Ready for a raise and better job opportunities? A Master of Business Administration (MBA) in marketing can be a great way to get there.
Emporia State University (ESU) offers an online MBA with a Marketing Concentration that working professionals can complete in as few as 12 months. With six start dates each year, students can jump right into developing the sought-after skills and knowledge they need to land high-level marketing roles.
What Is the Demand for Marketing MBAs?
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) 2023 Corporate Recruiters Survey shows that marketing is one of the most in-demand job functions for new business school grads. In a ranking of 19 job roles, the surveyed employers reported they were most likely to place MBA grads in marketing, consulting, or strategy/innovation roles. Marketing came out ahead of finance, accounting, business intelligence/analytics, human resources management, and numerous other classic business roles.
How Is ESU’s Marketing MBA Designed for Working Adults?
The road to an MBA typically begins with an exam. Many MBA programs require an applicant submit their Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores as part of the admission process. This exam was designed to predict how well applicants will do in an MBA program.
Not surprisingly, students often approach this exam with more than a little apprehension. And with a $275 fee for the GMAT (when taken in person, in the U.S., as of October 2023) — and extra fees for online test delivery, certain score reports, rescheduling, and cancellation — the cost adds up, especially for anyone who needs to retake this exam.
Working professionals will be happy to learn that they may be able to bypass the GMAT exam. At ESU, for example, admissions requirements focus on grades from undergraduate education as well as work experience. A student may wish to submit GMAT scores if it would help offset a poor undergrad GPA. But the GMAT won’t make or break the chance of earning an online MBA in marketing from ESU.
That is not the only aspect of ESU’s marketing MBA that appeals to working adults. Coursework based on case studies means students can apply what they learn directly to their current work. Core coursework boosts competencies in essential areas such as economics, finance, strategic management, marketing strategy, and information systems for managerial decision-making. The marketing curriculum includes the in-depth exploration of marketing analytics, consumer behavior, and electronic marketing, bringing students up to date with current practices, trends, and innovations in marketing.
Plus, students can earn the MBA in marketing from ESU entirely online, completing studies wherever and whenever is most convenient. This is a crucial benefit of the online education design for working adults. With 100% online coursework, professionals don’t have to quit their jobs or lose out on income in order to pursue an MBA and the career advancement opportunities the degree can provide.
What Can Marketing MBA Grads Expect?
Higher salaries are a potential perk of earning a marketing MBA. A master’s may not be required for all marketing jobs, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employers of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers may prefer to hire candidates with a master’s degree.
The 2023 GMAC survey backs up higher salaries for MBAs. Companies in the U.S. reported offering a median base salary of $125,000 per year to recent MBA graduates. By comparison, new hires with undergraduate degrees were entering the field at $75,000.
For marketing managers in particular, BLS reports a median annual wage of $140,040 as of May 2022. Salaries for top 10% earners in this upper-level marketing role were greater than $239,000.
Adding to the advantages of a marketing MBA, the job outlook for marketing managers is better than average. BLS projects job growth of 7% for marketing managers from 2022 to 2032, versus 3% average growth for all occupations.
With a marketing MBA in hand, graduates can advance their career in higher-level roles such as:
- Marketing Analyst
- Internet Marketer
- Brand Manager
- Marketing Research Analyst
- Media Planner
- Chief Marketing Officer
An MBA with a Marketing Concentration can give business professionals the analytical skills they need to lead in today’s digital marketplace. An online program such as ESU’s marketing MBA can help working professionals get where they want to go.
Learn more about ESU’s online MBA with a Marketing Concentration program.
