The Best Master's in Marketing Programs for 2027

New York University's School of Professional Studies offers the Master of Science in Integrated Marketing, a 42-credit onsite degree. Students choose among three concentrations: Brand Strategy, Digital Media and Marketing Analytics. The curriculum spans brand building, influencer and social media marketing, AI marketing, and digital strategy and analytics. The school says courses are taught by practitioners and emphasize real campaigns and applied projects, with exposure to New York City companies through internships. Classes meet in the morning, afternoon and evening, full time or part time, with fall and spring starts and a minimum duration of 18 months. No GRE or GMAT is required, and the school reports that 90% of recent professional studies graduates were working or in school.

New York University is a private nonprofit university in New York City. About 88% of students graduate, and the school admits 9% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 95.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits marketers who want hands-on, campaign-based work in New York and who value a flexible class schedule.

This MS is not a program a student applies to directly. UW-Madison awards the Marketing MS along the way to the Marketing named-option PhD in Business at the Wisconsin School of Business; applicants apply to the PhD and pick up the master's as a checkpoint. The 30-credit curriculum runs entirely face-to-face on the Madison campus and centers on two research seminars, Contemporary Topics in Marketing and Research Methods in Marketing (6 credits each), a 1-credit course called Beginning a Research Career in Business, a 12-credit breadth requirement covering both data collection and data analysis methods, and 5 credits of advisor-approved electives. A 3.00 graduate GPA is required throughout.

The numbers back a #5 Program Score of 95.1: a 90% graduation rate and a 45% admit rate, both unusually open for a PhD-track program where admission also screens for research fit, not just seat capacity. Tuition is where residency matters most: $10,006 a year in-state against $40,506 out-of-state, a $30,500 gap, or about 4 times the resident rate. This program fits one kind of applicant: someone committed to a marketing research career or academia and entering through the PhD track, not someone shopping for a two-year professional master's to move straight into industry.

Northwestern University's Marketing program at the Kellogg School is a research PhD; the MS listed here is a credential awarded to enrolled doctoral students, not a program you apply to on its own. Students who complete 9 graded doctoral courses with a cumulative 3.0 GPA can be considered for the MS while continuing toward, or stepping back from, the PhD. The doctorate itself requires 18 courses split into two tracks: a consumer behavior track built on lab and field-experiment methods (Theory Building in Consumer Behavior Research, Methods and Data in Consumer Research), and a quantitative marketing track that layers in Microeconomics and three Econometrics courses alongside statistical and structural modeling seminars. Students sit a PhD qualifying exam in June of their first year and present a second-year research paper before advancing to candidacy.

A Program Score of 94.6 places it #6 on this list, driven by a 95% graduation rate against an 8% admit rate. The math on selectivity: of roughly every 100 applicants, about 8 are admitted, and 95% of the students who enroll go on to complete the program. Tuition is flat at $67,158 regardless of residency, since Kellogg is private. This track fits candidates aiming at faculty positions or high-level quantitative marketing research, not students who want an applied master's to enter industry within a year.

The University of Notre Dame's Master of Science in Digital Marketing is a full-time residential program on campus that begins in August and lasts 10 months. The curriculum totals 34 credit hours and is STEM-designated. It is designed for business and non-business graduates alike, especially young professionals with less than three years of work experience, and prepares them for roles in digital marketing management, social media management and marketing analytics. Students use analytics tools on real markets. The academic director, Kevin Hartman, is a former Chief Analytics Strategist at Google and the author of Digital Marketing Analytics: In Theory and Practice, and faculty include industry professionals who have shaped digital marketing strategy at Fortune 500 companies.

Federal data show a 95% graduation rate and an 11% admit rate at Notre Dame, so admission is highly selective. The program earns a Program Score of 94.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits early-career applicants, including those without a business undergraduate degree, who want a short, residential degree centered on digital strategy and analytics.

Boston University's Metropolitan College offers the Master of Science in Global Marketing Management, available on campus and online, part-time or full-time. The program is 40 units and takes 12 to 20 months, and it does not require the GRE or GMAT. It pairs a marketing core with international business, economics, market research and culture, and builds qualitative and quantitative skills. The page highlights the role of digital platforms and social media, plus courses in ecommerce, digital marketing techniques, market research and data analysis, finance, project management, and product and service development. Students use business simulation, website design and business analytics tools. The school lists job titles for graduates such as international marketing manager, market research analyst and brand manager.

