Guide to College and University Marketing Programs News and Trends

Learn about new trends in college and university marketing programs to increase student enrollment

By Rachel Davy, Writer/Editor

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about marketing programs for university and college campuses from marketing firms

Hiring a marketing firm that specializes in helping colleges that offer marketing to increase enrollment is an option that many schools of higher learning have chosen. These marketing firms offer a number of creative ways to help colleges and universities sell themselves as well as to create new strategies to increase student enrollment.

I recommend: Visit Maguire Associates which is a marketing firm that specializes in developing marketing university programs to learn about the latest trends used to increase enrollment. Go to the Direct Axis Creative website to learn how this marketing firm uses brochures, campaigns, search books, and postcards to draw students to various colleges and universities across the country.

Learn about new college marketing programs that are used online to increase student interest

Another way to learn about college and university marketing degree programs news and trends is by looking at how they've used the Internet to generate interest. There are many web-based enrollment solutions such as online seminars and email marketing that can help your college or university not only increase student enrollment, but also draw certain types of students to your school as well.

I recommend: View the online seminar offered by Intelliworks which details their various marketing programs for university and college campuses. Some of their business marketing college and university solutions include sponsoring open houses, doing email marketing as well as creating outreach campaigns that draw minority students. Visit Magna to listen to their audio online seminar that details the importance for colleges and universities to establish relationships with high school guidance counselors as a way to market their schools.

Read articles from magazines to learn about new and trends in marketing college programs

One of the best ways to learn about best marketing program university and college campuses are offering is by reading articles from schools of higher learning, as well as articles from marketing research companies. For those who work in recruitment offices at colleges and universities, these can be a valuable resource to learning about upcoming marketing trends.

I recommend: Read the article from Teachers College Columbia University to learn how it has created a marketing program to attract minority students. Read the article from Research and Markets to see how marketing programs for college and university campuses have been successful and what some of the best and newest strategies are for increasing enrollment.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Seek out schools with similar educational offerings to research the marketing program that best suits your institution.

Guide to College and University Marketing Programs

Pursue freelancing and consulting work with a college marketing degree

By R.N. Dolgener, Special Education Teacher

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pursue specific marketing programs, college admissions close to home

Depending on where you live, local marketing college programs could offer the best mix of convenience, affordability and flexibility. In addition, earning a basic or advanced marketing degree from a local university could be the best professional networking your money can buy. If you're looking to relocate, find a university marketing program near your destination and develop your freelance or consulting contact list in a new city.

I recommend: Explore your degree and concentration options using the guide at James Madison University. Find a local marketing degree program using Collegebound.net or browse colleges by state using AllBusinessSchools.

Become a marketing major college student with online degree programs

Find colleges that offer marketing degrees online, and set your own class schedule. Remember, though, that earning an online degree requires dedication, discipline and thorough research into your chosen school. If you earn a marketing degree from an online school that isn't properly accredited, listing the accomplishment on a resume may be to your detriment. Avoid 'diploma mills' by ensuring that your chosen school is based in the U.S. and accredited by its area's governing Association of Colleges and Schools.

I recommend: Find accredited colleges offering marketing degrees online through eLearners.com or WorldWideLearn.

Earn an advanced university marketing degree or professional certificate

The nation's best colleges with marketing degree programs also offer advanced degrees -- at the master's or doctoral levels -- and certificate options for continuing education. Classes are usually set up online, face-to-face in the evenings and on weekends and in mini-session format to fit busy schedules. If you're able, take advantage of a full-time marketing immersion program, through which you can earn an advanced degree in a year.

I recommend: Earn an advanced college marketing degree via the executive education program in strategic marketing management at Harvard Business School. Choose a marketing certificate program from the American Management Association, and demonstrate your dedication to continuing education in marketing. Or, go for the gold standard and complete the American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer program.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most marketing university programs have student organizations that are affiliated with national marketing groups with international ties. Join as a student, and your dues will be less expensive than those of a professional member. Professional associations look great on your resume, and can be your best option for networking and finding freelance or consulting leads.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Associate's Degree in Marketing

An Associate's Degree in Marketing is a two-year program that teaches you the basics of how markets work and how to successfully use this knowledge to increase sales. This can help you to break into the field of marketing, but there may be many others with a higher degree. Use this as a stepping stone in your career.

I recommend: The Degree Directory explains more about what you'll learn while earning an Associate's Degree in Marketing.

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing

A Bachelor's Degree in Marketing is a traditional four-year degree. You'll have to take a broad range of courses in addition to your core marketing classes. For many top companies, this is the minimum requirement for an entry level position in marketing.

I recommend: Take a look at the Bachelor's Degree in Marketing offered by Ferris State University.

Master of Business Administration in Marketing

A Master of Business Administration, or MBA, in Marketing involves study past a four-year degree. This is an excellent choice if you wish to attain top level positions.

I recommend: Learn more about a Marketing MBA from MBASchools.com.

Professional Certified Marketer

The Professional Certified Marketer Certification is a designation that is offered by the American Management Association. Aim to get this with your degree for added credibility.

I recommend: Learn about the Professional Certified Marketer program through Marketing Power.

Degree mills

Many people are looking to get their degrees through distance learning. This may be because they don't have a program near them or they aren't available during traditional school hours. However, there are many online 'colleges' that are not accredited. These are called degree mills, because you are simply paying for a degree, rather than a real education. Degree mills often target those looking for a marketing degree because it is a popular major.

I recommend: Learn how to differentiate the good from the bad through About Online Degrees.

U.S. News and World Reports college ranking

Every year, U.S. News and World Reports magazine ranks the nation's colleges to determine which schools are the best. Students that want to work for the best marketing companies should start by attending the best marketing schools.

I recommend: Keep an eye on the U.S. News and World Reports college rankings from their website.

1. Find detailed student blogs about marketing university programs to get an "insider" perspective.
2. Review rankings of colleges with marketing degree programs.
3. Understand how professional groups and marketers rank marketing programs.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at student blogs of marketing degree programs to get the inside scoop

College guides written by student bloggers are not just random lists of schools that are considered 'best' in a particular field; student guides tell you the details of a school and its programs. These student-written college and university marketing programs advice and ratings can help you understand the benefits and possible drawbacks of a specific degree program or school by helping you see how actual students view their class experiences.

I recommend: Mays Business School, which offers a marketing degree, has its students blog about their experiences. Cornell University, The Johnson School links to many student blogs. These students write about their marketing school experiences and about their classes.

Find national rankings of colleges offering marketing programs

Although rankings simply list schools based on specific criteria, such as graduate employment rates or student satisfaction, they are useful in helping you to evaluate which business marketing college programs are most respected and reputable. However, be sure to actually research schools given a high ranking and don't choose to go to a school simply because it is voted as a top school in your field. Just because a school is highly ranked doesn't necessarily mean that it is a good fit for you.

I recommend: U.S. News & World Report ranks schools by their marketing programs. BusinessWeek offers a handy chart showing rankings of schools with MBA programs with marketing specialities.

Understand how industry professionals view marketing programs university-wide

Ultimately, how professionals in the marketing and business industry view a marketing school is a good indicator of how prestigious a specific program is. Business and marketing professionals have a good understanding of which schools are considered the most esteemed. Rather than just looking at rankings, consider which schools are mentioned when professional organizations and professionals in the industry note schools that offer good marketing programs.

I recommend: The American Marketing Association makes note of the schools that employers are most eager to see on a resume. The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) offers a list of schools with reputable marketing programs.