The Best Bachelor's in Marketing Programs for 2026

Maryland's Marketing major, housed in the Robert H. Smith School of Business, is built as an 18-credit junior-senior curriculum: three required courses, Consumer Analysis, Marketing Research Methods, and Marketing Policies and Strategies, plus three electives chosen from a list of nine that includes Digital Marketing, Global Marketing, Sales Management, Integrated Marketing Communications, Retail Management, and a Marketing Internship. The catalog frames the major around satisfying every stakeholder in a firm, employees, dealers, stockholders, and customers, through pricing, promotion, product, and distribution strategy. The same major is also offered at the Universities at Shady Grove campus in Montgomery County.

Maryland's Hakia Score of 97.8 matches FSU, built on an 89% graduation rate and a 45% admit rate, the same admissions bar as Wisconsin and the widest door of the four schools here. Tuition runs $10,087 in-state and $39,464 out-of-state, a $29,377 gap, putting Maryland's total cost close to Wisconsin's rather than FSU's or UF's. It suits a student who wants to pick their own elective mix, three of nine options, rather than follow a fixed track, and who values a second campus location over the lowest possible price tag.

UT Austin's BBA in Marketing is built around a compact but prerequisite-gated core: Marketing 360, then Marketing 370, which is reserved for students who have completed 90 semester hours, taken Marketing 360, and already logged (or registered for) an approved experiential-learning course. Beyond that core, majors add 12 semester hours of upper-division marketing coursework, or International Business 350, and can apply the Marketing 366P practicum toward either a marketing elective or the BBA's experiential-learning requirement, though not both. The full degree runs to at least 120 semester hours.

The selectivity backs up the rigor: an 89% graduation rate against a 27% admit rate means UT Austin turns away roughly three of every four applicants and still graduates nearly nine in ten who enroll. Texas residents pay $11,688 a year; out-of-state students pay $44,908, a $33,220 annual gap that adds up to roughly $133,000 over four years. On a campus of 53,864 students, the marketing major earns a Hakia Score of 97.8, good for 5th in this ranking. Nationally, advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earn a median $125,470 a year, per BLS data; that figure applies across every school on this list, not a UT-specific outcome.

Terry College of Business runs its marketing major around two formal, transcript-recognized areas of emphasis. Professional Selling requires MARK 4210, MARK 4220 or MARK 4350, MARK 4230, an internship or verified sales experience, and participation in the Terry Sales Competition. Digital Marketing requires MARK 4450, MARK 4600, MARK 4650, an internship or MARK 4670, plus the department's digital marketing speaker series and spring competition. Students outside either track still cover consumer behavior, marketing research, marketing strategy, sales management, marketing analytics, digital marketing, social media, and international marketing as core topics, and the department lists graduates placed at Coca-Cola, State Farm, Georgia-Pacific, and Morgan Stanley.

UGA posts a 90% graduation rate, the best of the four schools profiled here, against a 38% admit rate that makes it the most accessible of this group without being unselective. In-state tuition is $10,034; out-of-state runs $30,272, a $20,238 annual premium for nonresidents. That combination, on a campus of 43,146 students, drives a Hakia Score of 97.4, ranking 6th nationally. Nationally, advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earn a median $125,470 a year per BLS data, a baseline that holds across every school here, not a UGA-specific figure.

At Wharton, marketing is a concentration within the broader BS in Economics degree rather than a standalone major. Students start with Consumer Behavior (MKTG 2110) and a data-and-analysis requirement met through courses like MKTG 2120 or MKTG 4710, then choose two more electives from a list spanning Analytics and AI in Digital Marketing and Social Media, Marketing Analytics, Strategic Brand Management, and Pricing Strategies. The page describes students applying these concepts through half-semester mini-courses in areas like new product development, advertising, and retailing, with graduates moving into brand management, advertising, sales, marketing research, consulting, and entrepreneurial ventures. The concentration sits inside Wharton's full 37 course-unit curriculum, which layers on business fundamentals, a foreign-language requirement, cross-cultural coursework, and a senior capstone.