Boston University graduates 89% of its students and admits 11% of applicants. This program's Program Score is 94.0 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want international marketing and research skills in a flexible format, including those who need to study online while working.

William & Mary's Online Master of Science in Marketing is a part-time program of nine courses plus one on-campus residency, 33 credits in all, with two start dates a year and no GRE or GMAT required. The school says it can be completed in as few as 16 months. The curriculum starts with a four-credit Marketing foundation course, then moves through analytics courses on evaluating a marketing situation and on planning and optimizing future efforts, followed by innovation courses on product management, new product development and market-driven innovation. The page describes the aim as a balance of analytical insight and creative strategy for people moving into marketing or up into leadership. The school cites outside rankings for its online business programs, which readers should treat as the school's own reporting.

William & Mary has an 89% graduation rate and a 34% admit rate. This program's Program Score, the basis of its ranking, is 93.5 out of 100. It suits working professionals who want a data-driven marketing credential on a flexible schedule, either to switch into marketing or to reach management. The required residency means it is not fully remote, so applicants should plan for one trip to campus.

Vanderbilt University's Master of Marketing is a nine-month, full-time, in-person program in Nashville. The page describes an accelerated curriculum that builds marketing and analytics skills through real-world projects, internship opportunities and close work with faculty. Career support includes one-on-one coaching, job search help and leadership development, and the school lists 36 professional and special interest clubs. Vanderbilt reports that 84% of the Class of 2025 received an offer of employment within six months of graduation, that more than 500 companies have recruiting relationships with its business school, and that graduates move into roles in marketing, analytics and brand strategy.

Federal data show a 94% graduation rate at Vanderbilt and an admit rate of 6%, so admission is highly selective. The Program Score of 93.4 out of 100 is the basis of this program's ranking. The short, intensive format fits students who hold a bachelor's degree and want a fast move into marketing or brand work without a two-year commitment. Because the program is full-time and on campus, it is a poor match for people who need to keep working or study remotely.

The Master of Science in Marketing at the University of Southern California is offered through the Marshall School of Business and can be completed in one year. Students choose between two tracks. Consumer Behavior focuses on the psychological, social and cultural drivers of consumer choices using behavioral insight and qualitative methods. Marketing Analytics is STEM qualified and builds proficiency in predictive modeling, performance measurement and data-driven marketing decisions. The school describes a personalized curriculum with one-on-one planning with the Program Director, plus career treks, panels and mentorship. It also states that students work alongside MBA students and that the program offers a flexible pace.

Federal data shows a 92% graduation rate at USC and a 10% admit rate, which makes admission highly selective. The program earns a Program Score of 91.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits recent graduates and early-career marketers who want a short, focused degree and who know whether their interest leans toward customer psychology or data analysis. Students planning to work in the United States after graduation should check how the STEM-qualified analytics track applies to their situation.

Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business offers a Master of Science in Marketing that the school says can be completed in as little as one year. The curriculum totals 36 academic units, split into 18 core and 18 elective units. Students can take it in person on the Santa Clara campus, almost fully online, or in a combination. The school says the program was shaped by Bay Area marketing professionals and focuses on digital marketing, marketing analytics, brand management and marketing technology, applied through projects. It blends traditional marketing principles with digital technologies, consumer behavior insights and ethical considerations. Electives let students customize the degree to their interests and timeline, and the school's alumni network is part of the pitch.

The federal numbers describe the university overall: an 88% graduation rate and a 48% admit rate, which is selective. This program holds a Program Score of 90.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working marketers and recent graduates who want a fast, analytics-heavy master's with a choice of formats. Anyone considering it should confirm the current admission requirements with the school.

The MS in Marketing at George Washington University's School of Business is a 33-credit program for part-time or full-time study on campus. It teaches how consumers make decisions, then how to influence them through global marketing strategy, advertising and marketing communications, customer relationship management, digital marketing and marketing analytics. Required courses include Marketing, Buyer Behavior, Marketing Research, Strategic Brand Management and Digital Marketing in the Age of AI, and electives include Dynamic Pricing Strategy, Marketing Decision Analytics, and AI and Machine Learning for Marketing Automation. The school says teaching is experiential, with client-based projects, case studies and simulations. Full-time students are expected to finish in under two years, entry is in fall or spring, and students can pursue the degree alongside an MBA.

GW graduates 84% of its students and admits 47% of applicants. The program's Program Score is 90.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a project-heavy master's focused on brand, analytics and digital channels, including those who want to combine it with an MBA.

