Best Free & Low-Cost Marketing Degrees 2025

If you're hoping to pursue a career as a marketing manager or some other marketing professional, you'll likely need to complete a degree in this field. But there's no denying that college degrees cost a lot of money. Is there any way marketing majors can complete a degree without breaking the bank?

Several colleges offer low-cost marketing degrees and generous financial aid options that can help make school more affordable. You can also apply for federal aid and scholarships, test out of courses, and use transfer credits to help you save money on your degree.

Keep reading to learn more about affordable online marketing degrees and tips for reducing tuition costs.

Can You Earn a Marketing Degree for Free?

Most schools don't offer tuition-free plans; even those with initiatives to cover tuition for needy students rarely cover all costs associated with getting a degree. That said, there are many ways students can earn an online marketing degree while accruing few or no out-of-pocket costs. Some of the options include:

• applying for financial aid and scholarships
• taking CLEP exams to ''test out'' of college courses
• applying transfer credits to your degree
• exploring school-based financial assistance opportunities

We'll take a closer look at each of these options a little later in this article.

For those hoping to improve their marketing skills without getting a degree, free online marketing courses and various types of marketing certificates might be the way to go.

These training courses will teach you the fundamentals of marketing, such as social media marketing, keyword research, digital marketing strategies, search engine optimization (SEO), content creation, brand management, copywriting, and more. They'll also provide opportunities to gain real-world experience practicing what you learn.

Free marketing courses, including digital marketing, are usually self-paced and convenient. Still, it's important to remember that they don't lead to a degree in marketing, and most don't even lead to college credit.

If you're seeking marketable credentials from your education, getting a degree in marketing is the best option.

Top Schools Offering Low-Cost Marketing Degrees

Let's discuss some schools that provide affordable online learning opportunities for aspiring marketing professionals. These schools don't provide free tuition but offer students a wealth of opportunities to reduce or eliminate their college expenses.

University of Louisiana at Monroe

The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public school within the University of Louisiana System. The school provides online degrees in various subjects, including business topics.

A Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing is one of the degrees available. This program helps students become proficient in various essential skills, such as:

• email marketing
• content marketing
• marketing analytics
• identifying a target audience
• using various marketing tools
• inbound marketing

Though this school doesn't offer free tuition, it does provide reasonable tuition costs and financial aid opportunities to make your school experience more affordable.

Trine University

Trine University is a private school headquartered in Indiana. It offers a range of degree programs in topics such as cybersecurity, psychology, and healthcare.

The following marketing degrees are available:

• BS in marketing
• MBA with a marketing concentration

An undergraduate certificate is also available to help students master the fundamentals of digital marketing. The school offers affordable online tuition, military discounts, financial aid, and the ability to transfer up to 90 credits to your chosen degree program.

Colorado State University Global

Colorado State University Global is an online school associated with Colorado State University. It provides various degree programs and specializations at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Students can enroll in a Bachelor of Science degree program in marketing. The program will help students learn various marketing concepts and skills, such as:

• conducting market research
• developing a marketing plan
• carrying out a marketing campaign
• using data analytics in marketing
• using e-commerce marketing skills for promotions
• using Google Ads for businesses

This school provides affordable tuition for all students regardless of residency, with financial aid and scholarship opportunities to help students cut costs.

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University is a private school offering more than 200 degree programs. Many of these can be completed entirely online.

Students can choose from several online marketing degrees, as follows:

• AS in marketing
• BS in marketing (two concentrations)
• MS in marketing (four concentrations)
• BS in business administration (marketing concentration)
• MBA (marketing concentration)
• MA in communication (new media and marketing concentrations)

This school offers affordable tuition rates, including military discounts for those who qualify. Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are also available.

Bellevue University

Bellevue University is a private school in Nebraska that provides flexible degree programs. Many of the available degrees can be completed entirely online.

Two marketing degrees are available:

• BS in marketing
• MBA, marketing concentration

Bellevue provides tuition discounts for school alumni and military students, plus various financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Their generous transfer credit policy also allows students to reduce tuition costs.

Tips for Making Marketing Degrees Affordable

If you're still wondering how to use the available resources and get your degree for free, discover these solutions below. Read on as we discuss some top tips for getting your marketing degree more affordably.

Consider CLEP Exams

Most colleges accept CLEP credits that count towards your degree. CLEP exams essentially allow you to ''test out'' of college courses, especially general education courses like English, math, and science. For a small fee, you can complete these exams and earn college credit that can apply to your degree program.

AP, DSST, and UExcel also help you earn college credit and test out of courses. While these exams cost some money, they are far less expensive than the equivalent college courses. The more exams you take, the more money you will save on your degree.

Read more: Colleges that accept the most CLEP credits

Take Advantage of Transfer Credits

If you already have college experience or have previously taken CLEP exams, you may be able to apply these experiences to your marketing degree. For example, if you earned an associate degree, you may be able to apply most or all of those credits to your bachelor's degree program.

Every school has different policies regarding transfer credits, so check with your school to find out how many of your previous credits they will accept.

Apply for Financial Aid

There are many financial aid opportunities available to help students cover their college costs. Many of these are forms of federal student aid; you can apply for them by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online application form.

If you have a job, you can check with your employer to find out if the company offers tuition assistance. Those with a background in the military may also be eligible for tuition waivers and discounts through their GI Bill military education benefits.

Explore Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships are another great source of funds for your college expenses. They are often available through your college and from business owners or nonprofit organizations.

Scholarships are typically merit-based, making them more competitive than other forms of financial aid. They may require you to write an essay, demonstrate academic excellence, or meet other guidelines when applying. Always read and follow the application guidelines carefully.

Speak to Your School's Financial Aid Office

Finally, your school may offer additional resources to help you pay for college. Opportunities like work-study programs, pricing plans, and school-specific financial aid and scholarships can all help you cut costs.

Check with your school's financial aid office to learn about these opportunities. Speaking with a financial aid advisor can help you determine exactly which resources you are eligible for and how much money they can help you save.