Best Schools for Digital Marketing

Top colleges for digital marketing
Updated:
May 6, 2024
8 min read
Expert Reviewed
Contents

”Mary

Reviewed by:

Mary Banks

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/6/24

Interested in studying digital marketing but don’t know which school to choose? We’ve got you covered! Read on to learn more about the best schools for digital marketing.

Over the past few years, the digital marketing industry has exploded in an effort to keep up with technology and social media trends. To meet this demand, more and more colleges and universities are now offering digital marketing programs to teach students about digital marketing principles, preparing them for a suite of possible roles in the industry. 

If you’re interested in learning more about digital marketing programs, you’re in luck - we’ve listed the best schools for digital marketing in the US below. Read on to learn more!

Top 10 Schools for Digital Marketing

School Location Acceptance Rate Tuition Fees
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA 94% $21,272 per year
Fashion Institute of Technology New York City, NY 58% In-state: $2645 per semester
Out-of-state: $7935 per semester
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY 67% $58,324 per year
University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, MI 54% In-state: $7,272 per semester
Out-of-state: $15,480 per semester
Millikin University Decatur, IL 54% In-state: $26,000 per year
Out-of-state: $42,778 per year
Elon University Elon, NC 67% $46,985 per year
Harvard University Cambridge, MA 3.59% $56,550 per year

School Location Acceptance Rate Tuition Fees
Wilmington University New Castle, DE 99.2% $419 per credit hour
Saint Peter’s University Jersey City, NJ 88% $39,954 per year
North Park University Chicago, IL 67% $36,070 per year
Thomas College Waterville, ME 81% $30,718 per year
Mid-America Christian University Oklahoma City, OK N/A $28,960 per year
Elon University Elon, NC 67% $46,985 per year
Harvard University Cambridge, MA 3.59% $56,550 per year

Even though the study of marketing has been around for quite some time, digital marketing is still a relatively new concept. While the term was first coined in the early 90s, the start of digital marketing bloomed in the early 00s, in the age of the internet and the birth of social media. 

Since then, many schools have adopted digital marketing principles into either a standalone program or a special concentration on a pre-existing college program. We’ve listed the best schools for digital marketing. Any of the schools will provide you with the education necessary to guide you on the path to becoming a digital marketer

1. University of Northern Iowa

Coming in first is the University of Northern Iowa, a stellar choice for those seeking a well-rounded marketing and business study specializing in digital marketing. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the school offers a four-year in-person Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Advertising and Digital Marketing.

The curriculum provides a comprehensive look into the study of digital marketing and equips students with a general knowledge of business subjects like economics, finance, and management to help provide a competitive edge when looking for jobs. The University of Northern Iowa boasts that 95% of digital marketing graduates find employment quickly after graduation, further demonstrating the school’s commitment to excellence in the digital marketing field. 

2. Fashion Institute of Technology

Do you have a passion for fashion alongside a love for digital marketing? If so, you’ll want to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology - a school that offers the best of both worlds!

Located in New York City, the Fashion Institute of Technology, well-recognized for its fashion programs, has made a reputation for itself in the name of digital marketing. The school offers a four-year in-person Bachelor of Science in Direct and Interactive Marketing

If you place a high value on networking opportunities, FIT’s location and involvement in professional associations make it the place to be. The program offers memberships in Marketing EDGE (a marketing non-profit aimed to help grow the next generation of digital marketers) and the Direct Marketing Club of New York.

 In addition to partnering with these two organizations, the school hosts a marketing career conference each year with leading professionals and speakers in attendance. The opportunities are endless - you never know who you’ll meet!

On top of that, the school also offers a unique study abroad opportunity in London or Copenhagen to provide students with an international lens when studying digital marketing.

3. Rochester Institute of Technology

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing marketing degree, including learning about digital marketing as well as the principles of marketing, you may want to check out the in-person Bachelor of Science in Marketing program at the Rochester Institute of Technology, otherwise known as RIT.

According to US News, the program has been recognized as the #1 undergraduate business program in Western New York!

The curriculum for the program ensures that students “gain a solid understanding of the business activities that fall under the marketing umbrella.”  Studied subjects include new media marketing, social media analytics, search engine optimization, and data visualization. The program also requires students to complete a co-op term to help them gain experience in the industry.

If you’re looking to pursue an MBA after your undergraduate degree, you may want to consider RIT’s combination Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s degrees, where admitted students to the specialized program can complete both degrees in as little as five years! 

4. University of Michigan - Dearborn

Want to study digital marketing in one of the nation’s best business schools? Look no further than the University of Michigan at Dearborn. Located in - you guessed it - Dearborn, Michigan, the school offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Digital Marketing, one of nine different concentrations in the BBA program.

The curriculum offers the opportunity for students to learn in-demand marketing skills that can be adapted to implement any marketing campaign for students’ future employers. To further prepare students for the industry, double majoring in both Digital Marketing and Information Systems Management/Information Technology Management is encouraged. 

If you’re looking to attend the University of Michigan at Dearborn, you should know that the school is recognized as having the lowest average cost among 15 public Michigan universities.

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5. Millikin University

Millikin University is a private college with a 110-year-old legacy located in Decatur, Illinois. The school, which prides itself in offering “traditional and non-traditional undergraduate and graduate programs,” offers an in-person Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Digital Marketing

The digital marketing program at Millikin offers students an opportunity to combine theory and practice by participating in “performance learning,” meaning that students will learn by doing. This could include completing assignments on creating marketing campaigns, developing social media strategies, writing press releases, and more throughout their undergraduate schooling.

