MBA in Marketing vs. MS in Marketing: Which to Choose

Marketing professionals who want a graduate degree face a common choice. Should you earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in marketing or a Master of Science (MS) in marketing? Both can build skills for senior roles, and the right pick depends on how much general business training you want alongside marketing.

Which Degree Is Better: An MBA in Marketing or an MS in Marketing?

Neither degree is universally better. An MBA in marketing is generally best for professionals who want broader business, leadership and management skills alongside marketing expertise. An MS in marketing is often better suited for professionals seeking deeper specialization in marketing research, analytics or consumer insights.

An MBA in marketing pairs general business courses with a marketing emphasis, which fits someone aiming to run a marketing function. Many MS in marketing programs place greater emphasis on research methods, analytics, consumer behavior and specialized marketing topics, which may appeal to professionals seeking deeper subject-matter expertise.

Pittsburg State University (Pitt State) offers the MBA path 100% online. Its online MBA in Marketing program pairs a seven-course MBA core with three required marketing emphasis courses. Pitt State designed it for professionals who want to deepen their marketing expertise.

This guide uses Pitt State’s online MBA in Marketing program as the worked example and describes MS programs in general terms, since their curricula vary by school. Many programs blend the two, so read each curriculum closely.

This guide is for working marketers and recent business graduates who want a clear comparison before they apply. It uses May 2025 federal wage data, projections through 2035 and 2026 employer hiring plans, with program details from Pitt State’s program page, with information current as of 2026.

The curriculum includes Financial Strategy, which covers financial planning and capital budgeting, and Strategic Management, which puts students in a decision-maker’s role. That mix matters for marketers who expect to oversee budgets, evaluate business performance, allocate resources and contribute to organizational strategy rather than focus solely on campaign execution. The pay and job data below describe occupations, not degrees, so no federal figure shows what an MBA or an MS adds to a marketer’s paycheck.

MBA in Marketing vs. MS in Marketing: How Do the Degrees Differ?

An MBA in marketing builds broad business skills with an emphasis in marketing. Some MS in marketing programs delve more deeply into research and analytics.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says several schools offer graduate programs in marketing research. Analysts may instead earn a bachelor’s in another field, such as statistics and marketing, and then an MBA.

BLS also says a master’s degree is often required for leadership positions or roles that involve more technical research. It does not say which master’s fits which role.

Pitt State’s program shows how the MBA side works. Students take seven core courses, including those covering financial strategy, strategic management and marketing strategy. They then take three emphasis courses: Consumer Analytics, Business-to-Business Marketing and Topics in International Business.

How the two degrees compare

The core builds range. Of these, Marketing Strategy takes a management-oriented approach to analysis and planning, and Strategic Management puts students in a decision-maker’s role, using cases or simulations. Pitt State says faculty are experienced marketing practitioners, and the capstone benchmarks students against MBA peers worldwide.

Which Marketing Careers and Pay Fit Each Degree?

Both degrees may support advancement into senior marketing positions; however, employers typically hire based on a combination of education, experience, skills and professional accomplishments. BLS pay data for those roles is not split by degree, so the case for either rests on the skills it builds. Pitt State’s MBA adds financial strategy and strategic management to its marketing courses.

BLS reports a median wage of $166,790 for marketing managers in May 2025. The 10th percentile earned under $90,260, and the 90th percentile earned over $293,610.

That median is the closest federal benchmark for marketing role pay. BLS also says some employers prefer to hire marketing managers with a master’s degree, pointing to the value of a graduate degree, such as an MBA in marketing.

Median annual pay for marketing managers by industry, May 2025 (BLS)

Reading the numbers:

BLS reports pay by occupation, not by degree. These figures describe all marketing managers, regardless of degree. Use these figures to understand compensation within marketing occupations. Because BLS reports earnings by job title rather than educational background, the data does not indicate the salary impact of earning a specific graduate degree.

BLS expects marketing manager employment to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035. It projects about 36,300 openings a year across advertising, promotions and marketing managers.

Marketing managers work across many industries. BLS says professional, scientific and technical services employ the most, at 23%. Because the largest industry accounts for under a quarter of these jobs, marketers can look for roles across sectors; the table above shows several where the median tops $170,000.

Not every role grows. BLS projects a 4% decline for advertising and promotions managers, saying fewer are needed to oversee advertising staff, and it notes that teams are expected to use AI to create and revise digital ads more quickly. For marketers weighing a graduate degree, the stronger growth sits in marketing manager roles, which BLS projects at 7%.

Market research analysts earn a median of $78,760, BLS says, and the job category is projected to grow by 7%. For analysts, the master’s matters more directly, since BLS says some employers require one or favor candidates with one. Research-focused MS programs fit that need.

Pitt State’s program page lists marketing manager, market research analyst, sales manager and public relations specialist. For role descriptions, see Pitt State’s guide to marketing career opportunities.

