Marketing has become one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world. Having a degree from a reputable institution can give you an edge in the job market. And the US has some of the most renowned marketing institutions.
Below, we have listed the best universities in the US to study marketing, in no particular order.
1. Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania
Wharton holds a reputation as one of the most distinguished business schools globally. It has a long legacy of excellence in business education. The college has some notable alumni, including Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Warren Buffett, and Donald Trump.
Wharton offers a range of marketing programs, such as an MBA in Marketing and a master’s degree in Marketing and Communications. Having said that, Wharton has an acceptance rate of 5.9%. Therefore, students need to be prepared with pay for paper and creative cover letters to stand out among the thousands of applicants. However, once in, students will benefit from Wharton’s innovative approach to marketing courses. The faculty members are renowned for their expertise in brand management, marketing strategy, consumer studies, and more.
2. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan
Michigan Ross doesn’t have a dedicated master’s program for undergraduate or graduate courses. However, it offers a Ph.D. in Marketing that focuses on the producer-consumer relationship. And interestingly, this program isn’t restricted to a specific paradigm or base discipline. Instead, students collaborate with researchers across statistics, economics, psychology, and other departments.
Additionally, the MBA and BBA programs also explore marketing. For instance, students will examine brand management, data analytics, social media marketing, and more. The course prepares students to handle a wide array of marketing challenges within their field. Ross School has a relatively high acceptance rate of 35.9%.
3. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley
Haas’s full-time MBA program is an excellent option for marketing students. It enables students to approach marketing in a strategic, quantitative, and innovative manner. According to Haas, nearly 20% of its MBA students pursue marketing after graduating.
The MBA offers many relevant courses for marketing. This includes marketing strategy, brand management, and consumer research. The Haas Marketing Club is also known for its contests and networking events. However, Haas has a highly selective admissions process, with only a 13.2% acceptance rate.
4. Stern School of Business at the New York University
Stern is another prominent college that has gained a reputation for its exceptional business programs. It also has a full-time MBA, suitable for students eager to learn about marketing. This particular program will also enable students to get exposure to other fields. This includes entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare, luxury & retail, tech, and more.
Stern also offers a plethora of internship and consulting corp opportunities. Students will be prepared for multiple coursework in the marketing industry. This includes content marketing, retail management, brand strategy, consumer insights, sports marketing, and more. NYU Stern has an acceptance rate of just 6.6%.
5. Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia
Darden also has multiple programs catering to marketing students. There is an MBA with a specialization in marketing. This provides students with a detailed understanding of marketing theory and practice. Additionally, students also get hands-on experience via consulting projects and internships.
And professionals can also pursue Executive Education Programs with a focus on marketing. These are designed for those looking to upskill to advance their careers. On top of these, Darden also has research centers focused on marketing. This includes the Center for Global Brand Leadership and Behavioral Research at Darden (BRAD) Lab. The acceptance rate for Darden is 26%.
6. McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin
McCombs is one of the best colleges for marketing in the US. The reason is that it offers a wide range of marketing programs. This includes Marketing BBA, a Professional Sales and Business Development Minor, a Marketing MBA, and the prestigious Ph.D. program.
In other words, students of all academic and professional levels will be able to find a program that suits their aspirations. In addition, McCombs also offers marketing courses to non-business students. These can be pursued as part of another major. Moreover, these can also be paired with internships. The acceptance rate for this business college is 28%.
7. Kelley School of Business at the Indiana University Bloomington
Kelley School offers both undergraduate and Ph.D. programs dedicated to marketing. On top of this, there is also a full-time MBA that helps get into marketing. The marketing courses here are consistently ranked among the best in America. The admission process at Kelley School is moderately competitive, accepting only 38% of the applicants.
The faculty is internationally recognized and helps students develop interpersonal, creative, and analytical skills necessary for marketing. There is also a Customer Interface Virtual Laboratory to participate in competitions. Other research centers available at Kelley include the Undergraduate Marketing Club, Global Sales Workshop, Consumer Marketing Academy, and Business Marketing Academy.
8. Kellogg School of Management at the Northwestern University
The marketing department at Northwestern University is widely deemed a leader in the discipline. The faculty members here boast a wide range of research interests and areas of expertise. This covers analytics, customer behavior, cultural facets, advertising, and marketing principles.
What’s more, the Kellogg marketing department has also authored influential textbooks in three key areas of marketing. This includes marketing management, channels of distribution, and sales promotions. The acceptance rate of Kellogg is 20%.
Furthermore, Kellogg offers online digital marketing courses. This lasts for six months and brings students up to speed with modern marketing practices. The course will prepare students to write marketing research papers and earn practical experience as well. The program comes with certifications to popular marketing platforms and access to case studies. Scholars will also engage with expert guest speakers and active career coaching.
In conclusion, pursuing a marketing degree at one of the top colleges or universities in the US can be a smart investment in your future career. As discussed, these institutions offer an assortment of academic programs, from undergraduate to doctoral. Additionally, these courses enable students to access innovative research, gain hands-on experience, and interact with industry leaders.
