An associate’s in marketing online is the best way to transfer credits to a four-year university program. By starting with an associate of science or arts degree, you take care of your general education requirements and foundational business studies at a fraction of the cost of a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s credential is ideal for anything beyond entry-level sales positions. If you are searching for opportunities as a marketing research analyst or marketing manager, starting with a transferable AA/AS degree might be the best choice for you.
Consider earning an associate’s in marketing online if you plan to pursue a bachelor’s in marketing, digital and social media marketing, or a communications degree. Also, an AA/AS program can just as well lead to graduate-level studies. By utilizing an affordable associate’s degree to move ahead academically, you can increase your future salary by nearly 50% (BLS). However, not all associate’s in marketing online degrees are as affordable as they seem. Make sure to check the in-state versus out-of-state tuition costs before enrolling; it’s best to shop for an AA/AS based on your location as well as your transfer goals.
The following ‘Best Buy’ list reveals our editorially independent rankings of 50 associate’s in marketing online degrees from 43 regionally accredited schools. Each program listed costs less than the national average. Take the time to find the degree that fits your budget and professional goals before enrolling!
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$16,700
Least Expensive: West Los Angeles College ~$2,796.00
Most Expensive: Academy of Art University ~$69,001.00
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest associate’s in marketing online degrees. The online marketing, digital marketing, social media marketing, and communication degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Associate’s in Marketing Online
East Mississippi Community College 
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West Los Angeles College | (CA) | $2,796.00 $20,736.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Coastline College | (CA) | $2,824.00 $19,924.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Santa Barbara City College | (CA) | $2,848.00 $22,048.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | (MS) | $6,780.00 $11,580.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Seminole State College of Florida | (FL) | $6,793.80 $23,443.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Southeast Community College Area | (NE) | $6,989.00 $8,270.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Allen County Community College | (KS) | $7,040.00 | All Students |
8 | Miami Dade College | (FL) | $7,093.20 $24,150.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | College of Southern Nevada | (NV) | $7,915.00 $8,575.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 |  East Mississippi Community College Associate of Arts in Advertising 14 Associate of Arts in Marketing & Corporate Relations 14 | (MS) | $8,400.00 $14,400.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | Barton Community College | (KS) | $9,000.00 | All Students |
12 | Tulsa Community College | (OK) | $9,080.00 $22,580.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
13 | South Texas College | (TX) | $9,360.00 $16,140.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
14 | Laurel Ridge Community College | (VA) | $9,633.15 $21,839.25 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | Clark State College | (OH) | $10,369.80 $18,609.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
16 | Blinn College District | (TX) | $11,100.00 $20,640.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 | Sinclair Community College | (OH) | $11,586.96 $21,247.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
18 | Macomb Community College | (MI) | $12,578.00 $15,864.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | Dakota County Technical College | (MN) | $12,772.20 | All Students |
20 | Des Moines Area Community College | (IA) | $13,056.00 | All Students |
21 | Anoka-Ramsey Community College | (MN) | $13,171.20 | All Students |
22 | Minnesota West Community and Technical College | (MN) | $13,323.00 | All Students |
23 | Massasoit Community College | (MA) | $13,330.00 $26,102.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
24 | Bristol Community College | (MA) | $13,422.00 $25,988.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
25 | Bunker Hill Community College | (MA) | $13,640.00 $26,412.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
26 | Harrisburg Area Community College | (PA) | $13,740.00 $19,635.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
27 | Lewis-Clark State College | (ID) | $13,989.00 $40,501.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
28 | Cameron University | (OK) | $14,190.00 $34,914.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
29 | Lansing Community College | (MI) | $15,895.00 $23,305.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 | Georgia Military College | (GA) | $15,930.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin Community College District | (TX) | $17,160.00 $21,180.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
 American Public University System | (WV) | $18,500.00 $15,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Waldorf University | (IA) | $18,725.00 $15,125.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
 Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $19,350.00 $13,650.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Northampton County Area Community College | (PA) | $21,390.00 $31,558.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Franklin University | (OH) | $23,970.00 $15,090.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Franklin University | (OH) | $25,562.00 $16,090.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Point University | (GA) | $25,600.00 | All Students | |
 Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $31,020.00 $17,880.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $34,170.00 $16,750.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Post University | (CT) | $36,200.00 | All Students | |
Central Penn College | (PA) | $39,219.00 | All Students | |
Academy of Art University | (CA) | $69,001.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of associate’s in marketing online offered at two year institutions. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online associate degrees in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers an associate degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for an associate’s in marketing online may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best associate’s in marketing online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Associate’s in Marketing Online
The bachelor’s degree has become, in many ways, the standard education. Numerous employers require, or at least prefer, their team members to have a bachelor’s degree. This often means jumping straight into a four-year program and completing everything, from general courses to specialization classes, at a large (and often expensive) university.
