The Covid-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 was just the catalyst to make global education a priority. With millions of students losing their course material because of the pandemic and many more unable to take online classes because of fear of contracting the virus, universities around the world are now scrambling to ensure their courses can be delivered online.

As a result, thousands of online marketing, advertising, and business degrees and certificates have popped up to meet the demand. And while this might seem like a blessing, choosing an online degree might not be the best decision if you’re looking to establish your career in marketing.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of an online degree in marketing.

Pros

Affordable. With institutions cutting back on on-site teaching and students needing an outlet for their degrees, online degrees have become a popular choice. According to the International Marketing Association, 40% of college-educated adults are expected to have earned an online degree by 2020.

Increased flexibility. With many jobs switching to an online platform, such as Google Docs and Zoom for meetings, academics have found themselves adjusting to a more flexible schedule. As a result, they’ve been able to continue teaching while also following the lockdown guidelines put in place by governments around the world.

Global reach. With numerous universities around the world establishing their presence online, students can gain an international education while being connected with a globally-connected professor. With almost all of the knowledge available online, students can gain expertise from anywhere.

Cons

Not for everyone. Although a more flexible option than a brick-and-mortar degree, earning an online degree doesn’t mean you’ll be able to find a job right away. According to the International Marketing Association, 73% of U.S. marketing managers reported they had to actively seek out new employment opportunities due to the pandemic.

Credential validation. With many employers conducting remote interviews and having courses and assignments entirely online, there’s been a rise in fake and fraudulent degrees and certifications. To combat this, some institutions, such as the University of Phoenix, have introduced policies and practices to protect students from scammers and fake providers. To maintain the credibility of their degrees and ensure they’re not being cheated, students should be wary of courses that don’t offer additional credentials, such as the popular bachelor’s degree in digital marketing.

Student engagement. Although many institutions have adjusted to online learning, especially during the pandemic, many schools are now realizing that they need to find a way to make students more engaged if they’re to succeed in an online environment. When students aren’t seeing the value in what they’re learning or aren’t feeling that they’re making the right connections, all of that talent can start to dwindle.

Odds of Employability

Based on LinkedIn searches between March 26 and April 2, 2020, we can determine that as of April 2020, there were 756,800 jobs available in Marketing. This is a 13.9% increase in the amount of marketing jobs since March 2020, and is expected to rise 22.8% by June 2022.

From these jobs, we can determine that there were 617,600 (79.4%) that required some form of marketing degree. Of those, 141,400 (22.5%) required a master’s degree and 476,200 (77.5%) required a bachelor’s degree.

Given the cons listed above, it’s clear that not everyone will be able to find success in marketing if they don’t have a degree. However, with the right set of circumstances, a well-rounded education from an accredited institution can open doors to opportunities in a variety of industries.

The Rise Of Online Marketing

Although the field of marketing has always existed online, the pandemic brought a new sense of awareness to the importance of digital marketing. More and more marketers are discovering the value of digital marketing, which provides a greater opportunity for career growth than ever before.

The demand for marketing expertise and experience has also increased as a result of the pandemic. With businesses re-establishing themselves and needing to grow marketing departments to support their new projects, jobs in this space have emerged as one of the most sought-after in corporate America.

Based on online searches between March 26 and April 2, 2020, we can determine that as of April 2020, there were 855,400 marketing-related jobs available on platforms like LinkedIn. This is a 15.5% increase in the amount of marketing jobs since March 2020. By contrast, other marketing-related jobs, such as PR and Advertising, saw a 12.8% increase in job availability over the same period.

This is great news for anyone interested in marketing, whether you’ve decided to pursue a degree in marketing or you’re looking to gain more experience. With the right online degree or certificate program, you can gain the know-how you need to succeed in this ever-changing field.