A 7 min read

MBA in Marketing is generally a 2-year program that prepares you for careers in marketing. Some career options include marketing manager, brand manager, sales manager, and digital marketing manager. Pursuing an MBA in marketing is one way to develop your marketing skills and understand consumer behavior. It is a concentration or a specialization in MBA (Masters in Business Administration). You learn specific courses like marketing research and design, marketing management, new product strategy, salesforce management, and international marketing.

Some of the top universities for MBA marketing are Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, Stanford University, Harvard University, New York University, and Duke University.

MBA Marketing Course details

Course	Master of Business Administration (MBA) in marketing
Duration	1-2 years
Level	Post-Graduate
Minimum Qualification required	50% marks in Bachelor’s
Admissions Process	Entrance Exam + Bachelor’s degree. Other MBA application components that are taken into consideration are GPA, Letter of recommendations, resume, essays, and extra-curricular activities.
Popular entrance exams	GMAT, GRE, and CAT
MBA Marketing courses	Marketing research and design, digital marketing, product development, marketing strategy, salesforce management, and many more
Top MBA Marketing universities	Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, Stanford University, Harvard University, New York University, Duke University, and University of Chicago
Average Salary	$101,174
MBA Marketing jobs	Sales manager, marketing manager, media planner, research analyst, brand manager, market research analyst, digital marketing manager, and many more
Skills	Strategic thinking, communication skills, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and many more
Top recruiters	Capgemini, Reliance industries limited, Tata communications Ltd, EY, Amazon, Deloitte, Nike, Google, H&M, KPMG Strategy, and many more
Employment opportunities – Industries	Technology, healthcare, digital media, business development, consumer packaged goods, consulting, and many more

This article highlights the scope, opportunities, salary, and skills required post-MBA in Marketing.

What is a Marketing MBA?

With the advancement of digital technology, marketing – one of the core business disciplines, is no longer a simple concept. In today’s always-online world, companies must have a global audience reach. It should be able to operate in a complex and ever-evolving digital environment.  Traditional marketing tactics have taken a backseat and employers want marketers who can adapt and thrive in this volatile environment. 

An MBA in Marketing refers to a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in marketing. Pursuing an MBA not only leads to a better pay package but can also help in career growth and transformation.

Traditionally the program takes two years to complete, and some of the core areas of study include – Finance, Accounting, Business Strategy, and marketing management.

You can also opt for a one-year program with a Marketing concentration. These are also known as accelerated MBA programs. For instance, Kellogg School of Management offers both a one-year and two-year MBA program with a Marketing major.

An MBA Marketing degree generally includes internship opportunities too. However, for a one-year MBA program, it might not be available. Learn the difference between a one-year and two-year MBA.

Why MBA in Marketing?

If you are interested in the media, promotions, sales, entertainment, and general management field, then an MBA in Marketing is appropriate for you.

Here are a few reasons why:

1. Study in-depth concepts related to marketing
2. Scope of increased earnings
3. Career growth and advancement opportunities
4. Experiential learning through internship opportunities
5. Marketing skills development
6. Global Experience through exchange programs

The marketing trends have changed and augmented with the technological evolution in the world. An MBA marketing helps you get a complete picture of the changing trends and helps in developing skills to keep pace with it.

According to the 2021 U.S. Compensation Trends, competition for creative, digital, and marketing talent remains high particularly in the healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and education sectors. 

Some of the most popular Marketing job titles in 2023 include a Cheif Marketing officer, Marketing director, marketing manager, marketing analytics manager, SEO Specialist, social media manager, and more. 

Is MBA in Marketing Right Fit For You?

To find out if an MBA in marketing is the right fit for you, first learn whether your strength aligns with those that are in demand for a marketing professional. If not, an MBA can help you gain those skills. It can help you carve out a path to a high-Ranking position and a lucrative income.

As per Sara Eide, VP of technology staffing services at HR consulting firm Robert Half, “Whether it’s your first marketing job or you looking to move up the ladder, employers are specifically looking for a few different skills. These include Social media marketing, data and analytics, soft skills, and motivation skills.”

Top MBA Marketing Universities in 2023

1. Northwestern University
2. University of Pennsylvania
3. Stanford University
4. University of Michigan
5. Duke University
6. Harvard University
7. Columbia University
8. University of Chicago
9. University of Texas
10. New York University

Check out the full-time Marketing MBA program offered at these top universities here. You can also click on the link to jump to a specific university.

MBA Marketing syllabus

The best marketing MBA programs educate the students about various aspects of marketing, such as sales, executive management skills, leadership skills, strategies, product management, consumer trends, digital trends, and market research in different industries.

A full-time program generally includes required core courses and concentrations, with opportunities like internships, global experiences, etc.

The core covers some of the traditional management disciplines like – Operations, Statistics, Finance, Ethics, and leadership. Some business schools offer flexible core courses to match your learning style, goals, and interest.

For instance, the Wharton school of business MBA program offers both required and flexible core courses.