What Do Employers Say About the MBA and the Master of Marketing?

GMAC employer survey data suggests stronger hiring intentions for MBA graduates than for graduates of marketing-focused master’s programs.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) surveyed 621 corporate recruiters in 39 countries for its 2026 Corporate Recruiters Survey Report. For the MBA, 36% planned to hire more graduates and 42% planned to hire the same number.

For the Master of Marketing, 21% planned to hire more and 37% the same. Another 16% planned to hire fewer, and 26% did not plan to hire any.

Global employer hiring plans for 2026 (GMAC)

Leadership hiring adds another data point. Taligence tracked 501 newly appointed chief marketing officers (CMOs) in 2025 and found that 36.3% held an MBA. The report does not compare that share with other degrees, so it shows the MBA is common at the top rather than preferred.

The top title is also not universal. Spencer Stuart found that 31% of S&P 500 companies have no enterprise CMO, and some use titles such as chief commercial officer or chief customer officer. Some of those titles, such as chief commercial officer, cover sales and marketing, so a degree with business range may suit them.

Certification is another way to add credibility. The American Marketing Association (AMA) says its Professional Certified Marketer exam has no eligibility rules. It suggests a bachelor’s degree plus four years of experience, a master’s degree plus two years, or five or more years of experience alone.

How to Find the Best MBA for Marketing: Cost, Format and Admission

Compare cost, pace, entry rules and program approvals. Do that before you compare degree titles.

Pitt State’s online MBA in Marketing program is 30 credit hours at $399 per credit, or $11,970 in total. Tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state students, so your state of residence does not change the price. The Kansas Board of Regents reviews rates each year, so confirm current numbers.

Courses run seven weeks, and students can finish in as few as 12 months. The program has several start dates each year, so a working marketer can begin without waiting for a single fall intake.

No prerequisite or foundation courses are required. That lets applicants entering through the experience track start the core courses right away, without any leveling coursework.

Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a resume and official transcripts, and the general GPA minimum is 2.7. The GMAT and GRE are not required, which removes a test-prep step for working professionals.

Entry runs through one of two tracks. The professional experience track requires three years of full-time managerial experience, and the recent business graduate track requires a business degree earned within the last three years and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. A $35 application fee applies.

Students can add a second emphasis, such as international business, human resources or accounting, with three more courses. That may add about a semester, which suits a marketer who wants a second specialty on the diploma.

Pitt State’s Gladys A. Kelce College of Business is accredited by AACSB International, a widely recognized business-school accreditation that reflects compliance with established standards for business education. Ask any program which approvals and accreditations it holds.

Two programs with the same degree title can differ widely in cost, pace and entry rules. Check each of these items for every MBA or MS you consider:

• Compare the cost per credit and the total cost.
• Check the course length and how fast you can finish.
• Read the entry requirements, including experience and GPA.
• Confirm which approvals the school or college holds.
• Look at the marketing courses in the plan of study.
• Ask how the degree fits the job you want.

MS costs and lengths vary by school. Compare each program’s published numbers before you decide.

Who Should Choose an MBA in Marketing, and Who Should Choose an MS in Marketing?

Pick the MBA in marketing for leadership range. Pick the MS in marketing for deeper research and analytics.

The two degrees fit different goals, so the quickest way to decide is to match your target role to the right list. Start with the list that sounds most like you.

Choose the MBA if you:

• Want marketing, finance and strategy in one degree
• Aim for manager or director roles
• Work full time and want an online program with no GMAT or GRE

Choose the MS if you:

• Want to specialize in research and analytics
• Plan to work as a market research analyst or a similar specialist
• Want a program built around marketing methods

Picture two marketers. A brand manager who wants to run a team may prefer the MBA’s range. An analyst who wants to lead research projects may prefer an MS.

A few honest answers can settle the choice before you apply. Ask yourself these questions first:

• Do I want to manage people and budgets, or specialize in methods?
• How much of my degree should focus only on marketing?
• What do my target employers ask for?

Either degree can strengthen your case for senior roles. AMA counts a master’s toward its suggested experience for the Professional Certified Marketer exam, which trims two years off the experience it recommends. If you have a bachelor’s degree and three years of managerial experience, or a business degree earned in the last three years, Pitt State’s two entry tracks may fit.

Build marketing, finance and strategy skills for leadership roles by applying to Pitt State’s online MBA in Marketing, a 30-credit program with no GMAT or GRE.

About Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg State University is in Pittsburg, Kansas, and has awarded MBA degrees for 50 years. Its online MBA is available in eight areas of emphasis: public administration, data science and information systems, healthcare administration, marketing, general administration, accounting, human resources and international business.

Pitt State tracks graduate outcomes through an annual employment data report compiled by its career development office. In its fiscal year 2025 employment data report, about 94% of responding business administration master’s graduates in the Kelce College of Business were employed full time or enrolled in further education, based on an 80% response rate.