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Marketing designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a marketing designer. Marketing designers usually study graphic design, fine arts, or business. 76% of marketing designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,802 real marketing designer resumes to see exactly what marketing designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for marketing designers are the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Savannah College of Art and Design.
There are also many online marketing designer courses to help get the education required to be a marketing designer.
There are certain marketing designer certifications that you should consider. These marketing designer certifications include Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP) and Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.
What education do you need to become a marketing designer?
What degree do you need to be a marketing designer?
- Bachelor's, 76%
- Associate, 14%
- Master's, 6%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a marketing designer?
- Graphic Design, 36%
- Fine Arts, 10%
- Business, 8%
- Communication, 7%
- Other Majors, 39%
Most common colleges for marketing designers
| Marketing designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 9.34% |
| Academy of Art University | 7.14% |
| School of Visual Arts | 6.59% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 6.04% |
| Ball State University | 6.04% |
Best majors for marketing designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Design | 36.2% |
| 2 | Fine Arts | 9.7% |
| 3 | Business | 8.0% |
| 4 | Communication | 7.1% |
| 5 | Design And Visual Communication | 6.6% |
Best colleges for marketing designers
The best colleges for marketing designers are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.
A marketing designer 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 designers. 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 designers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
20 best online courses for marketing designers
Advertising disclosure
1. User Experience Design Immersive (Full-time)
Launch a future-proof career designing digital experiences that power revenue, user loyalty, and product success. Distinguish yourself as a designer by compiling a portfolio to showcase solo, group, and client projects to employers based on UI design and Agile methodologies...
2. User Experience Design (Part Time)
Translate user wants and needs into intuitive digital experiences that power revenue, loyalty, and product success. Build confidence and credibility to tackle complex design problems on the job. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
3. UX Designer
Design impactful user experiences for products in today’s digital world. Build a portfolio that showcases your ability to transform user research to high-fidelity interactive designs...
4. Product Design
Learn the steps you need to turn an idea into reality. By the end of this course you’ll learn how to bring an idea from concept to hand off for development and onto creation of a prototype...
5. Graphic Design Mastery: The FULL Branding & Design Process
Follows the FULL Graphic Design Process for A Company: Logo, Ad, Social Media, T-Shirt, Package, Website Design & More!...
6. Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design
The Ultimate Graphic Design Course Which Covers Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design,Design Theory, Branding and Logo Design...
7. Visual Design (Part Time)
Gain the vocabulary and tools to tackle diverse design challenges on the job. Kickstart your portfolio and create beautiful, responsive designs for the web. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
8. Intro to UX Design
Are you interested in UX Design, but have no prior experience or an idea of where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In this two-hour livestream, we’ll explore the decision-making process that separates a good user experience from a great one, and learn some tools that you can implement in your own UX process today. All in real time, taught by an industry professional. Come learn the basics and gain the skills you need to begin your UX Design journey!...
9. Digital Design Masterclass For Graphic Designers
Icon Set Design, E-book cover, Digitizing Sketches, Social Media Design, Wordpress Web Design, Adobe Xd, GIFS and more!...
10. Master Web Design in Photoshop: Complete UI/UX Masterclass
Learn UI/UX and how to create stunning website Everything you need to know about web design in 2023 All in Photoshop...
11. Graphic Design Mastery- AI, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign
Graphic Design for beginners including Graphic Design Theories, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, AI & Creative Thinking...
12. Graphic Design Bootcamp: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
Bestselling Beginner Course! Use Photoshop, Illustrator, & In Design for logo design, web design, poster design, and more...
13. 47 Graphic Design Projects for Photoshop Beginners
Photoshop graphic design for beginners! Includes 47 Photoshop projects for your graphic design portfolio...
14. Graphic Design Masterclass: Design 40+ Projects in Photoshop
Use Photoshop to create YT thumbnails, banners, catalogues, Instagram & Facebook Graphics, Cards, CV, Newsletters & more...
15. Web Design Responsive Website Template from Scratch HTML CSS
Build your own website from scratch Web Design how to build a simple website template from scratch using HTML and CSS...
16. Adobe Photoshop CC - Web Design, Responsive Design & UI
Learn how to design a professional quality website in Photoshop CC...
17. Photoshop CC for Beginners: Adobe Photoshop Course
This Adobe Photoshop CC course will teach you the basics of Photoshop for web design, graphic design, photography & more...
18. Android Material UI Design Masterclass with Adobe Xd
Learn to Design Mobile Apps following the guidliness of Material System Design using Adobe Xd...
19. The Ultimate Web Designing Course in Photoshop
Learn Web Designing in Photoshop step by step (Over 20 PSD Files, 3 Mega Web Design Projects Included)...
20. Master Graphic Design & Software with Practical Projects
Conquer Popular Graphic Design Projects: Logo, Package, Magazine, Book Cover Design, Branding, Digital Graphics & More!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for marketing designers
The most affordable schools for marketing designers are University of Florida, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for marketing designers 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 designers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
10. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for marketing designers
The hardest universities for marketing designers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for marketing designers 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 designers 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
8. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for marketing designers
The easiest schools for marketing designers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a marketing designer 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 designers.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
6. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
7. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
8. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
9. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
10. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
Average marketing designer salary by education level
| Marketing designer education level | Marketing designer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $70,623 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $63,183 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $55,054 |
Marketing designer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025