Marketing
What Marketing Graduates Do
Your career in marketing often begins with a hands-on role like a marketing specialist. You’ll spend your days deep in the data, using tools like Google Analytics to understand customer behavior, running social media campaigns, and crafting email newsletters. This is where you learn the fundamentals of what makes people click, buy, and connect with a brand.
As you build skills, your path can lead to management or specialization. You might become a Marketing Manager, shifting from daily tasks to big-picture strategy, managing budgets, and leading a team. This leap also comes with a significant pay increase, with experienced managers earning well into six figures. The field is growing, with tens of thousands of new specialist and manager roles opening each year.
It’s true that AI and software are transforming marketing, automating tasks like data analysis and ad placement. This shift allows you to focus on uniquely human skills. Your job becomes less about crunching numbers and more about interpreting them to create compelling strategies, understanding complex customer emotions, and building the relationships that drive business. The most successful professionals are those who learn to leverage AI as a powerful assistant.
Best Schools for Marketing
Top 20 of 26 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, AZ |
73 68–75 |
$63,549/yr | 65.5x |
| 2 | Schoolcraft Community College District Livonia, MI |
69 63–72 |
$48,724/yr | 63.3x |
| 3 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN |
68 62–71 |
$51,100/yr | 58.0x |
| 4 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane, WA |
66 61–69 |
$44,748/yr | 54.1x |
| 5 | University of Phoenix-Hawaii Kapolei, HI |
64 58–67 |
$63,549/yr | — |
| 6 | University of Phoenix-California Ontario, CA |
64 58–67 |
$63,549/yr | — |
| 7 | University of Phoenix-Nevada Las Vegas, NV |
64 58–67 |
$63,549/yr | — |
| 8 | University of Phoenix-Texas Dallas, TX |
64 58–67 |
$63,549/yr | — |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ |
61 57–64 |
$44,641/yr | 36.0x |
| 10 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ |
60 56–63 |
$44,084/yr | 33.8x |
| 11 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI |
59 52–62 |
$35,014/yr | 48.4x |
| 12 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI |
59 52–62 |
$34,630/yr | 47.5x |
| 13 | Rasmussen University-Minnesota St. Cloud, MN |
57 51–59 |
$44,293/yr | 21.4x |
| 14 | Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo, ND |
56 50–58 |
$44,293/yr | 18.2x |
| 15 | Rasmussen University-Illinois Rockford, IL |
56 50–58 |
$44,293/yr | 17.0x |
| 16 | Rasmussen University-Wisconsin Green Bay, WI |
56 50–59 |
$44,293/yr | 19.4x |
| 17 | Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD |
56 51–59 |
$39,617/yr | 28.1x |
| 18 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH |
55 49–57 |
$45,084/yr | 12.7x |
| 19 | Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala, FL |
55 49–58 |
$44,293/yr | 15.2x |
| 20 | Rasmussen University-Kansas Topeka, KS |
55 49–57 |
$44,293/yr | 14.9x |
Highest Earning Marketing Programs
Schools where Marketing graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix-Arizona | $63,549/yr | 73 |
| University of Phoenix-Hawaii | $63,549/yr | 64 |
| University of Phoenix-California | $63,549/yr | 64 |
| University of Phoenix-Nevada | $63,549/yr | 64 |
| University of Phoenix-Texas | $63,549/yr | 64 |
| Saint Cloud State University | $51,100/yr | 68 |
| Schoolcraft Community College District | $48,724/yr | 69 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | $45,084/yr | 55 |
| Spokane Falls Community College | $44,748/yr | 66 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | $44,641/yr | 61 |
Best ROI for Marketing
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Marketing.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix-Arizona | 65.5x | $63,549/yr | 73 |
| Schoolcraft Community College District | 63.3x | $48,724/yr | 69 |
| Saint Cloud State University | 58.0x | $51,100/yr | 68 |
| Spokane Falls Community College | 54.1x | $44,748/yr | 66 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | 48.4x | $35,014/yr | 59 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | 47.5x | $34,630/yr | 59 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 40.7x | $28,127/yr | 52 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | 37.5x | $30,456/yr | 53 |
| Nassau Community College | 36.3x | $19,002/yr | 42 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 36.0x | $44,641/yr | 61 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Marketing degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.