program, while students can major in digital marketing in an MS program. Some MS programs even offer further specializations, such as market research, SEO, and social media marketing.

Students in this course explore the goals and processes involved in marketing. The training looks at the methods for collecting and applying market and consumer information and how marketing can influence other management decisions.

In this course, students learn how to create digital marketing strategies. They examine methods for collecting information, planning and evaluating campaigns, and executing their designs on various channels.

This course explores the most common practices for gathering and analyzing consumer insights. Students learn how to identify consumer interests and predict consumer activity through market research.

In this course, students examine how to use data analytics to improve marketing activities. They look at data mining, predictive analytics, and segmentation, plus visualizing and modeling their findings.

Students in this course learn how to develop brand management strategies. They also study how managers maintain and grow brand equity, plus tactics for measuring brand effectiveness.

A master’s in digital marketing can equip graduates with the skills necessary for most marketing positions. In these programs, they can also acquire business and leadership training, which makes them effective managers, analysts, and consultants.

The BLS projects the addition of more than 31,100 new advertising, promotions, and marketing managers between 2023 and 2033, as a result of standard turnover. The BLS projects the addition of more than 1.2 million management jobs between 2023 and 2033 as well, many of which master’s graduates can pursue.

The median annual wage for marketing managers was $157,620 in May 2023, one of the highest salaries within the management occupational group. Marketing managers earned significantly more than the median wage across all occupations during the same time period.

Discover what professional opportunities you can access with a master’s in digital marketing.

Marketing managers handle the branding and advertising strategies for an organization’s products and services. They gather information about consumer and market trends to identify potential markets, campaign ideas, and product development approaches. These professionals work closely with sales, development, and public relations professionals.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $156,580

Market research analysts study markets and consumers to gain information that might help organizations with their product and service launches. They create surveys and analyze data to learn about ideal price points, consumer interest and demand, and market opportunities. They also evaluate and report on the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and consumer satisfaction.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $74,620

Public relations managers help craft and manage an organization’s public image. They oversee the public communications, ensure messaging is consistent and appropriate across all departments, and monitor the reception and response within various channels. These professionals work closely with marketing, management, and the media.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $130,480

Sales managers oversee an organization’s sales staff and activities. They set sales targets and develop strategies to meet those goals, while also analyzing performance metrics, creating customer incentives, and making and reporting projections. Sales managers also work with finance and marketing professionals.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $135,160

Management analysts work with organizations to improve their management processes and operations. They gather and review information, develop and introduce new practices, and create reports for management and stakeholders to review. These analysts may specialize in a certain aspect of the organization or work with specific organizations and industries.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $99,410

The value of a master’s in digital marketing does not only apply to the professional field. Graduates can also use their training for many continuing education pursuits, including a doctorate in digital marketing or a general doctorate in marketing.

Graduates, particularly those with an MBA in digital marketing, can go on to pursue a doctorate in business administration as well. They might also build on their leadership training and pursue a doctorate in organizational leadership.

A master’s in digital marketing can be worth it. The degree may lead to further studies and careers in many fields, including marketing and business. The advanced training also prepares graduates for management and analyst careers.

Degree-seekers in remote master’s in digital marketing programs can also benefit from the increased value of an online degree. Online learning can provide more flexible study schedules for working students.

A graduate with a master’s in digital marketing can access many career fields, including various marketing and business positions. They may qualify for management roles in both of these sectors. Graduates may pursue many different management careers, such as in public relations and sales management.

In terms of continuing education, graduates can pursue many pathways. They may look into doctorates in marketing, business, or leadership. Those who choose to pursue doctoral degrees may go on to apply for roles in academia and research and development.

Yes. Digital marketing graduates are in demand because of the increased use of digital marketing as a means for organizations to expand their consumer base. The BLS projects 8% growth for marketing management occupations between 2023 and 2033, which equates to the addition of more than 31,000 new jobs during that period.

Graduates can also access other in-demand fields. The BLS projects 8% growth for market research analysts between 2023 and 2033, 7% growth for public relations managers, and 11% growth for management analysts.

How much a professional with a master’s in digital marketing can earn depends on their position, employer, and industry. For example, according to the BLS, marketing managers made a median annual wage of $157,620 in May 2023. Advertising and promotions managers made $156,580.

Market research analysts earned a median annual wage of $74,680 during the same period. Public relations managers made a median annual wage of $130,480, nearly $75,000 more than the median annual salary across all occupations.

Among graduates with a master’s in digital marketing, marketing managers earn the most. According to the BLS, these professionals made a median annual wage of $157,620 in May 2023. The top 10% of marketing managers earned more than $239,200.

Sales managers also made high median annual wages in May 2023, earning $135,160 per year. The top 10% in this field made more than $239,200 during the same period. In terms of top-paying industries, marketing managers in professional and technical earned $165,050 in May 2023, according to the BLS.