But there is another option. Many students are realizing that completing an associate’s degree first, then transferring to a bachelor’s program, is often a better route. If you have the goal of completing a bachelor’s degree in marketing or communication, starting with a two-year associate’s in marketing online program may be perfect.
Why an Associate’s Degree First?
Earning two degrees (an associate’s followed by a bachelor’s) seems like more work, more education, more time in the classroom, and more tuition cost. But this is rarely the case. When planned properly, earning an associate’s degree first, then transferring those college credits to a bachelor’s program, is actually more affordable.
At the time of this article, the average cost of a transferrable associate’s in marketing online degree was around $16,700. But this average is weighted by some of the more expensive options; the lowest cost was only $2,796. If you search the best colleges, you can likely find a program that fits your budget. (Tuition prices are constantly changing. These numbers are for example only and do not reflect current costs. See your college of choice for accurate and up-to-date tuition prices.)
But affordability is far from the only benefit of this educational route.
Besides the (potentially) lower costs, completing an associate’s program gives you a useful degree in only two years. Once complete, you can go into the workforce and, at the same time, work towards a bachelor’s. This choice takes commitment (working full time and going to school is not easy), but at the end of an associate’s you have something to show potential employers; if you started into a bachelor’s degree, you’ll have to wait two more years before you have an actual degree that demonstrates your skills.
If you are plan on transferring your associate’s in marketing online degree to a bachelor’s program, it’s essential that you research the transfer options. Essentially, you need to make sure that your associate’s classes will transfer to the bachelor’s of your choice. Many schools work together, creating a seamless pipeline from one to another, but you still need to make sure the credits will transfer.
What to Expect from an Associate’s in Marketing Online
Of course, these are not just any associate’s degrees. These are two-year marketing degrees, which brings a variety of benefits. Marketing is a broad, sweeping education that brings unlimited potential to your career. Not only is marketing utilized by virtually every industry in practically all locations, it also teaches you numerous skills that apply to a variety of positions.
After studying marketing or communication, you’ll understand how to research customers and demographics, how to captivate an audience, and how to communicate at a personal level, forming connections that are essential for businesses and organizations.
Marketing teaches you how to communicate, a skills that is essential for all types of careers. It teaches you to deal with people and guide decision making. It’s a universal education that can apply to leadership, team building, sales, and more.
Classes during an associate’s in marketing online can cover a wide variety of topics. You’ll learn marketing techniques, branding strategies, and buyer behavior. You’ll learn how to identify market segments and how to plan and organize a marketing staff. You’ll learn the differences between business-to-business sales and business-to-customer sales, a subtle but important difference.
All of these skills create a foundation of knowledge in marketing and communication, a foundation that can be used to build a career or, if you chose, enhance your overall education by transferring to a four-year program.
Popular Careers for Marketing Students
Eventually, you’ll need to think about careers. With a marketing degree, you’ll be well prepared for a range of challenging, rewarding, and fulfilling jobs.
Public Relations Specialist
- Salary: $62,810
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Experience: None
A public relations specialist works to maintain a positive public image for a company or non-profit. Daily tasks, depending on the position, may include writing press releases, responding to media questions, drafting speeches, evaluating public opinion through surveys and studies.
To work as a public relations specialist, you’ll likely need a bachelor’s degree, which you can complete after an associate’s. You may also need experience at internships, and additional experience with newspapers, social media, blogging, and leadership could be beneficial.
Marketing Manager
- Salary: $141,490
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Experience: Around 5 years
These managers guide marketing teams. They are the leaders of marketing departments, and their work can include planning ad campaigns, staffing a marketing team, and working with company leaders to define specific goals.
To work in this career, you need a strong understanding of marketing and leadership. A bachelor’s degree is almost universally required, and you’ll need around five years of industry experience to land this high-paying career.