Best Online Doctorates in Digital Marketing: Top PhD Programs, Career Paths, and Salary

Alfred Nobel Open Business School is a Zurich-based university in Switzerland that offers many excellent online degrees to international students. It offers master’s and doctoral degrees and certificate programs in tourism, law, healthcare, and cyber security.

DBA in Mobile & Digital Marketing

The online DBA in Mobile & Digital Marketing is entirely online and enables learning through online lectures, videos, and consultations. Students will learn about tools and techniques for effective communication with customers to create targeted digital marketing campaigns during this program.

It also teaches students about strategic marketing concepts and tools that aid in making informed decisions. During this 60 credit-hour program, students will complete online digital marketing courses, including Introduction to Digital Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Marketing Analytics.

DBA in Mobile & Digital Marketing Overview

• Accreditation: World Certification Institute
• Program Length: 2 semesters
• Acceptance Rate: 65%
• Tuition and Fees: €5,000 per semester (approx. $5,258)

DBA in Mobile & Digital Marketing Admission Requirements

• Application form
• Copy of qualifications
• Resume

This highly reputable university traces its roots back to 1909. Alliant International University prides itself on its excellent research institutes that focus on mental health and LGBTQ+ psychology. It boasts hands-on training, small class sizes, and students' immersion in their interested industry.

Students work closely with faculty to work on presentations to showcase at industry conferences. Alliant International University helps students gain real-world experience to prepare them to join the workforce after graduation.

Doctor of Business Administration in Marketing

Alliant International University offers students a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), which allows them to choose a marketing concentration. Students need to complete 60 credit hours by the end of this program.

In the program, 42 of the 60 credit hours consist of coursework, including survey and qualitative research methods, advanced statistics, and dissertation research. After completing all the required core courses, students will start a research project to prepare for their dissertation. During their dissertation, students will complete their specialization courses in marketing.

Doctor of Business Administration in Marketing Overview

• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• Program Length: 3 years
• Acceptance Rate: 67%
• Tuition and Fees: $950 per unit

Doctor of Business Administration in Marketing Admission Requirements

• Application form
• Application fee of $65
• GPA of 3.0 or more
• Master’s degree transcripts
• Personal statement
• Two letters of recommendation 
• Resume
• Admission interview
• Faculty interview

Bircham International University was founded in 1992 to help more adults reach their academic goals. It offers online associate degrees, in addition to bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs to students. It provides over 200 online majors to its students and is a well-known distance learning university.

PhD in Digital Marketing

The PhD in Digital Marketing at Bircham International University is entirely online and consists of 45 to 72 credit hours. Students will learn about top new trends in digital marketing and digital marketing strategies. There are classes on how to learn search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization, and social media marketing throughout the program. 

Courses included in this degree program are Social Media Management, Digital Marketing, and Promotional Strategies. Students need to complete the required coursework and finish a thesis. The thesis portion makes up approximately 30 percent of the degree program.

PhD in Digital Marketing Overview

• Accreditation: Council for Higher Education Accreditation
• Program Length: 2 years 
• Acceptance Rate: N/A
• Tuition and Fees: $170 per credit

PhD in Digital Marketing Admission Requirements

• Application form
• Registration fee
• Resume
• Master’s degree diploma 
• College transcripts and certificates

This outstanding university was established in 1889 in Clemson, South Carolina. It is known for its high-quality research and expertise in human resilience, sustainable environment, and advanced materials. Clemson University offers over 130 graduate degrees, including many excellent online master’s and doctoral degrees. Currently, it has 27,341 students enrolled.

PhD in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design

The PhD in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design is an online degree program that prepares students to work at universities and organizations in the public and private sector. The focus of the program is on new media, social media, technology, communication, and advertising.

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Students must complete required courses, write a qualifying exam and complete a defense of their dissertation. Courses that students need to complete are cultural research, communication studies, and professional communication.

PhD in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design Overview

• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Program Length: 8 years (on average)
• Acceptance Rate: 62%
• Tuition and Fees: $15,558 per year (resident); $38,550 per year (non-resident)

PhD in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design Admission Requirements

• Application form
• Minimum GPA of 3.5 
• Transcripts of graduate and undergraduate studies
• Portfolio including writing samples
• Personal statement
• GRE test scores
• Three recommendation letters

This university was established in 1949 and offers both in-person and online associate and bachelor’s degrees, and master's and doctorate programs to its students. Grand Canyon University has various degree programs in liberal arts, education, business, and nursing. This university also conducts research in psychology, counseling, and other areas of social science.

DBA in Marketing

Grand Canyon University's DBA in Marketing consists of 60 credits. It helps students understand the influence of digital technology in marketing, learn to evaluate data-driven marketing strategies, and use qualitative methodologies. This degree includes courses and a final dissertation.

