The Best Associate's in Marketing Programs for 2026

Strayer University-Florida's Associate in Arts in Marketing is a fully online, 20-course degree built around 11-week terms. The marketing-specific coursework includes MKT 100 Principles of Marketing, MKT 305 Consumer Behavior, and MKT 325 Social Media Marketing, paired with general courses like Communication at Work and The Power of Persuasion. Every credit earned in the associate degree applies directly toward Strayer's Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, so the program is built as a stepping stone rather than a terminal credential.

Strayer's Hakia Score of 90.4 ranks fourth of these four, but its graduation rate stands at 100%, notably against a total university enrollment of just 1,303 students. Tuition is a flat $13,725 whether a student lives in Florida or elsewhere, since Strayer prices nationally rather than by state, an $11,738 premium over Miami Dade's $1,987 in-state rate. Do the math on the degree itself: Strayer prices each course at $1,555, so 20 courses run $31,100 before the $65 per-term technology fee, $100 per-course resource kit, and one-time $150 degree conferral fee are added; that lines up with roughly two years at the IPEDS annual rate of $13,725, or about $27,450 total. This program fits a student who wants a fixed online schedule and a guaranteed transfer runway into a bachelor's degree, not the lowest sticker price on this list.

Central Penn College's Associate in Science in Marketing is built around a compact, career-facing course list: Introduction to Marketing, Public Relations, Persuasion, Consumer Behavior, Advertising, Fundamentals of Selling, Digital Media Marketing, and Business Accounting. The program is offered on-ground, online, and hybrid, and the school markets it as a fast-track credential completed in as few as 18 months rather than the standard two years. Central Penn also states that credits transfer seamlessly into its Bachelor's in Business Administration, positioning the AS as a launch point toward marketing specialist, advertising copywriter, or sales representative roles rather than an endpoint.

The program earned a Hakia Score of 90.2, the highest of any associate's marketing program in this group and good for rank 5 nationally. Central Penn's 51% graduation rate sits in the middle of the pack, but the admissions bar is the standout figure: the college admits just 18% of applicants, far more selective than Alfred State's 76% admit rate elsewhere in this group. Because Central Penn is a private for-profit college, tuition doesn't vary by residency: everyone pays a flat $18,324. With enrollment of only 684, this fits a student who wants a small, structured, fast-completing program with a fixed price tag and a documented one-year employment outcome (89.2%), not the lowest sticker price on the list.

Alfred State's Associate of Applied Science in Marketing sits inside a two-year/four-year pipeline that runs directly into the college's IACBE-accredited Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. Associate-level coursework includes Writing Studies, Statistics I, and Principles of Sales, and the program builds a foundation in consumer engagement, brand marketing, data analytics, and SEO before students who continue into the BBA add digital campaign design, DEI, and sustainability coursework. Business students get applied learning in every course, many requiring a semester-long internship, plus an optional three-week study-abroad program in Sorrento, Italy. Kristy Green, an account manager at Nielsen/Claritas quoted on the program page, says Alfred State's hands-on training gives graduates "a step up from students with only conceptual knowledge."

The program posted a Hakia Score of 89.5, ranking 6th nationally in this group. Alfred State graduates 55% of its marketing students and admits 76% of applicants, making it the most accessible program here by admit rate. Cost is where residency matters most: in-state tuition is $7,070 a year, while out-of-state students pay $15,015, more than double. Enrollment near 3,781 makes this the largest campus in the group, giving admitted students an established business department and a direct two-year-to-four-year transfer path without leaving campus. It fits a New York resident who wants a low sticker price and a built-in bachelor's pathway; the value case weakens fast for an out-of-state applicant paying the $15,015 rate.

Mid-State Technical College's Associate in Applied Science in Digital Marketing is a 64-credit, two-year program delivered online with fall, spring, and summer start dates. Coursework centers on planning and executing digital campaigns, integrating marketing technology and analytics tools, and building a base in advertising, sales, pricing, and customer service. The degree is structured as a stackable pathway: students can pick up a Digital Marketing Promotions or Sales Specialist credential on the way to the associate degree, then transfer into a four-year program through Mid-State's articulation agreements.

The program earned a Hakia Score of 89.0, ranking 7th nationally in this group, with a 52% graduation rate. In-state tuition of $4,339 is the lowest of any program here, rising to $6,508 for out-of-state students, a $2,169 gap. Mid-State's own cost estimate for the full two-year credential, including fees and books, runs $11,802.88, about $3,125 above two years of sticker tuition alone. On outcomes, the college cites Lightcast data showing recent Wisconsin graduates of the program started at a median $64,815 a year, and its own graduate survey reports 100% satisfaction. With enrollment above 3,100, this fits a cost-conscious student who wants a fully online, employer-facing digital marketing credential without leaving Wisconsin.

