The 10 Best Online Masters in Marketing Research

Gone are the days when a hunch or an affable notion successfuly push a product or website to millions of consumers. Particularly with the surge in data about consumers avialable in our connected world, marketing is research. Analyzing data, coming up with hypotheses, and testing those to funnel consumers to where they want to be (even if they don’t yet know it), is the strategic lifeblood of successful marketing endeavors. Thus the central role of marketing researcher in today’s connected world. Below we’ve looked at all online masters-level programs with strong marketing research components, and ranked them according to three metrics: affordability, flexibility, and academic quality in marketing research. Below you will find courses of study that can readily prepare you for jobs as a marketing analyst, a marketing manager, or a marketing research. Upgrade to your new marketing role today!

1.) Liberty University Online

Liberty University is a private non-profit Christian university with a main campus located in Lynchburg, Virginia. While the on-campus offerings of the university are sizable, and cater to over 20,000 students, the university is also largely known for a massive community of online learners. At present, over 100,000 students are pursuing online degrees with Liberty University. This makes Liberty the largest Evangelical Christian University in the world. Coupled with a commitment to practical career-centered programming, Liberty’s offerings are a great fit for many and particularly for Evangelical Christians. The fully online Masters in Business Administration with a focus on marketing offered by Liberty University places highly in our ranking due to its affordability and flexibility-enhancing features. This business decision-making centered degree is great for those hoping to hone their market researcher skills, and to progressively move higher up the ladder of market research decision making. Courses include courses in business research, accounting decision making, and marketing research, leading to graduates who are well rounded researchers able to set up financial hypotheticals and test them through a variety of tools. Further program perks include the ability to transfer in up to half of the program’s worth of credits, as well as the ability to accelerate time-until degree through “intensives” (short on campus courses) and life experience credit.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $540

2.) American InterContinental University

American InterContinental University is a private for-profit university known for wide online offerings and a large service-member student base. Currently home to some 10,000 students at their online campus, the university offers programming at the associates through the masters level. Known for many support services for servicemembers and veterans, over 1,500 of it’s students currently recieve funding through the GI Bill, with an average aid amount of $7,855 per year for undergraduate or $9,771 for graduates. The University is also known for their open admission policy, through which any student who fulfills prerequisites may sign up for courses. American InterContinental University is regionally accredited (the highest form of accreditation) by the Higher Learning Commission. The fully online Masters in Business Administration with a focus on marketing offered by American places highly in our ranking due to the flexibility of the program and the affordability. Intellipath technology allows for students to progress through modules of coursework according to what they do not already know. This allows for some students with experience to greatly accelerate their time-until degree. In fact, one common MBA path from AIU is the 12 month mba, one of the quickest we’ve seen at BestMarketingDegrees. Courses include must-have topics for marketing research, including advanced business research methods, advanced marketing research methods, strategic marketing, and strategic business, effectively blending the focus on marketing and business decision making. Tuition is also affordable, as the 6th most affordable program of those surveyed.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $582

3.) Regis University

Regis University is a private non-profit Catholic University (in the Jesuit Tradition) located in Denver, Colorado. Though a mid-sized university of 8,000+ students — and with many online offerings — markers of individual attention and support for students remain strong. Presently the student faculty ratio is 14 to 1, and retention of first year students is 80%. As previously stated, the university is also known for their online presence, including 231 majors, minors, and graduate degrees offered entirely online. Notable, many degrees are also specifically available at an accelerated or regular pace, a rarity for quality online universities. Additional student support services include Remedial services, Academic/career counseling service, and Placement services for completers. The fully online Master of Business Administration in Marketing offered by Regis University places highly due to academic quality, and flexibility. Courses that are particularly important for marketing research roles and that are included in Regis’ program include market opportunity assessment, strategy formulation, and marketing research. As noted on the program’s page, the university also offers a degree very suitable to marketing researchers titled M.S. in Organizational Leadership. Though their MBA in marketing is more marketing research heavy. Also of note, the Master of Business Administration in Marketing degree offered by Regis is one of the few on our list that can be accelerated, leading to increased time-until degree.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $780

4.) Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology (henceforth, Florida Tech) is a private doctoral and research university with a main campus located in Melbourne, Florida. The university is primarily known for their STEM and Aviation offerings, and the counltless quality educations they’ve provided to members of the Florida Space Coast (an aviation and aerospace research corridor) and across the nation. Regarded as a top tier US university, Florida Tech is also known for great quality of investment (51st in the nation) and the large amount of research done on campus (particularly for a university with many online students). Student satisfaction metrics at the university are quality, with a 13 to 1 student faculty ratio and a 83% retention rate for first time students. The fully online Masters in Business Administation with a focus on marketing offered by Florida Tech places highly in our ranking for flexibility and academic prestige. 8-week classes help working students to fit challenging coursework into their schedule. And many start dates per year help students to transition into the program when it is best for them to start. Courses in advanced market research, analyzing user behavior, and a strong finance and accounting component make this degree great for future researchers or market researchers.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $896

