There is a wide range of digital marketing jobs you can get if you have a doctorate. You can be a professor or researcher in academia or pursue roles in different industries. In this article, we show you the best PhDs in Digital Marketing that you can earn to advance your career. We also provide information on the best digital marketing jobs and salaries for professionals with PhDs in Digital Marketing.
What Is a PhD in Digital Marketing?
A PhD in Digital Marketing is the highest-level academic degree students can get in the field of digital marketing. This program entails more research work than coursework. Typically, doctoral programs take four to five years to complete.
How to Get Into a Digital Marketing PhD Program: Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for a typical PhD in Digital Marketing are an online application for the program and official transcripts from your undergraduate or graduate education. Some schools also require standardized test scores, such as GMAT or GRE. You also need to submit your resume, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.
PhD in Digital Marketing Admission Requirements
- Official academic transcripts
- Test scores (GRE or GMAT)
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Statement of purpose
Digital Marketing PhD Acceptance Rates: How Hard Is It to Get Into a PhD Program in Digital Marketing?
It’s hard to get into a PhD in Digital Marketing program. Acceptance rates for doctorate programs in the marketing field are low. On average, less than 10 percent of prospective students who apply to doctoral programs in digital marketing are admitted because schools only admit a low number of students to these programs every year.
How to Get Into the Best Universities
[query_class_embed] how-to-get-into-*school
Best PhDs in Digital Marketing: In Brief
| School | Program | Online Option |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | PhD in Marketing | No |
| Drexel University | PhD in Business with a Marketing Specialization | No |
| Duke University | PhD in Marketing | No |
| Georgia State University | PhD in Marketing | No |
| Harvard University | PhD in Marketing | No |
| Northwestern University | PhD in Marketing | No |
| Penn State University | PhD in Marketing | No |
| Stanford University | PhD in Marketing | No |
| Syracuse University | PhD in Business Administration With a Marketing Major | No |
| University of Arizona | PhD in Marketing | No |
| University of California, Berkeley | PhD in Marketing | No |
| University of Pennsylvania | PhD in Marketing | No |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | PhD in Marketing | No |
Best Universities for Digital Marketing PhDs: Where to Get a PhD in Digital Marketing
Some of the best universities for getting a digital marketing PhD are Arizona State University, Duke University, Stanford University, The University of Texas, and University of Pennsylvania. If you’re wondering where to get the best PhDs in Digital Marketing, the following list will help you learn more about the accredited schools that offer doctoral degree programs in marketing.
Can You Get a PhD in Digital Marketing Online?
Yes, you can get a PhD in Digital Marketing online. Northcentral University and Atlantic International University are some of the schools that offer online doctoral marketing degrees. You can also get a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Marketing online. A DBA program focuses more on practical marketing applications, while a PhD program is designed for research and academic-oriented positions.
Best Online PhD Programs in Digital Marketing
| School | Program | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic International University | Online PhD in Marketing | Self-paced program |
| Liberty University | Online DBA in Marketing | 3 years |
| Northcentral University | Online PhD in Business Administration with a Strategic Marketing specialization | 4 years |
| Trident University International | Online PhD in Business Administration with a Marketing Concentration | 3- 5 years |
| Washington State University | Online PhD in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing | 4 years |
How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD in Digital Marketing?
It takes four to five years to get a PhD in Digital Marketing. Typically, students dedicate the first two or three years to completing the required coursework. During their second and third years, students are expected to complete a field exam. This exam measures their depth of knowledge and comprehension of the marketing field.
During the program’s remaining years, students must focus their efforts on research activities, a dissertation, and any additional graduation requirements. Such requirements can be to complete research or teaching assistantships. They can also be to submit academic papers to accredited publications and to participate in seminars.
Is a PhD in Digital Marketing Hard?
Yes, a PhD in Digital Marketing is hard. The average completion time of a PhD in Digital Marketing is between four and five years. The majority of doctoral degrees are full-time programs. This means that working outside while pursuing your degree won’t be possible. You’ll have to rely on funding options such as research assistantships to support yourself while you are studying.
A doctorate can also be hard because of the program’s coursework and graduation requirements, which will require a lot of hard work and dedication. In general, students have to complete courses in advanced digital marketing topics, as well as courses in complex disciplines like statistics. They also have to complete the program’s dissertation requirements.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a PhD in Digital Marketing?
It costs approximately $12,171 per year to get a PhD in Digital Marketing at a public institution, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The tuition for a doctoral degree at a private university can cost between $14,208 and $27,776 per year.