Dakota County Technical College's A.S. in Marketing lays out a fixed two-year, four-semester sequence rather than an open elective menu. Year one covers Principles of Marketing, Fundamentals of Sales, and Marketing Communications Writing alongside Composition I and Interpersonal Communication; year two adds Consumer and Professional Buying Behavior, Advertising Practices and Procedures, Digital Marketing, Marketing Research, and International Business, backed by College Algebra, Statistics, and Principles of Microeconomics. The program is offered online, and the college publishes a syllabus outline for every course in the sequence, giving applicants a class-by-class map of the degree before they enroll.

DCTC earned a Hakia Score of 88.9, ranking 8th nationally in this group. Its 58% graduation rate is the highest of the four programs here. Tuition runs $5,759 a year, and unlike Alfred State and Mid-State, the two other public colleges in this group, Dakota County charges out-of-state students that exact same rate rather than a residency premium. With enrollment near 2,894, this fits a student who wants a structured, fully online curriculum built around named marketing courses, not a general business elective mix, at one flat published price regardless of home state.

FIDM's Associate of Arts in Merchandise Marketing operated as a standalone Los Angeles fashion school from 1969 until March 31, 2025, when FIDM's independent operations formally closed. Arizona State University's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts now carries the FIDM name forward as ASU FIDM, but the school's own page confirms the offerings have shifted to a Bachelor of Arts in fashion, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in costume design and technology, and a fashion minor, not the standalone associate's track this ranking reflects. Anyone drawn to this listing should confirm current program availability directly with ASU FIDM before applying.

The record for FIDM's associate's cohort shows a 65% graduation rate, tuition of $32,400 that applies identically in-state and out-of-state (standard for a private institution), and an enrollment of 564 students, backed by a Hakia Score of 88.3 that reflects the program's outcomes before the closure. That combination made FIDM a fit for a student who wanted concentrated, industry-specific merchandising training in Los Angeles, a niche now folded into ASU's four-year design curriculum.

Southeast Technical College's Associate of Applied Science in Marketing is a two-year, ACBSP-accredited program students can take on campus at the George S. Mickelson Center in Sioux Falls, fully online, or hybrid. Coursework covers Principles of Marketing, Principles of Selling, InDesign Essentials, Social Media, Market Research, and Marketing Management, with technical electives that let students lean into digital marketing, social media strategy, or consumer behavior. A built-in pathway lets students co-enroll at Northern State University to continue straight into a bachelor's degree after finishing at STC.

The program carries a Hakia Score of 88.3, tied for the top mark in this group, on a 59% graduation rate and enrollment of 2,659. Tuition runs $282 per credit hour for an annual rate of $3,720, and because that figure is identical for in-state and out-of-state students, an out-of-state student who enrolls in the online track pays the same public price as a Sioux Falls local, a real edge over public schools that reserve their lowest rate for residents only. Southeast Tech also reports a 100% job placement rate in its most recent Graduate Outcomes Report. This fits a student chasing the lowest total cost into an entry-level marketing role, or a transfer-ready foundation before finishing a four-year degree at NSU.

Full Sail's Digital Marketing program is delivered fully online and covers search engine optimization, display advertising and email marketing, and marketing law and contracts, alongside content strategy for reaching target audiences. Tuition includes Project LaunchBox, a technology package the school lists as an Apple MacBook, a 3-year AppleCare warranty, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Microsoft Office 365. Full Sail runs on an accelerated, non-traditional calendar with monthly start dates (the page lists August 3, August 31, September 28, and October 26) and a predetermined course sequence rather than semester-by-semester enrollment, which the school says lets most students finish in about half the time of a traditional program. The program is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, per the school's own accreditation page.

Full Sail carries a Hakia Score of 88 built on a 44% graduation rate, the lowest of this group, against a flat, locked-in tuition of $26,906 that does not increase as a student moves through the program and covers books, supplies, and the LaunchBox package. Enrollment sits at 27,169, far larger than the other schools in this set, reflecting Full Sail's national online reach rather than a single campus cohort. This is a fit for a self-directed student who wants speed and bundled equipment and is willing to trade that for a lower completion rate than a traditional academic calendar.

Midwestern Career College's Associate of Applied Science in Marketing runs two years across 80 instructional weeks and five terms in a hybrid format at the college's Chicago Downtown Campus, with the next cohort starting August 24, 2026. Coursework covers Principles of Marketing, Marketing Research & Behavior, Internet Marketing, Personal Selling, Business Ethics, and Financial Accounting, and the program requires a marketing externship where students apply coursework in a professional setting. The page also walks F-1 international students through how the curriculum can connect to CPT and OPT eligibility, a detail aimed squarely at MCC's international student base.

