Is 30 Too Old to Get a Marketing Degree?

Reasons To Earn Your Marketing Degree at 30

Here are some reasons 30 is a great age to start a marketing degree.

Perspective

Being able to take the perspective of a target audience is a key skill for marketing professionals. At 30, students will have increased life experience and a broader perspective.

The perspective that comes with age will also help students complete their studies more efficiently and identify career opportunities.

Cultural Awareness

With age, students will have more awareness of the culture they are connecting with in marketing campaigns.

Effective mass communication requires a high degree of cultural awareness. Young students may have less experience with other cultures than older students.

Confidence

Marketing students in their thirties may benefit from increased confidence in social and professional interactions. Confidence is a key factor in communication, negotiation, and professional interaction.

Older students may also be more confident when interacting with instructors in their marketing degrees. Having real-life work experience to refer to when completing assignments can add another level of credibility to essays and presentations.

What Will I Learn In a Marketing Degree Program?

Marketing degrees cover a broad range of communication, business, and psychology topics. Common courses covered in marketing programs include:

• advertising
• social media marketing
• copywriting
• digital media
• public relations
• branding
• management
• consumer behavior
• market research analysis
• marketing ethics
• budgeting
• quantitative methods

Marketing majors often complete a portfolio as part of the degree program. Creating a portfolio can help highlight your skills and show future employers a snapshot of your marketing capabilities. This can add a lot of credibility to your applications and help you stand out in the job market.

Upon completion of a marketing degree students will have an understanding of multiple media formats, professional communication, and data-driven decision-making. These skills can be applied across many industries.

What Can I Do With My Marketing Degree?

Here are some exciting career options for graduates of marketing degree programs.

Content Marketer

A content marketer works to create marketing materials across a variety of mediums including digital, print, and merchandise. Content marketers are creative, understand their audience, and build engagement with a brand or organization.

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists are the voice of a brand or company to the media and the general public. They write press releases about exciting company announcements and also manage their reputation in the public eye.

Search Engine Optimization Specialist

Search engine optimization (SEO) specialists create content intending to rank highly in search engines. They also optimize websites to ensure that pages are being indexed and crawled.

Social Media Marketing Manager

Social media marketing managers engage with a brand's audience through social media channels. They are experts in national and global trends and use digital media to promote products and services.

Brand Manager

A brand manager oversees the entire marketing plan of a business or organization. They ideate new marketing campaigns, monitor and improve existing campaigns, and ensure that all marketing follows brand guidelines.

Copywriter

Copywriters use words to tell the story of a brand or business. They write content, digitally and in print, that conveys a message or encourages their audience to take action, such as buying their product.

Sales Representative

Sales representatives can use their marketing skills to sell a service or a product. A big part of sales is understanding the needs and wants of an audience, so marketing graduates make great sales representatives.

FAQs About Starting a Marketing Degree at 30

Find answers to common questions about starting a marketing degree at 30.

Are There Benefits To Starting My Marketing Degree at 30?

Yes, students who begin a marketing degree at 30 can experience the following advantages based on their life experiences:

• confidence
• cultural awareness
• motivation
• perspective

Is It Worth It Going Back to College?

Yes, going back to college to complete a marketing degree can be a worthwhile career shift. Marketing is a stable industry that continues to grow and adapt to new technologies and platforms.

Gaining qualifications in marketing can open up a wealth of new career options and allow students to achieve their dreams.

Can I Work and Go To College?

Yes, many modern marketing degrees are designed for professional students with full-time jobs.

Students who wish to work while studying can benefit from flexible online marketing degree programs. These programs allow students to select a study schedule that fits with their work schedules. Online marketing degrees are usually more affordable than on-campus degrees.

Working while studying marketing can also provide students with increased professional experience they can take into their future careers.

Can I Apply Life Experience Credits To Earn My Marketing Degree?

Yes, some innovative marketing degrees offer competency-based learning programs and credit for prior experience.

Students with extensive professional experience may be able to save time and money on a marketing degree by earning college credits for these non-traditional forms of learning.

How Do I Decide If I Should Go Back to College?

Each student will have a unique set of factors that determine the value of going back to college. Identifying career goals and considering the qualifications a degree will provide is an important step.

Students considering going back to college to study marketing should consider their skills, interests, and the potential careers they may target after graduation.