Students also have the option to graduate with various marketing certifications, like the Google Adwords and Analytics certifications. 

6. Wilmington University

If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck and more versatile options to study marketing, you’ll want to check out the program at Wilmington University. Located in New Castle, Delaware, the school offers both in-classroom and online learning pathways and the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a certificate in Digital Marketing simultaneously.

Marketing students at Wilmington will enjoy a curriculum highlighting marketing concepts that will prepare them for the industry while offering optional internships or cooperative learning experiences. These opportunities are instrumental in providing students with real-world, boots-on-the-ground job experience to boost their resume when the time comes to join the workforce. 

7. Saint Peter’s University

Located only a few miles from New York City, Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, New Jersey, offers another exceptional option for those seeking flexibility while pursuing a digital marketing degree.

The school offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Digital Marketing and Social Media as a part of the School of Professional Studies. The program allows students to gain “the necessary tools and skills to understand consumer behavior in the digital and mobile world.” The program is offered in a hybrid format, combining distance learning with in-person learning.

8. North Park University

Did you know that North Park University, located in Chicago, was one of the first schools in Illinois to offer a degree in digital marketing? The school, which offers a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Marketing, prides itself in offering a more practical, hands-on approach to learning marketing strategies aligned with what the industry is looking for.

The digital marketing curriculum at North Park also teaches students core soft and hard skills needed to succeed in the marketing industry, like communication, collaboration, critical thinking skills, and comprehension and application of new media. 

9. Thomas College

Located in Waterville, Maine, Thomas College is a small school with a long history. It has over 125 years of preparing students to enter the business field through its innovative curriculums. 

Thomas College offers an in-person Bachelor of Science in Digital Marketing Management in a four-year or three-year option to complete. Students will learn best practices in web management, social media management, communications, public relations, and digital content creation. 

The program also offers opportunities for leadership development with 1:1 mentorships and opportunities to gain experience through internships, with 75% of students participating in one. 

10. Mid-America Christian University

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing business education and not just digital marketing, look no further than Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

The school offers both an online and in-person Bachelor of Science program in Digital Marketing. The program allows students to learn desirable and marketable skills in subjects like marketing analysis and automation, social media analysis, and search engine optimization. 

At the same time, students also gain a comprehensive understanding of other business subjects like market economics, consumer behavior, accounting, and business finance, all in a flexible in-person or online format. 

How to Choose the Best Digital Marketing School for You

The best digital marketing school for you is entirely personal and depends on your interests, passions, and the environments where you work best. When thinking about what school you want to attend for digital marketing, you should ask yourself,

  • “Do I want to take classes online or in person?’
  • “Do I want to only learn about digital marketing principles, or do I want a more comprehensive study on business as a whole?”
  • “Do I want a small campus feel, or would I prefer to learn on a bigger, more urban campus?”

Remember that these answers will be different for everyone, and what’s right for one person may not be right for you. After all, searching for the best marketing school for you is personal since every student has different needs. Regardless of where you choose to study, if you pick the school that caters best to your needs, you’ll have no regrets!

FAQs: Best Schools for Digital Marketing

Still curious about the best schools for digital marketing? We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about them below. 

1. Which Degree is Best for Digital Marketing?

There are many different options to study digital marketing; however, what would be considered the “best degree” depends on you and what you want to learn. For example, consider a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Marketing program if you want to focus strictly on digital marketing. 

If you’re looking for a more well-rounded approach to marketing and business concepts, you may want to enroll in a Bachelor of Business Administration program with a digital marketing concentration. 

2. Is It Worth Going to School for Digital Marketing?

It is absolutely worth going to school for digital marketing. You will receive a great understanding of digital marketing principles and theories that you can take with you throughout your career, and you will also gain immeasurable networking experience alongside many soft skills that you’ll use in every job you have. 

3. What College has the Best Digital Media or Marketing Program?

The University of Northern Iowa is recognized as having the best digital media and marketing program. But keep in mind that the best school for you depends on what your interests and needs are. Any choice of school on this list of best digital marketing schools is a good pick!

4. Is Digital Marketing a College Degree?

While finding a major solely in digital marketing is not very common, many programs offer digital marketing concentrations alongside degree programs that are already offered. 

With the speed at which the demand for digital marketing has grown, many more programs developed in the future may focus solely on digital marketing as a major and separate degree rather than as a concentration on another program.

5. What Jobs Could I Get with a Digital Marketing Degree?

Digital marketing is a very versatile degree, and the job opportunities are endless. Many students who graduate from digital marketing programs become marketing specialists. Marketing managers, communications managers, email marketing specialists, and more!

6. How Long Will I Have to Study Digital Marketing?

Generally speaking, most programs are four years in length. However, many programs are flexible and can be done in three years or less, depending on your needs and schedule.

Final Thoughts

The business world is evolving and needs digital marketers to help businesses and organizations grow their business through navigating the online and social media-driven world. 

This is just one reason why the demand for digital marketing has increased over the past decade and why many schools in the country are now offering digital marketing programs. 

Now that you know more about the best schools for digital marketing, it’s time to think about the best fit for you!

Best of luck! 

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