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15 Best Grad Schools with Online Master’s in Digital Marketing

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Updated: February 29, 2024, Reading time: 22 minutes

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Students who want to delve into and advance their careers in the increasingly growing digital field may want to consider earning a master’s in digital marketing from one of the best universities in the country that offer online Master’s in Digital Marketing programs.

An online Master’s in Digital Marketing is concerned with the use of conventional channels, such as digital technology and social media platforms, to promote products or services and reach a target audience. It explores a wide range of subject areas, including web analytics, social media strategy, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, content marketing, email marketing, and online marketing.


Additional Resources:


Overview

There are numerous higher learning institutions in the country that offer an online master’s program in digital marketing, allowing both full-time students and working professionals to pursue careers in the marketing industry and boost their earning potential. For advanced-level skills in researching and running marketing campaigns on various digital platforms, pursue an online Master’s in Digital marketing!

Quick audio summary:


Methodology

A Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing paves the way for careers in a highly dynamic and ever-evolving field. Taking their needs and goals into account, students are well-served to do in-depth research into the academic options that are best for them, in particular, whether a college or university offers a program that fits them best.

No need to look any further! The graduate schools that are in our list of the Best Online Master’s in Digital Marketing have these key features:

Read our Methodology for our graduate program ranking process.

Grad School Center is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

The Best Online Master’s in Digital Marketing Programs

masters in digital marketing

West Virginia University

West Virginia University - Online

Morgantown, West Virginia

Master of Science in Digital Marketing Communications

West Virginia University is known for its quality and affordable education. Currently, the university houses more than 27,000 students across several campuses. West Virginia University is Higher Learning Commission-recognized.

Standout Features:

The online master of science in digital marketing program is unique for its forward-thinking curriculum. Students have the chance to acquire certifications in essential topics valued by many employers, ensuring they have proven demonstration of digital marketing strategies and skills surrounding Facebook Blueprint, Google Analytics, and Tag Manager. This serves as a huge boost to the credentials of digital marketing graduates.

Did You Know?

As one of the leading higher learning institutions that offer online graduate programs, WVU remains committed to its mission of providing quality and accessible education. They showcase supportive student services, ranging from the Technology Service Desk that provides support for online systems to the 24/7 student mental health support with 100% confidentiality.


Lindenwood University

Lindenwood University - Online

Saint Charles, Missouri

Master’s in Digital Marketing

With more than 190 years of experience in providing academic excellence to aspiring students, Lindenwood University made it a point to adapt to the changing needs of the learning community by offering online programs and ensuring higher education is more accessible, regardless of location and time.

Standout Features:

The online digital marketing masters program’s flexible format allows students to earn the degree at their own pace. They can also enjoy personalized support throughout their online learning experience, having access to a team of enrollment counselors, tuition planners, academic advisers, and transfer specialists.

Did You Know?

True to its commitment to affordable and accessible education, Lindenwood University offers low tuition rates compared to its counterparts. Online students may also enjoy multiple ways to save on their higher education. This includes financial aid options like scholarships, grants, student loans, and corporate partnerships.


East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

Master of Science in Digital Marketing

East Tennessee State University, founded in 1911, is home to nearly 15,000 students and 2,000 faculty and staff. The university makes it a point to find the balance between liberal arts and professional preparation, as reflected by its high-quality program offerings.

Standout Features:

Offered through the College of Business and Technology, this Association of Advancement for Collegiate Schools of Business International-approved online program trumps other programs in terms of academic rigor.

Did You Know?

At East Tennessee State University, online students can enjoy affordable education. In fact, around 87% of students receive some form of financial assistance. About 46% of students also graduate without the burden of paying back debt from student loans. The university offers financial aid options, including academic performance scholarships.


Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Teaneck, New Jersey

Master of Science in Digital Marketing

Located in New Jersey, Fairleigh Dickinson University is the largest private university in the state. It is known for its commitment to providing students with intercultural and multidisciplinary education. At present, there are more than 100 degree programs for students to choose from, including on-campus and online offerings.

Standout Features:

The program was designed by the university’s Advisory Board Members who work full-time in the digital marketing world. Students are guaranteed a high-quality education by learning from seasoned professionals with significant experience in the field.

Did You Know?

Fairleigh Dickinson University maintains its long-standing commitment to distance learning. Currently, it offers a total of 18 in-demand online programs, ranging from Digital Marketing, Animation, Taxation, Nursing, and Liberal Arts to Social Work, Sport Management, and Public Health. The university features a hands-on approach to learning with its small intimate classes that enable it to cater to students’ individual needs.