MCC posts a Hakia Score of 87.8 on a 54% graduation rate and an enrollment of 887; the school's page does not list a tuition figure, so cost should be confirmed directly with the admissions office before enrolling. MCC's own program page cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections showing 7% employment growth for market research analysts from 2024 to 2034, more than double the roughly 3% projected across all occupations. This fits a Chicago-based student who wants a hybrid, career-college pace with a built-in externship rather than a traditional two-year transfer track.

Based in Scooba, MS, East Mississippi Community College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Marketing program lands at #13 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 87.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. East Mississippi Community College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%.

On cost, East Mississippi Community College charges $3,600 a year in-state, versus $6,600 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $7,200 in tuition for residents, against $13,200 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The spread makes the program a clearer value for MS residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Northwest Mississippi Community College is a public institution in Senatobia, MS. Its Associate's in Marketing program ranks #14 of the 25 analyzed here with an 87.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 45% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Northwest Mississippi Community College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. The university enrolls 7,867 students overall.

On cost, Northwest Mississippi Community College charges $3,400 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $6,800 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 37x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Indian River State College is a public institution in Fort Pierce, FL. Its Associate's in Marketing program ranks #15 of the 25 analyzed here with an 87.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 45% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Indian River State College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%.

On cost, Indian River State College charges $2,496 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $9,360 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $4,992 in tuition for residents, against $18,720 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The spread makes the program a clearer value for FL residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Auburn, WA, Green River College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Marketing program lands at #16 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 85.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 39% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Green River College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. The university enrolls 7,967 students overall.

On cost, Green River College charges $4,205 a year in-state, versus $4,757 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $8,410 in tuition for residents, against $9,514 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 30x the program's annual in-state tuition. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas is a public institution in De Queen, AR. Its Associate's in Marketing program ranks #17 of the 25 analyzed here with an 85.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 54% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%.

On cost, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas charges $2,940 a year in-state, versus $3,390 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $5,880 in tuition for residents, against $6,780 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.

Based in Arlington, VA, Strayer University-Virginia is a private, for-profit institution. Its Associate's in Marketing program lands at #18 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 85.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 36% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Strayer University-Virginia holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 1,998 students.

On cost, Strayer University-Virginia charges $13,725 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $27,450 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 9x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Atlanta Technical College is a public institution in Atlanta, GA. Its Associate's in Marketing program ranks #19 of the 25 analyzed here with an 85.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 49% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Atlanta Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%.

On cost, Atlanta Technical College charges $2,568 a year in-state, roughly 2.0x the $5,136 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $5,136 in tuition for residents, against $10,272 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The spread makes the program a clearer value for GA residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Strayer University-North Carolina is a private, for-profit institution in Greensboro, NC. Its Associate's in Marketing program ranks #20 of the 25 analyzed here with an 84.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 33% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Strayer University-North Carolina holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,037 students.

On cost, Strayer University-North Carolina charges $13,725 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $27,450 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 9x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Based in Garden City, KS, Garden City Community College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Marketing program lands at #21 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 84.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 50% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Garden City Community College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,079 students.

On cost, Garden City Community College charges $1,890 a year in-state, versus $2,460 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $3,780 in tuition for residents, against $4,920 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Marketing program lands at #22 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 84.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 50% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. The university enrolls 8,330 students overall.

On cost, Chippewa Valley Technical College charges $4,485 a year in-state, versus $6,728 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $8,970 in tuition for residents, against $13,456 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 28x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Based in Ephraim, UT, Snow College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Marketing program lands at #23 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 84.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 46% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Snow College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. The university enrolls 5,577 students overall.

On cost, Snow College charges $3,930 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $13,880 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $7,860 in tuition for residents, against $27,760 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The spread makes the program a clearer value for UT residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Ridgewater College is a public institution in Willmar, MN. Its Associate's in Marketing program ranks #24 of the 25 analyzed here with an 83.5 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 50% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Ridgewater College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,148 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.

On cost, Ridgewater College charges $5,473 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $10,946 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 23x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Based in Saint Cloud, MN, St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public institution. Its Associate's in Marketing program lands at #25 of the 25 ranked here, earning an 83.4 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 87.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 45% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. St Cloud Technical and Community College holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 100%. The university enrolls 4,030 students overall.

On cost, St Cloud Technical and Community College charges $5,392 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $10,784 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $1,890 at Garden City Community College to $32,400 at FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 23x the program's annual in-state tuition. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.