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Marketing and product development manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a marketing and product development manager. Marketing and product development managers usually study business, marketing, or management. 74% of marketing and product development managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 407 real marketing and product development manager resumes to see exactly what marketing and product development manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for marketing and product development managers are the University of California - Davis and the University of California - Davis.
There are also many online marketing and product development manager courses to help get the education required to be a marketing and product development manager.
What education do you need to become a marketing and product development manager?
What degree do you need to be a marketing and product development manager?
- Bachelor's, 74%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 8%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a marketing and product development manager?
- Business, 26%
- Marketing, 19%
- Management, 7%
- Communication, 6%
- Other Majors, 42%
Most common colleges for marketing and product development managers
| Marketing and product development manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of California - Davis | 11.67% |
| Western New England University | 6.67% |
| Texas Tech University | 6.67% |
| Michigan State University | 6.67% |
| Berklee College of Music | 6.67% |
Best majors for marketing and product development managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 25.7% |
| 2 | Marketing | 18.8% |
| 3 | Management | 7.0% |
| 4 | Communication | 5.5% |
| 5 | Finance | 5.1% |
Best colleges for marketing and product development managers
The best colleges for marketing and product development managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A marketing and product development manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for marketing and product development managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become marketing and product development managers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
9. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
20 best online courses for marketing and product development managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Strategic Product Development
This course discusses how companies create new products that customers want while achieving their financial objectives. Learners begin by defining the product strategies necessary to ensure a company’s long-term growth. Learners then explore the different product development processes used by high-tech businesses today, such as Stage-Gate and Lean/Agile techniques. Learners conclude by illustrating the tools to build the high-performance teams that take the development process from concept...
2. New Product Development For Small Businesses and Start-Ups
In this 1 hr 40 mins long project-based course, you will learn about the process of developing a new product for start-up companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). You will learn about idea generation and the evaluation processes in product development by using an idea generation model and online resources like Google Trends and Amazon. You will use methods to evaluate your product concept through market segmentation, growth potential, and the competition to your product. You...
3. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA
Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...
4. Product Marketing Launch Plan: Product GTM with Dekker, MBA
Product Management Marketing Strategy, Marketing Plan, Product Marketing Manager, Product Manager Marketing Plan...
5. Drug Development Product Management
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are spending years and millions of dollars developing drugs or promising new biologics, all with the hopes of saving or enhancing patients’ lives. This specialization will provide you with a 30,000 feet view of the entire process of drug discovery and development. In the first course you will begin with learning how scientists go from selecting a drug discovery target to filing an Initial New Drug application. In the second course you will learn the...
6. Product Marketing for Technology Companies
Master your product marketing skills through practical examples and exercises...
7. Product Management 101
Learn to become a more strategic product manager - and have a greater impact on your company and your products...
8. Product and Service Management
Know the Work that is Involved in Getting a Product Onto the Shelf and a Service Ready for Effective Delivery...
9. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management
Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...
10. Product Management Fundamentals
Case-based practical course on product management to build strong foundations in product concepts, process & frameworks...
11. Comprehensive Product management for Product managers
Become a great product manager with comprehensive product management Real world case study with JIRA & Confluence...
12. Product Management for Maximum Impact
Product Management Videos, Insights, Success Metrics...
13. Operations Management: Supply Chains, Products and Services
Master Supply Chain Management and Product and Service Development in Manufacturing and Service Organizations...
14. 50 Personal Development And Personal Productivity Skills
Personal transformation to be a top-1% performer! Personal development, business productivity, and personal productivity...
15. Smart Tips: Product Management
Find impact, innovation, and success as a product manager...
16. Mechanical design and Product development process
Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...
17. Product Management: Mastering Product Roadmaps 2023
A complete guide to building a roadmap that works for both your product team and your stakeholders...
18. Product Marketing Fundamentals
All the frameworks, skills, & advice you need to forge a career in product marketing. Product Marketing Certificate...
19. Professional Diploma in Digital Products Management
Program with business cases (Fintech, Retail Banking, Digital Business) & Interactive part...
20. Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners
Application of product design management principles, concepts, tools and techniques in agile product management...
Top 10 most affordable universities for marketing and product development managers
The most affordable schools for marketing and product development managers are SUNY Farmingdale, usf sarasota-manatee, and california state university - dominguez hills.
If the best universities for marketing and product development managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for marketing and product development managers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
7. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for marketing and product development managers
The hardest universities for marketing and product development managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for marketing and product development managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for marketing and product development managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for marketing and product development managers
The easiest schools for marketing and product development managers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a marketing and product development manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for marketing and product development managers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
7. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
8. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
9. Manor College
Jenkintown, PA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
898
10. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
Average marketing and product development manager salary by education level
| Marketing and product development manager education level | Marketing and product development manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $150,434 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $139,766 |
| Doctorate Degree | $165,637 |
Marketing and product development manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025