Emerson College's Master of Arts in Strategic Marketing is built to develop skills in digital marketing, data-driven decision-making and brand strategy. The page describes two 32-credit paths. The standard format lets students finish full-time in 16 months. The accelerated format can be done in as little as 12 months, full-time with low residency: core courses run primarily in person over nine months, then the remaining credits are completed entirely online in one semester. Both paths include five core courses of 20 credits in either strategic marketing communication or digital marketing, two electives of 8 credits, and a four-credit live-client capstone. Electives named on the page include Analytics for Strategic Marketing and Culture, Ethics, and Responsibility in Marketing, and students may take an internship for credit.

Emerson reports a 77% graduation rate and an admit rate of 51%. This program holds a Program Score of 90.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking on this site. It suits working professionals who want a marketing master's on a short timeline, or who can come to campus for part of the program but need the flexibility to finish online.

The MS in Marketing at Texas A&M University-College Station is offered through Mays Business School and the Aplin Department of Marketing. The page lists 36 credit hours over 10.5 months, taught in person in College Station, and says prerequisites are not required. The program emphasizes current marketing concepts, tools and techniques in real business settings. All students complete hands-on coursework built around marketing projects developed with sponsoring companies, so they work directly with actual clients on business challenges. An advisory board of companies helps shape the curriculum to current industry standards. Applicants are advised to include an interview, two to three recommendation letters, essays and an unofficial transcript.

The university graduates 84% of its students and admits 57% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 90.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students from any undergraduate major who want a short, project-driven path into marketing. The page notes summer 2026 entry is full, so new applicants should contact admissions about upcoming entry terms and any online options.

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers a Master of Marketing through the Carlson School of Management, designed as a nine-month, on-campus, cohort-based program that starts each August. The 32-credit curriculum targets recent graduates and early-career professionals, and no work experience is required. Students build foundational and advanced skills in digital marketing, advertising, promotion, data analysis, social media marketing and buyer behavior. The program blends core marketing theory with practical experience on real-world challenges. The page states that the GMAT or GRE is test optional and that students receive one-on-one career support. The school reports a number two ranking among public universities for the degree in the QS World University Business Master's Ranking for 2027.

The program has a Program Score of 85.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data for the university show an 85% graduation rate and an 80% admit rate. It fits someone who wants to move quickly into a marketing career and is comfortable with a full-time, in-person year. Working professionals who need part-time or remote study would find the format restrictive, since the page describes only an on-campus option.

American University's MS in marketing is run by the Kogod School of Business and focuses on integrated marketing communications. The page describes 30 credit hours: an introductory course called Understanding the Marketplace and Consumer, 15 credit hours of core courses and 6 credit hours of electives. Specialized areas include brand management, nonprofit marketing, social marketing, internet marketing and direct marketing. The program is full-time only and designed to finish in 11 months, with students moving through together as a cohort, and it lists a 19:1 student to faculty ratio. The capstone is the Applied Client Project, in which students lead a full-scale campaign for a local organization.

Federal figures show a 75% graduation rate and a 62% admit rate at American University. The program has a Program Score of 85.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits recent graduates and career changers who want a fast, full-time route into marketing and who prefer a cohort of peers working on shared projects. Those who need part-time study will not find it here, since the page states the program is full-time only.

Emerson College's Master of Arts in Strategic Marketing is housed in the School of Communication's Department of Marketing Communication and blends creativity, analytics and brand strategy. Students pick one of two tracks, Strategic Marketing Communication or Digital Marketing, and take five foundational courses in that track plus two electives. Elective examples on the page include Digital Communication Strategies and Implementation, and Culture, Ethics, and Responsibility in Marketing, and students can also take a special topics course or earn credit for an internship. Each track ends with a professional live-client marketing capstone. The page says full-time and part-time options are available in both in-person and online course formats, and that the program has no GRE requirement.

Federally, Emerson reports a 77% graduation rate and an admit rate of 51%. The program's Program Score is 85.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. It fits career changers and communicators who want a marketing master's with a creative lean, a hands-on capstone and some scheduling flexibility, rather than a quantitative finance-heavy business degree.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's MS in Marketing is part of the Zicklin School of Business graduate programs and requires 30 to 33 credits, with an average time to completion of three to four semesters. The credit range depends on whether a preliminary course is required or waived. The program page lists several versions, including an online MS in Marketing with a Digital Marketing focus and an MS Marketing track in International Business. The International Business track degree map shows fall and spring entry options, with coursework spread over two years that includes marketing courses, an international business course, a statistics preliminary course where required, and electives. Because graduate programs here allow self-pacing, the degree map serves as a suggested schedule, and students can tailor their terms to their own circumstances. Dedicated advising staff and faculty advisors for marketing and international business are listed on the page.