Students will complete courses in the Complexity of Marketing, Data-Driven Marketing Management, and Digital Technology and Consumer Behavior. After graduating, students will be prepared for a job as market research analysts and chief marketing officers.  

DBA in Marketing Overview

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Program Length: 3.5 years (on average)
• Acceptance Rate: 73%
• Tuition and Fees: $715 per credit

DBA in Marketing Admission Requirements

• Admission form
• Undergraduate degree with a GPA of 2.8 or a master’s degree
• GMAT or GRE scores
• College transcripts

Liberty University is an excellent university founded in 1971 and offers over 450 programs. It has over 100,000 students, and 75 of its online degrees are doctoral programs. This university is known for its liberal arts education and excellent research in medicine, chemistry, graphic design, and biology.

Doctor of Business Administration in Marketing

The Doctor of Business Administration in Marketing is an excellent online program offered to graduate students at Liberty University. This course teaches students how to create and manage marketing campaigns using the digital marketing skills learned throughout the program.

Courses required during this program include supply chain management, strategic marketing management, and quantitative research methods. Students must achieve 60 credit hours of coursework over three years and complete an applied research project.

Doctor of Business Administration in Marketing Overview

• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• Program Length: 3 years
• Acceptance Rate: N/A
• Tuition and Fees: $595 per credit

Doctor of Business Administration in Marketing Admission Requirements

• Application form
• Application fee of $50
• Official college transcripts or master’s degree
• English proficiency test scores for international students

LIGS University is an international online private university located in Honolulu. This university offers master’s and doctoral degrees to its students with specializations in marketing, financial management, and marketing. There are 28 specializations that students can choose from at various educational levels.

DBA in Marketing

LIGS University’s DBA in Marketing is a doctoral degree aimed at managers and business people. It teaches students how to use management tools to assess a business' advantages, challenges, and limitations. Students will gain critical thinking skills, investigate concepts of scientific research, and learn how to put these into practice.

Students will need to complete the self-guided coursework and submit a dissertation thesis. Courses included in this degree are Marketing Communications, Digital Marketing, Media Communication, Strategic Communication, and PR.

DBA in Marketing Overview

• Accreditation: Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities
• Program Length: 2 to 3 years
• Acceptance Rate: N/A
• Tuition and Fees: $9,660 per year

DBA in Marketing Admission Requirements

• Enrollment agreement
• Master’s degree
• Five years of experience as a manager
• English proficiency test scores
• College transcripts
• Resume
• Identity documents
• Dissertation proposal and draft

Trident University International is a highly reputable online school known for its high-quality online master’s, bachelor’s, associate, and doctoral degrees. It was established in 1998 to help adults continue their education while working. This online university has around 25 programs available for distance learners.

Online PhD in Business Administration Degree

The Online PhD in Business Administration Degree is entirely online and has many concentrations. The marketing specialization helps students contribute to research on topics, including social media marketing, online promotions, and consumer behavior.

Students must complete core courses, dissertation courses, and marketing concentration courses. These courses include Strategic Marketing Management, Strategic Management, and Introductory Data Analysis. Students need to complete all coursework, write a qualifying exam, and complete all the dissertation preparation to submit their final dissertation. 

Online PhD in Business Administration Degree Overview

• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• Program Length: 9 years (on average)
• Acceptance Rate: N/A
• Tuition and Fees: $990 per credit

Online PhD in Business Administration Degree Admission Requirements

• Application form
• 3.0 GPA 
• Official master’s degree transcripts
• Resume
• Writing sample
• Three recommendation letters
• Cover letter

The University of North Dakota was launched in Grand Forks in 1883 and has become a high activity research university. This public institution's online university offers 190 degree programs. It encourages students to conduct research during their degree and has research centers conducting biomedical research, STEM research, and computational research.

PhD in Communications

The PhD in Communications at the University of North Dakota ensures that students learn about how we communicate with each other across different systems and diverse cultures. This 90-credit-hour program consists of coursework, research projects, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation. 

The research faculty are known for their excellent work in new media and cyber culture as well as strategic communication in digital and social media environments. Students will get to work closely with these faculty members and attend classes in international media, information communication technologies, and concepts in quantitative communication research.

PhD in Communications Overview

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Program Length: 3 to 5 years
• Acceptance Rate: 76.61%
• Tuition and Fees: $569.88 per credit

PhD in Communications Admission Requirements

• Application form
• Application fee of $35
• Academic transcripts
• Statement of goals
• Three professional or academic reference letters
• MA in Communication or average undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Academic writing sample of 10 to 15 pages
• GRE test scores
• Proof of English proficiency for international students

Walden University is a fully online university founded in 1970. This online university has over 100 degrees and certificates with more than 260 concentrations. It offers degrees in social work, education, and science.

