Best Online Digital Marketing Master’s Programs

Looking to advance your career in digital marketing? Check out our guide on the best online digital marketing master’s programs.
Elin Johnson
By
Edited by
Reviewed by
Our Integrity Network

At BestColleges.com, we believe in providing accurate and actionable information for students. Our writers, editors, and reporters are constantly asking themselves the question, "What information is vital to students right now?" Answering this question is what drives us. Our mission is to inform students through straightforward, factual content informed by the latest data and trends.


The freelance Integrity Network at BestColleges is comprised of seasoned professionals who bring their expertise to almost every subject relevant to college students, including admissions, college majors, financial aid, and student mental health. Network members review and author content, pulling from their first-hand industry experience and ensuring content is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.


If you're interested in joining our Integrity Network, contact us at media@bestcolleges.com. Integrity Network members typically have a graduate or terminal degree and several years of relevant professional experience.


Explore our full list of Integrity Network members.

Updated April 22, 2025
chevron-up
Why Trust BestColleges
  • graphs

    3,700+ Nonprofit, accredited colleges analyzed

  • Phone

    6,000+ Users connected with programs every month

  • 300+ College and university partners

  • 40+ Expert reviewers

If you’re looking to advance your career or break into advertising, marketing, or promotions, a master’s degree in digital marketing can be a great option to get you there.

This degree can teach you a wide range of in-demand skills needed to succeed in the field, including digital marketing strategy, social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, and web analytics.

Additionally, graduates with a master’s degree can qualify for more competitive roles and higher-paying jobs. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 86% of the class of 2023 marketing master’s program graduates are employed, with an average starting salary of $67,555.

In this guide, we’ll examine the best online digital marketing master’s programs, including their cost, program length, and application requirements.

Digital Marketing Master’s Degree Highlights

  • Beyond technical skills, a digital marketing master’s program can teach you analytical, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
  • This degree program can help you become a marketing manager, and this role has a median annual salary of $161,030 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
  • Employment for marketing managers is projected to grow by 8% from 2023 until 2033, per the BLS.
  • With a digital marketing master’s degree, you can get into marketing, advertising, public relations, and other related fields.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site
Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site
Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site

Best Online Digital Marketing Master’s Degree Programs

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
chevron-down

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

BestColleges Top-Ranked-2022 Badge2022
  • Affordability (30%)
  • Student outcomes (30%)
  • Reputation (20%)
  • Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

#1

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH4 yearCampus + Online

$18,810

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,810

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

88%

Acceptance Rate

94%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,756

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,756

Retention Rate

65%

Students Enrolled

113,514

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,810

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,810

Manchester, NH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,810

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,810

Acceptance Rate

88%

Online Enrollment

94%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,756

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,756

Retention Rate

65%

Students Enrolled

113,514

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#2

$22,186

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,186

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

92%

Acceptance Rate

19%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$41,154

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$41,154

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

8,206

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,186

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,186

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,186

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,186

Acceptance Rate

92%

Online Enrollment

19%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$41,154

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$41,154

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

8,206

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#3

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL4 yearCampus

$8,922

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,922

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

48%

Acceptance Rate

8%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,466

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,466

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

16,609

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,922

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,922

Dekalb, IL4 yearCampus

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,922

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,922

Acceptance Rate

48%

Online Enrollment

8%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,466

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,466

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

16,609

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Why You Should Get a Master’s in Digital Marketing Degree

  • minusIncrease Your Earning Potential: A master’s degree can make you eligible for higher-paying jobs and salary increases, helping you earn more over time.
  • minusAdvance Your Career: Having a master’s degree can make you a more competitive candidate in the job market, helping you advance your career.
  • minusGain Expertise: This degree can help you gain specialized knowledge and experience in the digital marketing field, keeping your repertoire up to date.

Benefits of Getting a Digital Marketing Master’s Degree Online

According to the online master’s students and graduates surveyed in BestColleges’s 2024 Online Education Trends Report:

  • minus97% said they would recommend online education to others
  • minus97% said they think earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment
  • minus58% said online classes included assignments they could use to explore future career options
  • minus56% said online classes included assignments they could relate to their future jobs

How to Choose the Best Digital Marketing Master’s Program for You

As you research and compare digital marketing master’s programs, consider how much they cost and how long they take to graduate. Also, consider their application requirements and the careers the program can prepare you for.

How Much Does a Master’s in Digital Marketing Program Cost?