Georgian Court University

Georgian Court University

Lakewood, New Jersey

Master’s in Communication and Digital Marketing

Known for its holistic approach to education, Georgian Court University provides students with life-altering learning experiences through its numerous undergraduate and graduate programs. It prides itself on a small student-to-faculty ratio, which allows students to gain ample academic support from the faculty.

Standout Features:

This online Digital Marketing degree offers students the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience by working with actual businesses on marketing and communication projects as part of their capstone course. Georgian Court University has partnerships with various organizations, including small businesses and nonprofits.

Did You Know?

Georgian Court University features competent and experienced professionals in its 92 full-time instructional faculty members. In fact, around 96% of its full-time faculty members hold doctoral degrees, demonstrating their expertise and qualifications in their respective fields.


Rutgers University

Rutgers University - Business School

Newark, New Jersey

Master of Science in Digital University

Rutgers University is known as an academic, health, and research powerhouse. Under the Rutgers Business School Newark and New Brunswick, it offers high-quality business education committed to academic excellence. This includes online programs in in-demand fields.

Standout Features:

Certifications in common marketing platforms valued by many employers are integrated into the program. This includes certifications in Google Analytics and Hootsuite. Students will be able to enhance their professional portfolios and demonstrate their expertise in the digital marketing field.

Did You Know?

As a thought leader in business and education, Rutgers University encourages original and independent research. It is not only for the purpose of publishing and editing professional journals but also focuses on applying research to real-world problems and challenges.


Liberty University

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia

Master’s in Digital Marketing

Established in 1973, Liberty University is an accredited evangelical liberal arts institution. It is home to 15 colleges and schools, catering to more than 100,000 students. Of its over 700 programs, 600 are available online.

Standout Features:

The program’s online curriculum gives students an edge over competitors by providing them with knowledge of consumer decision-making along with concepts and theories used to analyze and predict consumer behavior.

These marketable practices will help them stand out in the eyes of employers. At present, students are able to access their course content through Canvas, Liberty University’s online learning platform.

Did You Know?

Liberty University is known for its academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. They make it a point to provide students with tailored education with the right balance of academic theory, research, and hands-on training. The university is also one of the pioneers in distance education, having offered online programs for decades.


University of Florida

University of Florida - College of Journalism and Communications

Gainesville, Florida

Master of Mass Communication – Digital Strategy

The University of Florida is a land-grant, public research university based in the City of Gainesville. Having been established back in 1853, it is a senior member institution of Florida’s State University System. It was also designated as a Preeminent University by the Florida Board of Governors, and is among the Carnegie Classifications’ R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity category.

Standout Features:

UFL’s online Master of Mass Communication – Digital Strategy is billed as a first-of-its-kind program in terms of design. Students learn strategic messaging and performance analysis tools, as well as effective copywriting, UX, inbound strategy, and others. The program is also guided by an Advisory Board made up of industry experts.  

Did You Know?

The University of Florida was the first Florida school to make it to the Top 10 Best Public Universities ranking maintained by US News and World Report, coming in at number 9 back in 2018.


Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University

DeKalb, Illinois

Master of Science in Digital Marketing

First established back in 1895 as the Northern Illinois State Normal School, Northern Illinois University is a public research institution in the City of DeKalb. It has a population of around over 16,000 students and around 240,000 alumni.

Standout Features:

Admission into the program is competitive; the list of requirements includes good GPA scores and positive recommendations from 2 academic or professional sources. Faculty includes experts who teach NIU’s other nationally-ranked business programs, and business practitioners with specific deep expertise.

Did You Know?

This degree program is the first online master’s degree to be offered by an Illinois-based university and is accredited by the AACSB.


Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, New Hampshire

Master of Science in Marketing – Concentration in Digital Marketing

Founded as the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science back in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is currently regarded as one of the country’s fastest-growing universities, and has around 135,000 online students, in addition to a few thousand more enrolled on campus.

Standout Features:

SNHU offers some of the lowest tuition rates in the country for its online degrees. US service members can also get up to 25% tuition discount, as well as their spouses of those on active duty.

Did You Know?

SNHU is consistently recognized as an innovative regional university, demonstrating its commitment to excellence as an academic institution.


Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Master of Digital Marketing

Wake Forest University traces its history back to its founding in 1834. Although being named after the town of Wake Forest, its main campus is currently in the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, having moved there in 1956. Wake Forest University currently has a student population of around 8,900.

Standout Features:

Wake Forest University’s Master of Digital Marketing program is wide-ranging, and covers fundamentals in effective marketing and storytelling, traditional marketing approaches, as well as various technical skills in content development and marketing analytics. The program also covers key topics related to project management and strategic marketing.

