In today’s world, marketing is all around us. You pay a visit to your local shopping mall and you’re immediately bombarded by countless ads and promotions. To meet the demand for marketers, many people are seeking out online marketing degrees.
With the hassle of everyday life, no one has the time to sign up for a degree, attend lectures and study for finals. Getting a marketing degree online sounds like a smart choice, but is it easier than the real deal?
More importantly, are online marketing degrees legit?
Today, we’ll explore everything you need to know about studying marketing online. Specifically, we’ll cover some of the core benefits of online education, and where to look for the most reputable courses.
Let’s dive right in.
6 Reasons to Get Your Marketing Degree Online
With technological advancements, disturbances in the economy, fast-paced lifestyles and the need for workers to possess new skill sets, the demand for online marketing courses has been on the rise.
The traditional way of learning has always been problematic. You pay thousands to sit in a classroom and get graded on how good you were listening during class. Presentations, strict deadlines and late nights are all part of the experience of traditional education.
However, it doesn’t have to be. Ten years ago or less, getting a bachelor’s degree in marketing online sounded too good to be true. Now however, it is becoming easier, cheaper and more convenient to get a marketing degree online.
This trend in online education has only grown post-COVID. In fact, most universities moved almost all of their learning online throughout the pandemic. This led people to realise that online learning is a viable option for students and teachers alike.
So, here are some advantages of opting for an online marketing degree.
1. Cost
Skipping the early morning lectures and getting your marketing degree online is a lot less costly than traditional university education. Not only will you save on transport costs, online learning is typically cheaper than a traditional degree, even from the same institution.
This makes getting a marketing degree online an excellent option for students who can not afford a traditional university education, or don’t qualify for student loans.
2. Condensed Learning
Online marketing degree programs allow the student to condense the learning process. This allows the student to earn the degree much faster. This is ideal for people who already have an existing career.
Learning quickly allows students to make a sideways move, into a new role or industry, without the need to lose their income for three years to gain a traditional marketing degree.
3. Go at Your Own Pace.
Whether you’re a slow learner, an advanced student or an independent learner, with online marketing degrees you can go at your own speed. The student oversees when and how the degree progresses:. You have complete control over the learning material.
Of course, this makes online learning ideal for anyone with tight schedules. For this reason, online marketing degrees are popular with many parents who wish to upskill, but lack extensive free time.
4. Comfort
Getting dressed, commuting to college and attending class are part of the traditional education process. Getting your marketing degree allows you to work or study from the comfort of your own home.
Nowadays, distance learning is the norm. Just like working from home, many students have realised that there is simply no need to commute in order to receive a quality education.
5. Work/Life Balance
Having a social life while working towards a degree sounded impossible. Having the option to pause your degree and take a breath is one of the benefits granted by online marketing degree programs.
This is essentially important if you want to study for your marketing degree alongside a full time job, where it can be difficult to strike a good work/life balance.
6. Buff up Your Resume
Fresh grad with an empty CV? Online marketing degrees look great on a resume. Not only does this prove to employers that you have marketable skills, online education demonstrates incredible determination, motivation and time management.
Where to Get an Online Marketing Degree
Of course, there are a number of different ways to study for a marketing degree online. As we’ve already noted, online education has exploded in popularity over recent years, in no small part because of the COVID pandemic.
Even before this though, online learning was increasing in popularity. Like in so many other industries, new online providers have greatly changed the way education is delivered, reducing costs and increasing convenience for countless learners.
Here are the two main ways you can seek out a marketing degree online.
Traditional Institutions Offering Online Degrees
Today, many universities offer online and distance learning options. In fact, many in-person degrees nowadays make heavy use of online learning. With improving technology, the line between online and traditional learning has become very blurry.
This means that you can often get the exact same degree as someone who studies in person, but often for less money and hassle.
It’s particularly common for traditional institutions to offer their more professionalised post-graduate courses. This means that there are a growing number of well-known institutions where you can study for your marketing degree online.
Online Education Providers
Of course, there are also a number of institutions which primarily offer education online. Some of these have been around for a long time. For example, the Open University has been offering distance learning courses for over fifty years.
There are newer players in the distance learning space too.
However, you need to be careful here. In the real world, or at least in most countries, there are strict regulations on what you can and can’t call a degree. This is called accreditation. Your qualification needs to be backed by a standards body of some description.
For many so-called online marketing degrees, this is not the case.
As such, it’s important to research programs thoroughly, especially if they are provided by a less well known site.
The Stigma Surrounding Online Marketing Degrees
There is a certain stigma surrounding online education. People think that seeking an online bachelor’s degree reflects badly on the student. The stereotype of the lazy student who is not smart enough to get a “real” degree.
This stigma discourages prospective online degree seekers and forces them into the traditional education system, costing them money and years that could be better spent on actual work.
However, some experts have a different opinion. Countless studies have been done on the efficacy of online education. The controversies surrounding expectations of getting online marketing degrees has been a topic of wide debate.
When considering getting a marketing degree online, it all comes down to three aspects; institution accreditation, reputation and interaction.
Seeking an online marketing degree from a reputable accredited institution gives positive employer perceptions and does not differ from a traditional degree in the eyes of the employer.
Obtaining Employment
When seeking employment, perceptions that influence employers are the names of the universities rather than the physical presence in one. How employers perceive the applicant is purely based on the degree itself rather than the way it was obtained.
These days, most employers don’t care where your degree comes from.
Countless students have been opting to go for the online experience. Experts say that if more students decided to get their marketing degrees online, virtual degrees would become more acceptable in the eyes of the public.
Is an Online Marketing Degree Right For You?
Whether online or through traditional education, marketing degrees are proving to be a very powerful tool in today’s job market. Marketers are in high demand nowadays and any marketing educational background is a huge plus for any job seeker.
The advantages of online marketing degrees have been highlighted through the article. Although not without its problems, online marketing degree programs are becoming a very viable option.
Employers no longer perceive online marketing degree holders as inferior to traditional university graduates. Saving time, money, boosting self-confidence and encouraging self-dependence are all reasons to seek a marketing degree online.
Whether “virtual education” becomes the future of higher education or not is yet to be determined by those who seek to do more with their time.
To find out more about marketing training, contact ProfileTree today.
