Difference Between an M.B.A. in Marketing vs M.S. in Marketing

Earning either an M.B.A. (Master’s in Business Administration) or a master’s degree in marketing may be a great way to jumpstart a career and open new doors to potential professional opportunities. Both degrees offer the opportunity to study advanced concepts and may help you enhance your career. However, a number of key differences exist between the two degrees. The curriculum, course structure and subjects studied are fundamentally different and play a major role in what students learn.

marketing MS vs marketing MBA

The Marketing M.B.A.

MBA programs cover a broader subject area than master’s degrees in marketing, which may equip students with skills that are transferable to other parts of the business world. MBA programs tend to emphasize business management and leadership with a more general focus on exploring different specializations within the field of business. Although many MBA programs offer advanced coursework in marketing theory and application, they generally focus on providing students with a broader perspective that covers business management and leadership as well as other subjects like finance, economics and the global economy. MBA programs may be well suited for students looking to pursue careers as corporate leaders and develop a general set of enhanced skills that can be employed in a wide variety of areas in the business world.

The M.S. in Marketing

Master’s degrees in marketing tend to focus much more specifically on marketing topics as opposed to business management and leadership. Master’s degree programs for marketing often emphasize subjects like advanced marketing concepts, advertising, media relations, consumer behavior, communications and sales. Thus, marketing master’s degree programs may be best suited for those looking to specifically pursue careers in marketing capacities.

Marketing MBA vs Marketing Masters Coursework

Of course, other differences between the two degree programs abound. MBA programs often utilize case studies that help prepare future business leaders to address real life business challenges, while master’s degree programs in marketing tend to focus more on studying advanced concepts, theories and strategies specific to the field. Also, many MBA programs may require a certain number of years of professional experience before students may enroll in them, while master’s degree programs for public relations or marketing generally don’t have this requirement.

Both degrees might offer new opportunities for those hoping to pursue a career as a marketing professional. Knowing and understanding the differences between MBA and M.S. degree programs in marketing is critically important before taking the step of enrolling in either.

  • Application fee waiver for students applying to start in Summer 2022.
  • Designed for working professionals, our programs equip you to advance.
  • Master marketing analytics, data visualization, UX, SEO, SEM, branding, packaging, channel management, social media content management and more. 
  • Choose an elective focused on consumer psychology, project management, the customer journey, or web and video development.

Marketing Manager Salary By Metro Area

Do you want to become a marketing manager? If so, it’s important to understand the salary range you can expect in different metro areas across the country. This could help you better determine where to live and work as a marketing manager. Check out the following salary table to see how much marketing managers make in different metro areas.

Top Salary Metro Areas in the United States: Marketing Managers
Metro AreaAnnual Mean SalaryEmployment
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$182,4905,630
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$176,52023,200
Visalia-Porterville, CA$172,96040
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$165,350540
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA$161,7709,370

Bureau of Labor Statistics

GradSchools.com Top Schools with Marketing Masters Degrees

ProgramInstitutionsDegree Awarded
Master of Business Administration – MarketingNorthcentral UniversityMBA
Master of Science in Marketing AnalyticsClaremont Graduate UniversityMSMR
M.B.A. in MarketingPurdue University GlobalMBA
MS MarketingSouthern New Hampshire UniversityMS
Master of Business Administration – MarketingSeton Hall UniversityMBA
Master of Science in Digital MarketingFull Sail UniversityMS
Master of Business Administration – Marketing SpecializationLouisiana State University In ShreveportN/A
M.B.A.: MarketingGrand Canyon UniversityMBA
Master of Business Administration: MarketingLiberty University OnlineMBA
Master of Science in Communication: Integrated Marketing CommunicationLasell CollegeIMC
MBA – MarketingAmerican InterContinental UniversityN/A
Master of Business Administration – MarketingColorado Technical UniversityN/A

Additional Masters Programs

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