Is Marketing a Good Major?

When choosing a college major, there's a lot to consider — and it's natural to feel overwhelmed by your options at first. Fortunately, there are some clear, specific things you can focus on to help you make that decision.

If you're a natural problem solver, a creative thinker and a clear communicator, studying marketing might be right up your alley.

Is Marketing Worth Majoring In?

When thinking about a major in marketing, it can be helpful to focus on two factors: job prospects for marketing professionals and your personal interests and skill set.

Dr. Tracey Tuten, an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), said the demand for marketing professionals remains steady.*

"With the rise of digital marketing, data analytics and global competition, the need for skilled marketers has only increased," she said.* "Graduates with a marketing degree are well-positioned to enter diverse fields, from traditional advertising to digital media, market research and beyond."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the statistics back this up: Jobs for advertising, promotion and marketing managers are projected to grow by 6% by 2034, while market research analyst jobs are projected to grow by 7%.*

It's wise to think, too, about whether a role in marketing — and there are many of them — feels aligned with your goals.

Picture yourself:

• Drafting a content calendar for Instagram and TikTok
• Running an A/B test for a paid ad campaign on Google
• Conducting research on your brand's target audience and making decisions about ad placement based on your findings

Do these ideas feel interesting? Exciting? Which, if any, stands out most? Asking yourself these questions is a good way to determine where to focus.

"Think about your career goals and which skills or areas of marketing interest you the most," Tuten said. "Networking with professionals in the field and seeking internships can provide valuable insights and practical experience, too."

Whether you lean more creative, analytical, detail-oriented or results-driven, there could be a role in the marketing industry that feels right for you — and exploring what marketing majors actually do in their careers can be a helpful place to start.

Read more: Is a Marketing Degree Worth It?

What Do Marketing Majors Do?

Marketing majors study every stage of the marketing process, from understanding a target audience to defining a strategy to assessing results. Once they've built foundational industry knowledge, marketing majors then have the opportunity to narrow in on segments of the marketing process that feel most aligned with their skill set.

While marketing is rooted in an essential purpose — crafting a message about a company’s service, product or mission and sharing that message with the right people — marketing jobs exist across a wide variety of disciplines. According to 2024 data from the American Marketing Association, some of the top employers for marketers include:

• Amazon
• Estee Lauder
• Coca-Cola
• Unilever
• Apple

The day-to-day work of a marketing professional can vary significantly from job to job, too.

Love to lead and help with decision-making? With a job in advertising and marketing management or public relations, you could lead a company's overall promotional strategy and engage with the media to maintain an organization's reputation.

If you're a passionate researcher who enjoys combing through data, a market research job could be a good fit. As a market research analyst, you'll explore consumer behavior and data to advise companies on their competition, ideal market demographics and sales potential. According to BLS, this role could be a particularly great fit for you if you excelled in courses like statistics and research methods.

If you're social media-savvy and want to help brands grow in the digital space, you might step into a social media management role. Your work could involve leading the day-to-day strategy of a business’s social media presence, creating social posts and campaigns, managing the brand's social community and maintaining the brand's image and identity.

Content marketing is about ensuring your organization is easily found by its target audience. According to data collected by Content Marketing Institute, content marketing continues to play a key role in an organization's overall marketing strategy.

In a content marketing position, you might drive the creation of promotional content or assist with search engine optimization (SEO) for a company or agency. And with the rise of AI, organizations are in need of agile, flexible content writers who understand the intricacies of AI search and are open to trying new approaches to their work.

When deciding whether or not marketing is a good major for you, gaining a deeper understanding of the variety of jobs within marketing — and where you'd best fit — can be particularly helpful. Salary can matter, too.

Marketing Major Salary Outlook

With so many potential pathways in the industry, it’s important to gain a clear understanding of the average salary of marketing professionals to set your expectations realistically. According to BLS, here's what the median annual wage was for various marketing roles in 2024:

• Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers: $159,660*
• Market Research Analyst: $76,950*
• Public Relations Specialist: $69,780*

Keep in mind that, ultimately, your income as a marketing professional depends on your role, your level of experience and the organization you work for.

Is It Hard to Major in Marketing?

Any major can feel challenging in its own ways, and marketing is no exception. But if you've narrowed in on a career path and want to take the leap, earning a bachelor's degree in marketing is a great place to start.

A marketing bachelor's degree program typically begins with some foundational classes in areas like sales, brand management and consumer behavior. From here, many programs allow you to tailor your degree to your specific career goals. SNHU's online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Marketing program, for example, gives students the option to add a digital marketing concentration or a social media marketing concentration.

From here, you may choose to continue your education and pursue a Master of Science (MS) in Marketing, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or another graduate degree in a related field of your choice. Having an advanced degree under your belt can help boost your resume, offer more advanced skills in a specific area — and may be required if you're interested in going for leadership positions.

And if you're worried about the rigor of a marketing major, consider what support resources your university has to offer. SNHU, for example, pairs every online student with a dedicated academic advisor from day one. Students also have access to 24/7 subject-specific tutoring and other academic support options, and can reach out directly to professors with questions on course material anytime.

Danielle Upham '19 '21G earned both her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in General Studies and her MS in Marketing with a concentration in Digital Marketing from SNHU. She noted that her online programs were flexible, supportive — and gave her the tools she needed to walk into her first marketing role with confidence.

"I know how to create a financial budget that can take products from concept to finished product. I know how to do competitive research to find the target market. I know how to make captivating content that keeps customers interested," she said. "Both of my degrees exceeded my expectations. I use everything I’ve learned from every class every day."

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Abigail (Abby) Syversen-Mark ’23G is a copywriter, contributing content writer and adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). A passionate storyteller, Abby hopes her writing will help prospective students and employees alike see just how transformative SNHU could be for them (as it’s been pretty transformative for her). You can connect with her on LinkedIn.