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Search marketing specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a search marketing specialist. Search marketing specialists usually study business, marketing, or english. 83% of search marketing specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 9% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 460 real search marketing specialist resumes to see exactly what search marketing specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for search marketing specialists are the University of South Florida and the University of South Florida.
There are also many online search marketing specialist courses to help get the education required to be a search marketing specialist.
There are certain search marketing specialist certifications that you should consider. These search marketing specialist certifications include Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate and Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ).
What education do you need to become a search marketing specialist?
What degree do you need to be a search marketing specialist?
- Bachelor's, 83%
- Master's, 9%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a search marketing specialist?
- Business, 22%
- Marketing, 20%
- English, 9%
- Communication, 9%
- Other Majors, 40%
Most common colleges for search marketing specialists
| Search marketing specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of South Florida | 8.82% |
| University of Central Florida | 7.35% |
| University of Kentucky | 5.88% |
| University of Texas at Austin | 5.88% |
| San Francisco State University | 5.88% |
Best majors for search marketing specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 22.3% |
| 2 | Marketing | 19.5% |
| 3 | English | 9.2% |
| 4 | Communication | 8.5% |
| 5 | Public Relations | 5.0% |
Best colleges for search marketing specialists
The best colleges for search marketing specialists are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A search marketing specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for search marketing specialists. 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 search marketing specialists.
1. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
8. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
10. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
20 best online courses for search marketing specialists
Advertising disclosure
1. Data Analysis Immersive (Full-time)
Learn to problem solve, and effectively communicate, like an analyst. This course teaches you to use industry-standard tools to make ethical, data-driven decisions. Experience hands-on training to master SQL, Excel, Tableau, PowerBI, and Python – tools listed in virtually every data analytics job posting across industries...
2. Data Analytics (Part Time)
Harness Excel, SQL, and Tableau to drive powerful analysis and insights. Build confidence and credibility to apply this versatile skill set to countless jobs. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
3. Data Analyst
Use Python, SQL and Statistics to advance your programming skills and refine your ability to work with messy, complex datasets...
4. Marketing Analytics
Gain an in-depth understanding of Google Analytics and marketing analytics. Analyze data and build models with Excel, Data Studio, and create informative data visualizations with Tableau...
5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
This Specialization will teach you to optimize website content for the best possible search engine ranking. You'll learn the theory behind Google search and other search engine algorithms; you'll also build practical, real-world skills that you can apply to a career in digital marketing or online content development, including on-page and off-page optimization, optimizing for local and international audiences, conducting search-focused website audits, and aligning SEO with overall business...
6. Digital Consumer Search and Marketing
Digital Consumer Search and Marketing builds on the foundations of digital consumer behaviour and digital marketing. You will learn how to optimise marketing efforts across digital channels.\n\nBy the end of the specialization, you will have a good understanding of the design and implementation of digital marketing strategies, as well as the importance and use of digital media and tools including:\n\nSearch Engine Optimization (SEO) Content Marketing Social Media Marketing Mobile Marketing Pay...
7. SEO: Master Search Engine Optimization and SEO Link Building
Secrets of 2017 To Boost Search Rank, Conversions, Content, Traffic, Sales, Shares & Links for Wordpress & Other Sites...
8. Master Course in Advanced SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Digital Marketing, Keyword Search, Website Traffic, Link Building, SEO Audit, Google Ads and PPC, Word Press, Local SEO...
9. Digital Marketing (Part Time)
Build confidence and capability to apply modern marketing strategies on the job. Drive growth with multichannel campaigns powered by data and customer insight. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
10. Intro to Data Analytics
Discover if data is a career fit for you Regardless of your industry or role, fluency in the language of data analytics will allow you to contribute to data driven decision making. In this free, two-hour livestream, you’ll learn to understand, analyze, and interpret data so you too can join the data conversation. We’ll cover how to ask the right questions of your data and basic analytic functionality. Then you’ll apply your new found data analytic skills to a real-world dataset, allowing you...
11. Data Structures and Algorithms
Get hands-on practice with over 80 data structures and algorithm exercises and guidance from a dedicated mentor to help prepare you for interviews and on-the-job scenarios...
12. Data Visualization
You will start by building data visualizations and dashboards, considering your audiences to be as effective as possible. Then, you’ll move into drafting presentations using storytelling techniques, visualizations, and animations to provide data-driven recommendations...
13. SEO Strategy: Keyword Research, Audit & Link Building
Successfully rank your website on the 1st page of Google. Select the best keywords, optimize your site and build links...
14. SEO Training Course 2018: Proven SEO & Link building Tactics
To Get Rank #1 on Google, Learn SEO that works. Search Engine Optimization for Newbies, Business Owner, Web Developers...
15. Digital Marketing
Gain real-world experience running live campaigns as you learn from top experts in the field. Launch your career with a 360-degree understanding of digital marketing...
16. Intro to Data Analysis
Start your data science journey right with this hands-on introduction to the discipline of data analysis. In this course you'll learn the 5 key stages of the data analysis process and apply them to real data sets using Python libraries NumPy, pandas, and Matplotlib...
17. SEO Training: Google SEO, Mobile SEO, Content, Wordpress SEO
SEO Training Improve Your Website Rank with Search Engine Optimization Mobile, Google SEO, Local SEO, Wordpress SEO...
18. Online Marketing: SEO & Social Media Marketing Strategy
2023 growth hacking with top web marketing and Internet marketing strategies: Social media marketing strategies + SEO...
19. Data Visualization
Discover how data visualization can communicate insights far more effectively than text or tables. In this course, you’ll learn how to build data visualizations programmatically using Python, and how you can use visualization to both discover and convey trends in your data...
20. Experimental Design & Recommendations
Learn two of the most in-demand skills in the entire field of data science! By the end of this course, you’ll know how to generate personalized recommendations based on user data, as well as run statistically valid tests that produce clean, interpretable results...
Top 10 most affordable universities for search marketing specialists
The most affordable schools for search marketing specialists are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for search marketing specialists 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 search marketing specialists.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for search marketing specialists
The hardest universities for search marketing specialists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for search marketing specialists 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 search marketing specialists 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. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
8. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
9. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for search marketing specialists
The easiest schools for search marketing specialists to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, university of the incarnate word, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a search marketing specialist 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 search marketing specialists.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
6. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
7. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
8. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
9. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
10. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,089
Average search marketing specialist salary by education level
| Search marketing specialist education level | Search marketing specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $73,739 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $67,622 |
| Doctorate Degree | $74,193 |
Search marketing specialist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025