Did You Know?

Throughout its 189-year-long history, Wake Forest University has produced individuals who have gone on to excellence in their respective fields, from politics to science, to sports, and the arts. Currently, there are around 72,000 living alumni.


Western Governors University

Western Governors University

Millcreek, Utah

Online Master’s in Digital Marketing

In terms of age, Western Governors University is a relative newcomer, having been established back in 1997, and currently based in the city of Millcreek, Utah. It has a unique history of being founded as an initiative of 19 US State Governors, and despite its government roots, currently operates as a private non-profit institution. As a distance-learning-only university, its student population is currently at around 150,000.

Standout Features:

Aside from being a distance-learning-only university, WGU also follows a competency-based learning model, which lets students progress through their courses once they are able to sufficiently demonstrate mastery of a specific topic. With the program’s courses serving as preparation for a number of industry certifications, students get to take most of these exams free, as part of their tuition.

Did You Know?

Western Governor’s University has the unique distinction of being the first and only university to have simultaneously earned accreditation from four separate regional accrediting commissions, undergoing a review by a special Inter-Regional Accrediting Committee in 2002.


Temple University

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Master of Science in Digital Marketing

Temple University is a public state-related research university in the city of Philadelphia and can trace its earliest roots back to its founding in 1884. It currently has over 35,600 students enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by its four colleges.

Standout Features:

This degree program emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world practice, with a curriculum that also includes a choice of cross-functional elective courses. The program also aligns with requirements for earning industry certifications, such as Hootsuite and HubSpot.

Did You Know?

Aside from being a public research university, Temple University is also a space-grant institution, part of a larger network of institutions dedicated to research related to outer space. Temple University also operates foreign campuses in Tokyo, Japan, and Rome, Italy.


Aurora University

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Master of Science in Marketing and Design

Aurora University is a private, not-for-profit university based in the City of Aurora, Illinois. Founded back in 1893 as the Mendota Seminary in the City of Mendota, Illinois (moving to Aurora in 1911), the university currently has more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate learners.

Standout Features:

Aurora University’s MS in Marketing and Design program merges digital strategy and graphic design, providing students with a wide range of skill sets both on the management side and with effective content creation.

Did You Know?

This degree program makes use of Open Educational Resources, which does away with the cost traditionally associated with textbooks while letting students reap the benefits of customizable course resources.


John Carroll University

John Carroll University

University Heights, Ohio

Online Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Communication Strategy

John Carroll University is a private, not-for-profit university based in the city of University Heights in Ohio. It is a Jesuit institution, founded back in 1886 as the St. Ignatius College, and has since been in continuous operation as a degree-granting institution. It currently has a student population of a little over 3,100 students.

Standout Features:

Being a Jesuit institution, John Carroll University integrates ethical practice into the main thrusts of its coursework. Students can also choose to earn 1 of three stackable certificates in Digital Marketing Analytics, Content Marketing, Digital Advertising, and Social Media Marketing.

Did You Know?

John Carroll University is the 19th of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities to be established in the US, established 97 years after Georgetown University, which was the first.

Best Grad Schools with Online Master's in Digital Marketing - fact

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common requirements for admission to Digital Marketing degrees?

The admission requirements to most digital marketing degree programs vary from university to university. However, it generally requires interested students to hold a bachelor’s degree in either marketing or a related field. Some higher learning institutions may permit the undergraduate degree to come from an unrelated field.

There are online programs in digital marketing that require interested applicants to submit GRE or GMAT scores, but there are also others that waive this particular requirement. Sometimes, students may also need to demonstrate their relevant professional experience and academic achievements by submitting their resumes and official transcripts.

What Careers are open to graduates of Digital Marketing Master’s Degrees?

Graduates of these degree programs can confidently enter careers that are directly involved with content marketing and creation, planning and executing advertising and strategic communication campaigns, connecting with and maintaining consumer engagement, brand management, and marketing analytics. Some positions include digital marketers, market research analysts, digital marketing managers, and advertising and promotions managers, among others.

Key Takeaways

A Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing is designed to answer the need for skills that leverage today’s online digital platforms to connect brands with target markets and consumers.

A curriculum for a Digital Marketing master’s degree program covers both the essential tools and skills that turn professionals into effective brand storytellers, as well as skills to analyze, maximize, and optimize their brand’s message.

Master’s degrees are typically aimed at working professionals who may be seeking advanced skills to gain career advancement or add depth to their practice, and the online learning model facilitates this by letting them balance their education and career commitments.

We’re certain of one thing—your search for more information on picking the best graduate degree or school landed you here. Let our experts help guide your through the decision making process with thoughtful content written by experts.