The selectivity is extreme: a 5% admit rate is the tightest of any school in this set, and the 97% graduation rate is the highest. Tuition is flat at $60,920 regardless of residency, since Penn is private, so there is no in-state discount to plan around the way there is at Texas, Georgia, or Illinois. On an undergraduate population of 29,109, the concentration earns a Hakia Score of 96.7, ranking 7th. Nationally, advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earn a median $125,470 a year per BLS data, the same figure that applies to every school on this list.

Gies College of Business builds its BS in Marketing around three required major courses, Marketing Research (BADM 322), Consumer Behavior (BADM 325), and Advanced Marketing Management (BADM 420), on top of the college's core Principles of Marketing course (BADM 320). Majors then pick six electives from roughly 17 options, including Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Social Media Strategy, Brand Management, Pricing Analytics, New Product Development, Advanced Sales Strategies, and International Marketing. The degree requires 124 total hours with a minimum of 40 upper-division, and the program is listed as available online in addition to on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

Illinois posts an 85% graduation rate and a 42% admit rate, the most open of the four schools profiled here, on a campus of 59,238 students. In-state tuition is $14,975; out-of-state tuition is $36,804, a $21,829 annual gap for nonresidents. That mix produces a Hakia Score of 96.6, ranking 8th nationally. Nationally, advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earn a median $125,470 a year per BLS data, a baseline shared across every school here, not an Illinois-specific outcome.

The University of Washington houses its marketing major inside the Foster School of Business, under the Business Administration department. The core sequence runs through Marketing Concepts (MKTG 301) or the applied Essentials of Marketing and Sales (MKTG 305), then opens into a long list of upper-division electives: Digital Marketing Analytics (MKTG 466), Customer Analytics (MKTG 462), Consumer Marketing and Brand Strategy (MKTG 452), Advertising (MKTG 456), International Marketing (MKTG 470), and a credit/no-credit Marketing Internship (MKTG 495). Students can also branch into Retailing (MKTG 370), Business to Business Marketing (MKTG 411), or Sales Force Management (MKTG 430), giving the major more specialization tracks than most bachelor's programs in this set.

UW's Hakia Score of 96.6 ranks it 9th nationally in this group, built on an 85% graduation rate and a 39% admit rate, moderately selective for a public flagship enrolling nearly 57,000 students. The tuition split is the real decision point: Washington residents pay $11,869 a year, while out-of-state students pay $42,105, a $30,236 gap. For a Washington resident, that makes UW one of the cheapest routes in this group to a marketing degree backed by a deep analytics elective bench; for an out-of-state applicant, the math changes and the degree costs closer to what the private schools on this list charge.

Georgetown's McDonough School of Business builds its marketing major around three required courses: Marketing Intelligence, Consumer Behavior, and Marketing Strategy Analytics. Students then add 6 credits of electives, at least half of which must come from a "Competence Electives" tier covering Branding, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Marketing Across Borders. Beyond that, the bulletin lists smaller, more specialized 1.5-credit electives: Luxury Marketing, Global Retail Marketing, Sports Marketing Strategy, and Social and Digital Media Marketing, along with cross-listed options like Management Consulting and Digital Technologies & Analytics.

Georgetown's Hakia Score of 95.8 ranks it 10th in this group, driven by a 95% graduation rate, the highest of these four schools, against a 13% admit rate, the second-most selective. As a private university, tuition doesn't split by residency: every student pays $67,896 a year regardless of home state. That flat price buys a compact, curated marketing curriculum rather than a sprawling course catalog; students who want the widest elective menu should compare it against a bigger program, but students who want a small set of required, market-tested courses inside a highly selective cohort will find that structure here.

Washington University in St. Louis structures its marketing BSBA around 12 total units. A 3-unit Marketing Core, Marketing Research, anchors the major, followed by 9 units of electives split into two groups. Group A, where students must take at least 6 units, includes Consumer Behavior, Digital Marketing and Analytics, Pricing Strategies, Marketing Strategy, and Brand Management. Group B fills out the remaining units with more specialized options: Sports Marketing, International Marketing, Advertising and Promotions, Inclusive Marketing, and a 1.5-unit Growth Marketing Practicum.