MBA Marketing concentration includes courses like:

1. Marketing research and design
2. Advertising management
3. Brand Management
4. Digital Marketing
5. Salesforce management
6. Marketing strategy
7. Consumer behavioral research and analytics
8. International marketing
9. Forecasting and Modeling
10. Product development

MBA Marketing Salary

According to an article by the American Marketing Association demand for candidates in marketing, jobs is high. They have divided the Marketing salary percentile into four sections:

1. 25th – Low Demand: Candidates have little or no experience in the role and is still developing relevant skills
2. 50th – Moderate demand: Candidates have average experience and the majority of necessary skills
3. 75th – High Demand: Candidates have above-average experience and most or all of the necessary skills. they might even have specialized certifications
4. 95th – Very High Demand: Candidates have strong skills, experience, and expertise, with specialized certifications

Title	95th	75th	50th	25th
Account manager/executive	$89,750	$73,500	$59,500	$46,000
Chief marketing officer	$250,750	$199,500	$165,500	$136,500
Marketing director	$158,000	$127,500	$109,000	$88,250
Marketing manager	$116,500	$88,500	$78,750	$67,000
Marketing coordinator	$73,750	$59,250	$51,000	$42,250
Marketing analytics manager	$131,750	$118,000	$97,000	$85,000
Digital marketing manager	$125,000	$97,000	$83,250	$68,250
Brand/product manager	$132,750	$105,000	$90,500	$72,750
SEO/SEM specialist	$96,000	$76,750	$65,750	$50,000
Social media manager	$102,000	$75,750	$60,250	$51,000
E-commerce marketing manager	$121,750	$103,250	$85,000	$72,750
Customer experience marketing manager	$104,500	$80,250	$66,250	$53,000
Marketing automation specialist	$92,000	$76,500	$61,250	$46,750

Payscale reports an average salary for MBA Marketing graduates at $101,174. Here is the average salary for various job function:

Marketing Jobs	Average Salary
Marketing manager	$79,071
Marketing director	$118,310
Senior marketing manager	$121,437
Vice president (VP), marketing	$130,235
Business development manager	$94,263
Product marketing manager	$101,618

Top Recruiters that hire MBA Marketing graduates

Some of the top companies that hire marketing graduates from the top business schools are:

• Amazon
• McKinsey & Company
• Deloitte
• Accenture LLP
• Google
• Nike
• PepsiCo
• BCG
• Accenture Strategy
• Agoda
• Citi
• EY
• Google
• H&M
• KPMG Strategy
• McDonald’s
• Lilly Pulitzer
• Bloomingdale’s
• Tiffany & Co.
• Michael Kors

MBA in marketing salary in India

According to Payscale, the average salary for an MBA Marketing graduate in India is ₹742,447. Here is the average salary for various job functions:

Marketing Manager	₹726,348
Marketing Executive	₹299,654
Senior marketing manager	₹1,828,750
Business development manager	₹727,549
Regional sales manger	₹1,291,202
Area sales manager	₹808,461
Digital marketing manager	₹749,000

Top Companies that hire MBA graduates in India

Capgemini	₹10,00,000
Canara HSBC Life Insurance	₹400,000
Tata Communications Ltd	₹10,00,000
Reliance Industries Ltd	₹20,00,000
Kotak Mahindra Bank	₹600,000

MBA Marketing Jobs and Career prospect

When it comes to job activity, most of the recent alumni were more likely to work on virtual teams, followed by managing a budget, leading vendors and suppliers, supervising employees, and making hiring decisions.

You can also work in many sectors ranging from Banking, FMCG, Tourism, Hospitality, Media, consultancy, market research, etc.

Marketing Job profiles

Here’s the list of job profiles that a candidate can expect after an MBA in marketing:

• Marketing Manager
• Market research analyst
• Brand Manager
• Sales Manager
• Digital Marketing manager
• Product Manager
• Media Planning Manager

Apart from the above range of marketing careers, many companies structure and identify their marketing positions in different ways. Some companies have large marketing departments where an individual marketer is assigned to roles specializing in strategy, market research, or advertising.

Other firms expect their marketers to have a mastery of each of these roles in addition to taking responsibility for profit/loss, operations, collaboration with supply chain, and more.

Thus, it’s essential to know the best MBA marketing programs that are keeping pace with the volatile marketing environment and what unique offerings are provided by them.

Employment Opportunities – Industry

Here are some of the industries that hire marketing professionals:

• Technology
• Healthcare
• Digital media
• Business development
• Consumer packaged goods

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLA) projects robust job growth in the overall marketing industry. After looking at the current trends, the BLS has made the following predictions (2019-2029):

• Advertising, promotion, and marketing mangers job will see a 6% growth
• Market research analyst jobs will see an 18% growth
• Sales manager jobs will see a 4% growth

Admissions process and Eligibility criteria

A specialized MBA Marketing program is like a regular MBA program and generally has the following eligibility criteria:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent
• More than two years of Experience
• GPA
• Letter of recommendations
• Resume
• Essays
• GMAT or GRE score

It is advisable that you go through the entry requirement for your targeted business school.

The majority of the business schools ask for standardized entrance tests such as GMAT or CAT, or GRE. However, if you are planning to pursue your degree outside India, the GMAT/GRE holds more relevance. 

For your MBA Application process, you need to provide information on your academic background, submit a resume, LOR, GMAT/GRE score, etc. Every b-school follows its process. Check out various factors on which you might be evaluated.

Planning to pursue an MBA, but not in Marketing. Here are some of the top MBA specializations with their career and salary prospects. Also check out the top business schools in these specializations – Finance, Operations, HR, Business Analytics, Supply chain management, and Entrepreneurship.

MBA in Marketing – FAQS