Many universities offer affordable graduate tuition rates. An example is Georgia State University, where in-state students pay $4,776 per semester, and out-of-state students pay $15,108 per semester. Moreover, there are plenty of funding opportunities for digital marketing PhD students.
How to Pay for a PhD in Digital Marketing: PhD Funding Options
The PhD funding options that full-time students can use to pay for a PhD in Digital Marketing are tuition waivers, fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Most schools also offer PhD students plenty of financial aid options to reduce their expenses. Some schools even provide stipends to help students with other living costs.
Best Online Master’s Degrees
[query_class_embed] online-*subject-masters-degrees
What Is the Difference Between a Digital Marketing Master’s Degree and PhD?
The difference between a digital marketing master’s degree and a PhD is the job outlook for graduates. Master’s degree programs are great for career advancement because they teach the necessary skills for various executive positions in the marketing field. PhDs are terminal degree programs designed to prepare students mostly for careers in academia.
Doctoral degrees are a necessity in a range of job roles in the academic field, such as college professor or tenure researcher. Doctorate programs take approximately five years to complete, while master’s degrees can be completed in only two years. Because of this, getting a PhD in Digital Marketing will give you more advanced knowledge of the marketing field.
Master’s vs PhD in Digital Marketing Job Outlook
Digital marketing professionals with a PhD have advanced skills and knowledge for academic positions in postsecondary education. This field has a job outlook of 12 percent. Professionals with a master’s degree can strive for a wide variety of digital marketing jobs across different industries. For example, market research analysts have a 22 percent job outlook.
Difference in Salary for Digital Marketing Master’s vs PhD
While a digital marketer with a Master’s Degree can get a median annual income of $93,000, the average PhD in Digital Marketing salary is $106,000 per year based on PayScale data. This pay disparity exists because of the advanced skills and knowledge that a PhD graduate can offer in digital marketing roles.
Related Digital Marketing Degrees
[query_class_embed] https://careerkarma.com/blog/digital-marketing-bachelors-degrees/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/best-online-digital-marketing-bachelors-degrees/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/best-online-digital-marketing-masters-degree/
Why You Should Get a PhD in Digital Marketing
You should get a PhD in Digital Marketing because it’ll give you a proper knowledge of advanced topics and crucial research skills needed for various digital marketing jobs. Apart from gaining expertise, PhD graduates also enjoy low unemployment rates, higher salaries, and networking opportunities. Below, we discuss in detail the reasons for getting a PhD in Digital Marketing.
Reasons for Getting a PhD in Digital Marketing
- Lower unemployment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marketing professionals with a PhD have a lower unemployment rate at 2.5 percent than those with a master’s or bachelor’s degree. This can be partially because pursuing doctoral degrees make it easier for graduates to land digital marketing jobs in the academic field.
- Advanced knowledge. A PhD in Digital Marketing will give you advanced skills and knowledge. With this degree, you’ll also learn quantitative and qualitative research methods that are necessary for landing higher-paying digital marketing jobs in any field.
- Higher salary. Most companies tend to pay employees with higher education and experience more money. By earning a PhD in Digital Marketing, you’ll be able to make an annual salary of $106,000 or more, depending on your professional experience and where you work.
- Networking opportunities. A digital marketing PhD will give you plenty of opportunities to grow your professional network. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet other students with similar interests and passions, but you can also attend conferences and seminars. These events are where you can connect with experts from all over the world.
Getting a PhD in Digital Marketing: Digital Marketing PhD Coursework
Getting a PhD in Digital Marketing is a matter of completing the required course load and any other graduation requirements. The typical PhD coursework is broken down into core digital marketing courses, courses in other disciplines, and courses focused on research or how to prepare for your dissertation. Below are a few examples of the courses that students must take.
Consumer Behavior
Consumer behavior studies are the psychological and behavioral processes that influence people’s choices when buying or consuming products and services. With this course, graduate students will better understand how cultural and psychological variables tend to influence the behavior of consumers. They’ll uncover how this can be used for effective marketing strategies.
Introduction to Econometrics
Econometrics is a discipline that combines mathematical and statistical methodologies in order to quantify economic phenomena. With this course, students will learn how to use regression methods, such as nonparametric and linear regressions, to quantify and interpret relevant data. This is useful for students that want to pursue careers in digital marketing research.
Qualitative Research Methods
In digital marketing, qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data to understand phenomena that are useful in market research. With this course, PhD students will learn how to use qualitative research methods to gather data that can help in understanding all the factors and variables that influence consumers’ decisions.