WashU's Hakia Score of 95.8 places it 11th in this group, backed by a 94% graduation rate against a 12% admit rate, the tightest gate of the four programs here. Tuition is flat at $64,500 a year for every student, since the school does not distinguish in-state from out-of-state pricing. Unlike the other three programs in this set, this listing also carries an online-accessible flag, giving admitted students a remote-study option alongside the standard on-campus BSBA track.

Purdue's marketing major sits inside the Daniels School of Business as a four-year Bachelor of Science built around brand management, digital marketing, market research, advertising, and sales strategy. The program description emphasizes case-based classes that build communication, teamwork, and analytical research skills, with students learning to conduct market research, analyze consumer behavior, and develop new products or services. Applicants apply directly into a "marketing (pre) major," and transfer students need a minimum 3.5 GPA plus a grade of B or better in a college-level calculus course.

Purdue's Hakia Score of 95.8 ranks it 12th in this group. Its 50% admit rate is the most accessible of the four programs here, though its 83% graduation rate is the lowest. Cost is where Purdue separates itself: $9,718 a year in-state, the lowest tuition in this set, versus $28,520 out-of-state, an $18,802 gap. The school itself reports an average starting salary of $59,175 for the major and cites a #21 U.S. News & World Report ranking (2024) for its undergraduate business programs.

Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, nonprofit institution in New Orleans, LA. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program ranks #13 of the 25 analyzed here with a 95.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.2 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 86% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Tulane University of Louisiana admits 14% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Tulane University of Louisiana charges $64,372 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $257,488 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Based in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #14 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 95.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.2 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 91% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. Boston College admits 16% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, Boston College charges $69,400 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $277,600 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #15 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 95.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.2 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 86% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University admits 55% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University charges $13,152 a year in-state, roughly 2.6x the $34,362 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $52,608 in tuition for residents, against $137,448 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Based in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #16 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 95.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.5 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 95% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. University of Notre Dame admits 11% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, University of Notre Dame charges $64,518 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $258,072 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #17 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 95.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.6 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 92% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. Villanova University admits 27% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, Villanova University charges $66,838 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $267,352 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution in Columbus, OH. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program ranks #18 of the 25 analyzed here with a 95.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.7 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 88% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, Ohio State University-Main Campus charges $12,180 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $38,958 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $48,720 in tuition for residents, against $155,832 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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 above-average completion.

Based in Storrs, CT, University of Connecticut is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #19 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 94.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.2 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 83% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. University of Connecticut admits 52% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, University of Connecticut charges $17,010 a year in-state, roughly 2.3x the $39,678 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $68,040 in tuition for residents, against $158,712 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Lehigh University is a private, nonprofit institution in Bethlehem, PA. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program ranks #20 of the 25 analyzed here with a 94.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.2 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 88% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. Lehigh University admits 26% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, Lehigh University charges $63,930 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $255,720 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Provo, UT, Brigham Young University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #21 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 94.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.2 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 81% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Brigham Young University admits 68% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Brigham Young University charges $6,688 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $26,752 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Based in Fairfield, CT, Fairfield University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #22 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 94.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.2 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. Fairfield University admits 33% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, Fairfield University charges $57,450 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $229,800 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #23 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 94.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.3 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 88% of its students, above the 88% average across the ranked schools. Santa Clara University admits 48% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, Santa Clara University charges $60,639 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $242,556 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.

Based in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #24 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 94.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.3 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. University of Miami admits 19% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, University of Miami charges $60,720 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $242,880 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

University of Central Florida is a public institution in Orlando, FL. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program ranks #25 of the 25 analyzed here with a 94.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.5 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 78% of its students, below the 88% average across the ranked schools. University of Central Florida admits 40% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 78% to 97%.

On cost, University of Central Florida charges $4,478 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $19,810 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $17,912 in tuition for residents, against $79,240 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. 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.