5.) Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University is a for-profit private university with a main campus located in Orange Beach, Alabama. Starting as a career-centered college in the early 90’s, Columbia Southern was able to expand rapidly through online offerings. Today the university offers degrees at the associates through doctoral levels to some 21,000 students. Currently 100% of students at the graduate and undergraduate levels are online students. A notable portion of the University are servicemembers who are able to utilize Department of Defense and GI Bill funding. A number of support services for veterans help to keep prices relatively low and retention rate high (89% for service members receiving government funding). The fully online Masters in Business Administration with a focus on marketing offered by Columbia Southern University places highly in our ranking due to it’s affordability and academic quality. Marketing research courses include coursework in marketing research, advanced marketing, research methods, and organicational research. Coursework is moderately paced so as to fit into busy professionals lives, with the entire program currently taking 3 years to complete. The course of study really shines, however, with it’s affordability. Currently tuition per credit hour for the program is $290, the lowest of programs surveyed. Of all students in the program, only 26% of students end up borrowing money to attend the program. This is quite a low number for a masters in business administration degree.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $290

6.) Bellevue University

Bellevue University is a private non-profit university with a main campus located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The university is primarily known for their quality outreach to non-traditional and adult students, largely online. Today over 10,000 students call the university home at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A large minority of students are servicemembers recieving DoD or GI Bill funding, and for which there are good outcomes. The retention rate for service members recieving government funding, often a metric that shows quality support services at a university, is currently at 89%. Bellevue University has been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission for more than 30 years. The fully online Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing offered by Bellevue University places highly in our ranking due to affordability and academic quality. Marketing research-centered courses in the MBA include courses in marketing research, financial reporting and analysis, business performance management, business analysis and decision making, and business strategy. We also love the wide range of specializations that are available in Bellevue’s program. While it might come in the form of auditing a class, a huge range of online graduate business courses may be chosen from to further tailor your education. Bellevue University’s program is also the 5th most affordable of those surveyed, coming in at $565 per credit hour.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $565

7.) Walsh University

Walsh University is a private, Catholic University with a main campus located in North Canton, Ohio. Currently the school offers many practical and innovative degree programs at the associates through doctoral levels. Accelerated degrees for working adults are available in many fields, and in practical disciplines are particularly good return on investment. Online offerings are varied, with a number of programs also being accelerated for additional flexibility. Presently 62% of graduate students and 20% of undergraduate students take some courses online. Retention and graduation rates are both strong at Walsh University, pointing to quality education and support services. The fully online Master of Business Education with a concentration in marketing offered by Walsh University places highly in our ranking due to academic quality. Courses are flexible, and may be taken in 8-week bursts. For students who need to slow their programming down some, students may also enroll in as little as one course per year and still retain their place in the program. Six intake periods per year allow for working professionals to start their coursework whenever it best suites their schedule. Marketing research-specific courses in the curriculum include applied organizational research and analysis, marketing research, and marketing strategy. Walsh University is the 13th most affordable program of those surveyed, with a per tuition credit hour rate of $665.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $665

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9.) Colorado Technical University

Colorado Technical University is a for-profit, private university with a main campus located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As one might expect from the University’s name, the university primarily offers technology and career-related programming. 92% of the more than 25,000 student student body take courses online. This includes many servicemembers as well as professionals working in aerospace and tech fields related to government aerospace installations. In-person campuses are also available in Aurora, Denver, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Colorado Technical University is annually included in many of the most prestigious rankings of the best online degree providers. The fully online Master of Business Administration with a focus in Marketing offered by Colorado Technical University places highly in our ranking due to its affordability and academic quality. Affordability is preserved in the program through a number of ways to save if you have previous job or educational experience, generous transfer policies, and active duty as well as corporate arrangements for employers to help pay a portion of educational costs. Many start dates are available yearly, increasing flexibility for busy professionals seeking to further their education. Courses in marketing research in this degree include applied managerial decision making, marketing research methods, and a capstone research project.

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $585

10.) University of Saint Mary

The University of Saint Mary is a private liberal arts school with a main campus located in Leavenworth, Kansas. The university offers a wide range of bachelors and masters-level programming. In line with the university’s mission “to educate students of diverse backgrounds … to prepare them for … careers that contribute to the well being of our global society” offerings are career-centered and offer many support services for non-traditional students. Notable, many degree completion options as well as practical online education options are available to students. Currently around 1,200 students attend the school, and the university’s student faculty ratio is quality at 11 to 1. The fully online Master of Business Administration with a focus on marketing and advertising offered by the University of Saint Mary places highly in our ranking due to its affordability and academic quality. Also of note, the program may be completed in one year, a great flexibility-enhancing component for students looking to push through an advanced degree quickly. Marketing research-centered coursework includes a course on marketing research, finance and accounting courses, advanced marketing strategy, and advertising research. The program is currently the 8th most affordable of those surveyed, a feat for a quality private education!

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• Estimated Tuition Per Credit Hour: $598