Baruch graduates 72% of its students and admits 48% of applicants. The program has a Program Score of 85.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a graduate marketing degree with the option to study online or to build an international business emphasis.

Stony Brook University's College of Business offers an MBA in Marketing in a hybrid format, available full time or part time. Applicants with a prior bachelor's in business management or administration qualify for the 36-credit track of 12 three-credit courses; others take the 48-credit track of 16 courses. The core includes finance, data analysis, business analytics, operations, ethics and leadership, plus marketing courses such as Consumer Insights and Integrated Marketing Management, and it ends with a capstone in business planning and strategic management. Students take three to four marketing electives. The page says no work experience is required, the GMAT is optional, and full-time students typically finish in 12 to 18 months. Classes run in fall and spring, a three-week winter term and two six-week summer sessions. The page also notes that admission to this program is currently suspended, so applicants should confirm status with the school.

Stony Brook graduates 76% of its students and admits 49% of applicants, making it a selective public university. The Program Score of 85.3 out of 100 is the basis of this program's ranking. The flexible pacing and the 36-credit option suit career changers without business backgrounds as well as business majors who want to specialize in marketing management across companies, health care organizations, government agencies and nonprofits.

Texas Tech University's Master of Science in Marketing Research and Analytics, offered through Rawls College, is a fully online, 30-credit-hour program. The page describes a part-time, lockstep format with entry in January, June or August. Core classes include Consumer Behavior Research, Advanced Statistics for Marketing, Measurements and Survey Research in Marketing, Experimental Design and Analysis in Marketing, Digital Marketing Analytics and Qualitative Research in Marketing. No concentration is required, but optional concentrations and certifications are offered. The program aims at careers in corporate marketing research, strategic consulting, advertising agencies and research firms. Students complete all coursework online at times that fit their schedules. The page calls the format part-time and lockstep, so students move through the courses together as a cohort.

The Program Score is 83.6 out of 100, the basis of this program's ranking. Texas Tech reports a 69% graduation rate and a 73% admit rate. The program fits working professionals who need a part-time, online schedule and want to learn how to design research studies and analyze data for marketing decisions, without relocating or leaving their current jobs.

The Master of Science in Marketing (MSM) at Florida International University's Business, part of Florida International University (FIU), centers on three strategic areas: digital marketing, brand development and marketing analytics. Students can earn the degree in 10 or 16 months, and the program is also available fully online. The page says graduates are ready for roles such as marketing manager, account executive, digital media specialist, brand manager, marketing analyst and social media director, and cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 31.6% growth over ten years for market analysts and marketing specialists. Intake is in spring and fall. In-person classes meet on Saturdays at the MMC Campus, with a hybrid in-person and online option.

Federal data show FIU with a 74% graduation rate and a 55% admit rate. The program's Program Score is 83.1 out of 100, and that score is the basis of its ranking. The Saturday schedule and the fully online route suit people who work during the week, and the choice between 10 and 16 months lets students set their own pace. It fits marketers who want to add analytical depth and digital skills to their background, and career changers who want a structured path into brand and digital roles. Advising appointments can be scheduled through the program page.

Drexel University's LeBow's Master of Science in Marketing covers integrated marketing, analytics and neuroscience, with a foundation in marketing strategy, research and planning, consumer behavior and global marketing. Outside five required core courses, students choose one of three concentrations: Digital Marketing Technology, Marketing Technology and Analytics, or Marketing Leadership. The first two are STEM designated. The program also includes an elective seminar in marketing technology. The page describes a hands-on approach, with consulting projects built into classes and case competitions judged by practitioners and executives. Students can use LeBow's Behavioral Lab, which offers neuroimaging technology for research. The school notes that Drexel is a designated R1 research university. Listed career targets include social media analyst, marketing analytics manager, research analyst, brand manager and marketing manager depending on the concentration.

Federal data show a 78% graduation rate at Drexel and a 79% admit rate. The program holds a Program Score of 82.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a technical, data-oriented marketing master's and a choice between analytics, digital media and leadership tracks.