by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Digital Marketing explores A Program That Prepares Individuals To Develop A Digital Marketing Plan And Integrate Marketing, Advertising, Sales, And Logistics Across Physical And Digital Channels. Includes Instruction In Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Online Consumer Psychology, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, And Web Analytics. Examples: [Digital Innovation In Marketing]. Read on to learn the key facts every digital marketing student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering digital marketing programs.
Nationwide, digital marketing draws strong interest, with 1,303 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Digital Marketing Schools ranking analyzes these 88 schools to determine the best overall colleges for digital marketing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of digital marketing programs later in this article.
Coursework for Digital Marketing emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations digital marketing graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a digital marketing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a digital marketing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several digital marketing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 52 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 79 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 170 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,000 |
People currently working in careers related to digital marketing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 49.2% |
| Master’s degree | 23.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| Some college courses | 4.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.4% |
| First professional degree | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in digital marketing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying digital marketing opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to digital marketing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to digital marketing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 671,367 | 10.3% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | 509,308 | 13.0% |
| Marketing Managers | 259,371 | -4.4% |
| Video Game Designers | 207,860 | 2.6% |
| Search Marketing Strategists | 199,758 | 8.2% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of digital marketing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,976 |
| 4 years | $58,749 |
| 5 years | $68,122 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for digital marketing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers digital marketing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $124,518 |
| Marketing Managers | $90,143 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $88,198 |
| Search Marketing Strategists | $85,177 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Video Game Designers | $62,617 |
With 88 different digital marketing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased digital marketing school rankings to help you.
Those considering digital marketing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General | 50,466 |
| Marketing, Other | 1,294 |
| International Marketing | 487 |
| Marketing Research | 200 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
