Get a Marketing Degree From One of the Top Programs

Learn about the top jobs you can get with a marketing degree. Find out more about several of the best schools for marketing majors.

Marketing majors learn how to create advertisement campaigns and run sales promotions. There are many different jobs which either require or benefit from a marketing degree. Companies are always going to need advertisers to either help them market their products or services, or experts to break down their core demographics. Marketing programs focus on several different subjects, including consumer behavior, public relations, research, communications, and marketing strategy.

Specializing in marketing requires multiple skills. Critical thinking, creativity, analytical skills, and knowledge of the media are all important for marketing majors. Students with an interest in psychology may enjoy marketing because it involves studying consumer trends and understanding what appeals to customers. If you are more math or science inclined, you will enjoy the research and data collection aspects of marketing. Once you graduate with a marketing degree, there are many jobs available to you.

Brand or Product Manager

Brand or product managers act as the heads of marketing services. Many are promoted from within a company after working as a research analyst or a sales representative. Being a brand manager is difficult and requires both strong communication skills to organize your employees as well as creative thinking to come up with a strong marketing campaign. While most of your research is performed by an assistant, you must be able to direct your research team and follow marketing trends to create a strong campaign.

Brand managers are also responsible for pitching ideas to the rest of the company. In addition to selling products, you may be asked to help with business plans for investors, essentially making a marketing pitch for your company. Brand managers have one of the highest salaries for marketing jobs, earning on average between $100,000 and $110,000.

Event or Meeting Coordinator

Another popular job for marketing majors is working as an event or meeting. While many coordinators are partnered with a larger company, you can also work as a freelancer. Even if you are with a company, you typically have a great deal of freedom in selecting your clients. Some of the events that require a coordinator include weddings, press conferences, workplace training sessions and promotional events. Each type of event requires a custom approach.

Communication is key for event coordinators. You must be able to listen to what your client wants and explain in detail how you plan to host their event. You are also responsible for coordinating with other services involved in the event, such as caterers, hotels and even the press. Your salary greatly varies depending on what type of events you specialize in, but you can expect to earn on average between $56,000 and $60,000 a year.

Fundraiser

A common misconception is non-profit organizations do not have employees. Most non-profits only have a small handful of employees, but they are paid surprisingly well. Fundraisers have similarities with both event coordinators and brand managers. You must know how to host large events while also advertising your nonprofit and convincing donors to support you. It is a difficult job because you have less resources available compared to other marketing jobs and must work with a tighter budget, but it is also rewarding to help nonprofit groups grow. On average, fundraisers make $60,000 to $70,000, based on the organization.

Public Relations (PR) Agents

Unlike other marketing jobs, the goal of a PR agent is not to sell a product, but an individual or company. Many agents also have some degree of journalistic training since they frequently speak with members of the press. PR agents often have a small team to assist them. You may also work with other marketing agents, such as event coordinators. Networking is an important part of being a PR agent. You must also be able to work at odd hours and come up with creative solutions to either promote your clients or spin negative press. PR agents make on average $50,000 to $55,000.

Social Media Manager

One of the newest career paths for marketing majors is working as a social media manager. Research is critical to succeed as a social media manager. You must be able to follow up on the latest trends and understand how to best promote your clients using social media. Some mangers specialize on one or two sites, while others run accounts across multiple platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube. While you do not have to be a technology expert, you must have a general understanding of online marketing versus traditional marketing. Social media managers make around $55,000 every year.

Harvard Business School

When looking for business schools, it is hard to find a more respectable program than Harvard. Harvard is an ivy league school, making it one of the most competitive universities in the United States. Not only do you receive an excellent marketing education, but you are more likely to get a higher starting salary if employers see you graduate from Harvard. The university also helps new marketing graduates’ network with marketing alumni, making it even easier to find a job after graduating. Because it is one of the best schools in the state, it also has a high tuition, costing around $73,000 as of writing.

University of Pennsylvania

UPenn is a private university which is constantly ranked in the top 20 business schools in the United States. The school has a robust marketing program, focusing on many different marketing careers. In recent years, the school is known for placing a greater emphasis on marketing in the 21^st century. Students learn how to follow social media trends, the benefits of pop culture marketing and how to run online campaigns. In addition to general marketing, students also learn about budgeting and financial reporting for large media campaigns. The average tuition cost is $57,000.

Stern School of Business

Stern is a part of New York University. The school has a unique marketing program, where students are separated into small groups of 60 before their classes begin. The goal is to get students used to working in small groups, which is a key part of most marketing jobs. All the classes encourage students to think creatively and come up with unique solutions to problems. The program works hard to balance hands on lessons with traditional lectures and reading. The average cost of tuition is around $55,000.

McCombs School of Business

McCombs is part of Texas University at Austin. The university prides itself on covering all the necessary skills market majors need to succeed, such as management, research, and communication. The courses also cover important financial information, such as setting a budget and even how to market your business to investors. The average tuition cost is around $38,000, making it one of the most affordable schools for marketing majors.