Its excellent online courses and degrees will prepare students for their education, psychology, marketing, or social work career. It also prides itself on being a certified B corporation, meaning that it is recognized for its high environmental and social impact standards.

DBA in Marketing

The DBA In Marketing at Walden University helps students learn all about marketing challenges, marketing channels, and how to use marketing strategies in global marketing. This program has 37 credit hours, and students can choose from 11 specializations taught by trained and supportive faculty. 

Coursework that students will cover includes business essentials, marketing research, and business-to-business (B2B) marketing. Students must complete core courses, research courses, specialization courses, and a doctoral dissertation.

DBA in Marketing Overview

• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• Program Length: 8 years (on average)
• Acceptance Rate: N/A
• Tuition and Fees: $1,015 per credit

DBA in Marketing Admission Requirements

• Online application form
• Master’s degree or higher
• Employment history
• Official college transcripts

The first step in this process is applying for your online digital marketing degree by submitting an online application. The application includes personal details, an application fee, and supporting documents. Typical documents for a PhD application are a resume, college transcripts, and a statement of purpose. You may also need to attend a college interview before being accepted.

Before you begin your doctoral program, you must pay for your tuition or make a payment plan and apply for financial aid. Many colleges offer scholarships, grants, and fellowships. You can apply for loans and federal student aid through your university. Each school will have specific information about financial assistance and funding options on its official website.

At the beginning of your advanced degree, you must complete several online courses before starting the dissertation process. PhD programs include core, elective, and research courses, and each course has a particular number of credit hours to be completed. Core courses are fixed and required, while elective courses are chosen from a list of optional online courses.

Before starting your dissertation process, you must write a qualifying exam managed by the dissertation committee. The qualifying exam tests students' knowledge of the courses in the program and their ability to conduct research. This exam typically has a written and an oral section. Before starting your dissertation, you need to choose a dissertation advisor.

During this crucial step, you will conduct your research and write a proposal for your dissertation to submit for approval. Once your dissertation proposal has been approved, you will move on to researching and writing your dissertation.

A dissertation is a quantitative research project where students will develop a theory or problem and find a solution or defend their theories. This step involves conducting research and creating data-driven hypotheses. You will research, write, and then submit your dissertation to the dissertation committee during this step.

After submitting your final dissertation, you will complete the last step in the process, which is defending your dissertation. You will defend your dissertation in front of the dissertation committee. Some universities require the dissertation committee to sign forms that indicate you have passed your dissertation defense. Submit these forms to the graduate office, and you will be ready for graduation.

Chief marketing officers are managers responsible for overseeing a company's marketing and sales vision. They use digital marketing tactics to manage sales and marketing groups and are in charge of interviewing and hiring new digital marketing professionals and staff. Sales and staff members rely on chief marketing officers to reach goals in a specific time frame. You will need some managerial experience to become a marketing manager.

• Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $174,603
• Job Outlook: 10% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 316,800
• Highest-Paying States: New York, New Jersey, California, Delaware, Virginia

Advertising and promotions managers direct teams and create advertising campaigns that generate interest in a product to increase sales. They also manage programs with incentives that promote sales of a product or service. They promote products through discounts, coupons, or gifts using email marketing, mobile marketing, online advertising, and in-store displays.

• Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $133,380
• Job Outlook: 10% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 316,800
• Highest-Paying States: New Jersey, New York, Colorado, California, Washington

Public relations managers are accountable for doing interviews and conducting press releases to communicate a company's standpoint to its consumers. They analyze political, social, and economic trends and help a company keep a good image. They are in charge of maintaining a good appearance and work closely with other managers such as advertising managers.

• Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $119,860
• Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 89,000
• Highest-Paying States: District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Rhode Island

Digital marketing professors are teachers that work at universities and colleges. They teach digital marketing-related courses such as digital marketing and design and traditional marketing. They also conduct and publish research. You will be able to share knowledge and help guide others to reach their digital marketing career goals if you become a professor of digital marketing.

• Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $79,640
• Job Outlook: 12% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 1,276,900
• Highest-Paying States: Alaska, New York, Utah, California, New Jersey

Market research analysts research consumer habits and collect data about their needs and preferences. They analyze the data and help companies market their services and products to predict what is in demand, potential product prices, and possible consumer markets. To become a market research analyst, you’ll need to know about analysis programs and statistical techniques. 

• Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $63,920
• Job Outlook: 22% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 740,900
• Highest-Paying States: Washington, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, District of Columbia