Master’s in Business, Management, and Marketing, 2019-2020

Online

$10,995 Avg. Tuition & Fees

$8,534 Avg. Net Price

In-Person

$21,974 Avg. Tuition & Fees

$15,428 Avg. Net Price

Source: NCES PowerStats

The average total cost for a master’s program is roughly $36,760 per year, according to 2019-2020 National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data. However, the price of a master’s program can vary significantly depending on factors such as institution and area of study.

According to 2019-2020 NCES data, the average tuition and fees for a master’s in business, management, and marketing program is $10,995 per year for online programs and $21,974 per year for in-person programs.

Financial aid can lower that price to $8,534 and $15,428 per year, respectively, so make sure to research and apply for institutional, state, and federal financial aid.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing?

Typical # of Credits

30-60 Credits

Typical Program Length

2-3 Years

A master’s degree in digital marketing often requires between 30 and 60 credits, which usually takes students 2-3 years to complete.

You can earn your degree faster by enrolling in an accelerated master’s program. However, keep in mind that these programs condense classes into a shorter time frame, which means you’ll have an intense workload.

You can also consider taking additional classes in the summer or evenings to meet the required credit count faster.

Application Requirements

To apply for master’s in digital marketing programs, you’ll often need:

What Can You Do With a Digital Marketing Master’s Degree?

With a master’s in digital marketing degree and hands-on experience, you can get a job as a chief marketing officer, marketing manager, advertising manager, or marketing research analyst.

Out of these, chief marketing officers and marketing managers have the highest earning potential. According to the BLS, chief executives — a category that includes chief marketing officers — and marketing managers earned median annual salaries of $206,420 and $161,030, respectively, as of May 2024.

Additionally, employment for chief executives and marketing managers is projected to grow by 5% and 8%, respectively, from 2023 to 2033, which is higher than the projected national average rate of 4% for the same time period, according to the BLS.

Popular Marketing Jobs
JobMedian Annual Salary (May 2024)Description
Chief Executives (including Chief Marketing Officers)$206,420Provide direction for companies and organizations; manage operations and ensure goals are met
Marketing Managers$161,030Lead a company’s marketing efforts; develop marketing plans
Advertising and Promotions Managers$126,960Manage budgets and advertising campaigns; do market research and analysis
Marketing Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$76,950Gather, analyze, and interpret market data; make recommendations based on analysis
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Is an Online Digital Marketing Master’s Degree Worth It?

Getting a master’s degree in digital marketing can be worth it if you want a career in the field, as it can help you qualify for higher-paying, more competitive jobs.

According to the NACE, class of 2023 graduates with a master’s degree in marketing earned a higher average starting salary ($67,555) than those with a bachelor’s degree ($56,571). Additionally, a higher percentage of master’s in marketing graduates (76%) secured standard, full-time employment compared to bachelor’s in marketing graduates (64%).

When you compare the average cost of a master’s program in marketing — $10,995 per year for online programs, according to the NCES — to the NACE salary data, you can see earning a master’s degree can be worth it as it may lead to a positive return on investment.

Also, according to those surveyed in BestColleges’s 2024 Online Education Trends Report, students and graduates of online master’s programs have generally found their classes and programs to be valuable to their careers. Online programs can have more flexible schedules than in-person classes and will likely cut down students’ commutes, which can make them a good fit for working adult learners.

Education Beyond a Master’s Degree

After you’ve earned your master’s degree in digital marketing, you can consider pursuing a doctorate in marketing. This can help prepare you to teach or conduct research at the university level.

However, according to the BLS, a bachelor’s degree in marketing is enough to qualify for many marketing jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Marketing Master’s Degrees

You can get into digital marketing by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing and gaining work experience through entry-level jobs.

Additionally, internship options and networking opportunities can help you get your foot in the door, while earning a master’s degree can bolster your skillset.

Explore More College Resources

A Complete Guide to Marketing Careers

A Complete Guide to Marketing Careers

Are you interested in a marketing career but aren’t sure which role to pursue? Then check out our guide to 10 of the best marketing jobs.

Bernard Grant, Ph.D.

by Bernard Grant, Ph.D.

Updated April 10, 2025

How Much Does a Digital Marketer Make?

How Much Does a Digital Marketer Make?

Interested in digital marketing jobs? Learn about the salary potential of your future digital marketing career.

Elin Johnson

by Elin Johnson

Updated December 20, 2024

How to Earn a Digital Marketing Certificate

How to Earn a Digital Marketing Certificate

Want to specialize in digital marketing? Earning your certificate in digital marketing can help you advance in this in-demand area.

Genevieve Carlton, Ph.D.

by Genevieve Carlton, Ph.D.

Updated May 31, 2024