Quantitative Marketing
Qualitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It’s a crucial step in statistical analysis. In this course, students will learn how to quantify and analyze the data gathered from surveys and polls answered by a target audience. This will help students draw insights based on the data gathered from market research focus groups.
Statistical Inference
Statistical inference refers to the process of deducing facts about a specific group of the population based on statistical data. This course will provide digital marketing students the skills necessary for working with statistical data. The use of statistical methods, such as statistical inference, is common in the marketing field, so it’s a crucial skill for digital marketers to learn.
Best Master’s Degrees
[query_class_embed] *subject-masters-degrees
How to Get a PhD in Digital Marketing: Doctoral Program Requirements
To graduate, PhD students have to complete the doctoral program requirements. Common graduation requirements include completing the required coursework, completing the necessary teaching or researching requirements, and writing and defending a dissertation. Finishing these requirements is how to get a PhD in Digital Marketing.
Potential Careers With a Digital Marketing Degree
[query_class_embed] how-to-become-a-*profession
PhD in Digital Marketing Salary and Job Outlook
The typical salary for marketing experts with a PhD is over $100,000 per year. There are plenty of job opportunities for PhD graduates, both in business and in the academic field. On average, there are more than 200,000 job openings for digital marketers with a PhD every year. Most marketing professions are expected to grow between eight and 14 percent in the next decade.
What Can You Do With a PhD in Digital Marketing?
With a PhD in Digital Marketing, you can apply to various senior-level positions in marketing or academia. Once you get your degree, you’ll have the skills and knowledge necessary to work in positions such as marketing manager, postsecondary education teacher, market research analyst, and public relations manager.
Best Jobs with a PhD in Digital Marketing
- College Professor
- Marketing Manager
- Market Research Analyst
- Public Relations Manager
- Postsecondary Education Administrator
What Is the Average Salary for a PhD in Digital Marketing?
The average annual salary for a PhD in Digital Marketing is $106,000. This salary varies depending on the specific digital media marketing field a professional decides to focus on. For example, digital marketers working in an academic environment earn an average of $96,910 per year. Marketing experts who work in marketing management earn $133,380 per year.
Highest-Paying Digital Marketing Jobs for PhD Grads
| Digital Marketing PhD Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $133,380 |
| Public Relations Manager | $119,860 |
| Postsecondary Education Administrator | $96,910 |
| College Professor | $79,640 |
| Market Research Analyst | $63,920 |
Best Digital Marketing Jobs with a Doctorate
The best digital marketing jobs with a doctorate are marketing manager, public relations manager, postsecondary education administrator, college professor, and market research analyst. These jobs require an advanced education degree because they need experts who know digital marketing trends very well and know how to apply research methods.
In this section, we discuss an overview of the best digital marketing jobs with a doctorate. We also provide details on the salary, job outlook, and highest-paying states.
Is a PhD in Digital Marketing Worth It?
Yes, a PhD in Digital Marketing is worth it because it provides more employment opportunities and a higher annual salary. With a doctoral degree, you can apply for academic positions, such as post-secondary education teacher or researcher. You can also apply in various industries as a marketing manager, public relations manager, or market research analyst.
Additional Reading About Digital Marketing
[query_class_embed] https://careerkarma.com/blog/digital-marketing-best-practices/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/trends-in-digital-marketing/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/digital-marketing-tools-everyone-needs/
PhD in Digital Marketing FAQ
Yes, you can get a PhD in Digital Marketing online. The best PhDs in Digital Marketing with a fully online format are offered by Northcentral University, Washington State University, and Trident University International. Liberty University offers online DBA programs, which have more hands-on experience than a traditional PhD in Marketing.
You should get a PhD in Digital Marketing because it’ll give you’ll learn in-demand skills and knowledge in marketing and research methods. Getting a PhD will not only ensure you earn a high annual income, but it’ll raise your chances of finding a good and rewarding job.
The digital marketing jobs that require a PhD are teaching and research positions in the academic field. If you want to pursue a career in academia, you must get a doctoral degree. While other digital marketing jobs might not require doctoral education, having a PhD will make you stand out from other candidates with a master’s or bachelor’s degree.
Yes, digital marketing is a good career choice. Digital marketers are one of the most in-demand professionals in marketing and advertising. Becoming a digital marketer will open a wide range of careers in business. The average salary of a digital marketing expert is approximately $50,000 per year, and the average PhD in Digital Marketing salary is over $100,000 per year.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
