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MBA vs. MS Marketing
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Get started on an MBA or MS Marketing from WGU.
Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Marketing?
When deciding which degree to pursue, it’s important to keep your eye on the end goal. Instead of asking yourself, “What program should I choose?”, the better question is, “Which program best matches my interests and career aspirations?” For instance, if your goal is to become an operations director, you'll find that the curriculum of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree will give you a better business foundation than a master’s in marketing would. Meanwhile, if you’re interested in becoming a brand manager, then the master’s degree in marketing is perfect for you. This article will explore the details of both degree paths to help you decide which is a better fit for you.
What is an MBA?
An MBA degree is a graduate-level program designed for students who want to advance their business careers. The curriculum in this type of degree program is packed with essential learning that’s vital to your success as a leader, including topics such as management, strategy, finance, and marketing. Getting your MBA is a strategic step if you see yourself in a leadership or management role.
What is an M.S. in Marketing?
A master's marketing degree is a graduate-level program designed to deepen your knowledge of marketing. In this type of degree, you’ll learn advanced marketing concepts and gain the ability to apply them with technical expertise. This will prepare you to take on a variety of advanced roles in sales, promotions, and management.
Who Should Pursue an MBA?
If you're interested in a career leading teams, analyzing numbers, developing strategy, and connecting with an audience, an MBA could be exactly what you're looking for. It can open the door to many management and C-level career opportunities—and to some of the highest salaries in the job market.
Who Should Pursue an M.S. in Marketing?
If you already work in the field of marketing and want to increase your earning potential and opportunity for advancement, this program is a good way to go. It can also be a good fit if you have a general undergraduate degree and want to gain more specific and advanced marketing skills.
Program Similarities
Business and marketing degrees have some overlap in both their coursework and career outlook. You'll learn similar core skills—such as strategic thinking, communication, and leadership—that will empower you to help businesses advance and increase their market value. Graduates of both programs enjoy a constant demand for positions and great job satisfaction in many different industries.
Program Differences
An MBA focuses more on general business principles and dives into topics such as finance and operations, which can help you build a stronger business background. A marketing master’s degree is more specialized. It teaches you skills that are specific to marketing, including social media, SEO, and market research, which can help you build or grow in your current marketing career.
What Courses are in the MBA Program?
- Managing Organizations and Leading People
- Managing Human Capital
- Management Communication
- Operations Management
- Global Economics
- Marketing
- Accounting
- Ethical Leadership
- Financial Management
- Data-Driven Decision Making
What Courses are in the M.S. in Marketing?
- Digital Marketing Foundations
- Social Media Marketing
- Marketing in the Digital Era
- Marketing Research
- Marketing Communications and Storytelling
- Product, Price, and Customer Experience
- Email Marketing
- E-Commerce and Marketing Analytics
- Brand Management
- Managing Organizations and Leading People
- Strategic Decision-Making
MBA Career Options
Earning an MBA can open doors to management and C-level positions in nearly every industry, from finance to human resources. Completing your MBA will qualify you for roles such as:
MS in Marketing Career Options
With a master's in marketing, you’ll be ready to explore many different career paths, depending on your interests and area of specialization. Here are some of the job titles this program can prepare you for:
Programs at a Glance
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Business
Marketing – M.S.
Two online marketing master's degree options with a focus on either...
Two online marketing master's degree options with a focus on either digital marketing or marketing analytics.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish WGU master's programs in 18 months
- Tuition: $4,530 per 6-month term
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program
- Specialization: Students choose from two specializations to focus their marketing studies on digital marketing or marketing analytics
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Management
- Strategic Planning
- Digital Marketing Analytics
- Presentations
- Market Research
- Communications
A marketing master's degree will help you prepare for a wide range of exciting marketing careers.
While the choice between getting your MBA or MS Marketing graduate degrees can be a tough one, the good news is both will help you gain valuable management experience that can be applied immediately in a business environment.
Whether your goals relate with a more quantitative focus or to leading people and managing innovation and change—it really just depends on your experience, your interests, and where you envision yourself in the future.
Why WGU?
Be Career Ready
Designed with input from healthcare leaders, our accredited programs give you the skills and credentials today’s employers need. That’s why 97% of employers said they’d hire another WGU grad.1
1: 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU grads.
Get and Keep the Job You Want to Have
85% of WGU graduates are employed in their degree fields—and 87% are employed full-time.2
2: 2023 Harris Poll of 1,655 WGU grads.
Save Money
With flat-rate tuition that is 48% lower than the national average3 and generous need-based scholarships, our degrees are an excellent investment that you can afford.
3: National rates reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System in 2022. WGU average rate does not include rates for WGU Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Prelicensure program.
Work as You Need While Going to School
At WGU, you can complete courses, take tests, and graduate on your schedule. In fact, many of our healthcare students work full-time while earning their life-changing bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
"Take the time to invest in yourself and develop new skills and knowledge. Going back to school to get my B.A. and MBA was one of the best decisions I made. I have no regrets over my decision to invest in myself and further my education. Plus, I did not have any student debt after graduation with WGU keeping tuition so affordable."
—Sandra Barber
MBA
COST & TIME
An Affordable Master's Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
WGU allowed me to continue doing the things I love, spending time with my family, and traveling for my job. Another major plus was that the competency-based system enabled me to focus my time in the areas I needed to learn to further my career.”
—Shonna Wessels
M.S. Management and Leadership
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
100% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
