The ROI of an MBA in Digital Marketing: Is it worth it?

With the rapid evolution of the digital landscape, the economy is fast-picking pace to keep up. People have immediate access to the latest products at the touch of a finger. This is why businesses too are catching up, employing the latest digital platforms to better market their products and services. This is also why several students are getting more interested in pursuing a professional course like MBA in Digital Marketing. It empowers them to gain a broader understanding of the digital landscape. Students graduating with MBA Digital Marketing courses are in high demand across industries.

This post thus evaluates the ROI of an MBA in Digital Marketing to help you make an informed choice for your career.

What is an MBA in Digital Marketing?

Before we get into assessing the ROI of an MBA in Digital Marketing, let us begin by defining what the course entails. It is a two-year postgraduate program that is designed to match up with the fast-changing marketing industry. With digital marketing platforms becoming more popular and handy to use, learners are keen to acquire practical knowledge and skills in the domain. 

The entire program is divided into 4 semesters spanning across 2 years. The course curriculum is defined as follows:

Semesters	Subjects
1	Business Communication (WAC) Financial Accounting Organizational Behavior Entrepreneurial Practice Managerial Economics Data Visualisation (Excel/Tableau) Marketing Management
2	Operation Management Management Accounting Legal Aspects of Business Business Research Methods (R/Python)Human Resource Management Financial Management Business Communication (VAC)
3	Core subjects Strategic Management Electives/Specializations New Media and Social Media Spectrum IT in Business Introduction to Digital Marketing Media Laws and Ethics Term Paper
4	Core subjects International Business Management Electives/Specializations Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing Advertising and Brand Management Media Planning and Economics E-Marketing Project

Factors Influencing the ROI of an MBA in Digital Marketing

To determine the worth of investing in an MBA in Digital Marketing, the following factors can be considered:

• Time commitment: Check the duration of the course at the university you wish to pursue it. Most universities offer a two-year MBA program, while the time of completion may vary for some. This is largely due to the curriculum offered at the institution. Consider whether you have the bandwidth to invest dedicated study time during the course duration. Also, take into account its potential impact on your current job. 

• Earning potential: This is yet another key factor to take into consideration. Make sure to check the average approximate salary benchmarks for professionals with an MBA in Digital Marketing for a clear idea. 

• Program cost: The tuition fee of the course is an important consideration in your decision. However, it needs to be taken in addition to the cost involved in referring to additional learning resources or buying study materials (if required). Additionally, the cost of pursuing any add-on certification course for specialization or enhanced learning must also be taken into account here.

• Demand in the job market: The potential career growth in digital marketing is a key consideration for an informed choice. A consistent growth in digital marketing roles in varied industries is being witnessed. So is the need for professionals with specialized knowledge in the domain. This inevitably leads to a high demand for MBA courses.

Career Growth in Digital Marketing After MBA

Students graduating with an MBA in Digital Marketing are eligible to apply for suitable roles in varied industries and sectors. Further, applying for senior leadership and managerial roles becomes possible with an MBA degree under your belt. 

For a better understanding, the table below highlights the potential career growth in Digital Marketing roles after completing an MBA. The table provides a fair idea of the average salary after an MBA in Digital Marketing:

Job role	Average annual salary (approx)
Digital Marketing Manager	INR 13.4 lakh per annum
Content Marketing Lead	INR 10 lakh per annum
Marketing Analyst	INR 5.4 lakh per annum
SEO Specialist	INR 4.7 lakhs per annum
Social Media Strategist	INR 4.4 lakh per annum

Some of the top industries hiring MBA graduates in Digital Marketing include:

• Information Technology
• Media and Entertainment
• E-commerce and Retail
• FMCG

In addition to full-time employment, there are a host of freelancing and entrepreneurial opportunities available in this domain. They are likely to earn a decent average salary after an MBA in Digital Marketing. 

Skills Gained in MBA Digital Marketing

We learned about the various career roles and the potential pay packages for graduates in the above section. Let us now look at some of the key skills that the course imparts to students, enabling them to increase their average annual salary after an MBA in Digital Marketing:

• Critical thinking: This is one of the top skills gained in MBA Digital Marketing courses. Students are encouraged to think strategically for planning and executing effective marketing campaigns.
• Leadership and team management: All students in the MBA program are trained to become leaders and assume top managerial roles in varied marketing projects. Managing a team and driving it toward common organizational goals is crucial for a good leader.
• Technical proficiency: Students learn how to master the use of varied digital tools and platforms. These include HubSpot, Google Ads, and Meta Ads Manager for varied tasks.
• Data analysis: This is also one of the most important skills gained in MBA Digital Marketing programs by students. They learn how to analyze large data sets and derive valuable insights into consumer behavior to make informed marketing decisions.

Benefits of an MBA in Digital Marketing

The program is designed to offer learners a multitude of advantages for a promising career path. Some of the top benefits of an MBA in Digital Marketing course are:

• Opportunity to network: The course allows students plenty of scope for networking with peers, industry leaders, faculty, and mentors. This further unlocks opportunities for career growth in digital marketing.
• Increased credibility: The degree is recognized globally and facilitates career progression in varied industries anywhere in the world. 
• Competitive edge: Graduates with an MBA in Digital Marketing generally stand out of the competition, gaining an edge in the job market over their peers. The MBA degree is highly valued by recruiters and employers. 
• Opportunity to lead: The MBA degree also provides the exclusive opportunity and skill to graduates to lead the process of digital transformation in organizations. This further enables them to bring about change for growth. 

Challenges to Consider

While assessing the return on investment for an MBA, it is important to weigh both its pros and cons equally. We discussed some of the key benefits of an MBA in Digital Marketing course. Let us now look at some of the challenges involved in pursuing the program:

• It’s important to stay updated with the rapidly evolving digital trends even after completing the MBA Digital Marketing course. Failure to do so may not help with future career growth despite having an MBA degree in hand.
• The cost of the program is generally higher, especially when accompanied by other related costs, such as study material, learning resources, and infrastructure costs.
• The field of digital marketing may also require some technical proficiency in data analytics, SEO, or automation tools. This may sometimes seem overwhelming to those who do not have a technical background.

Is an MBA in Digital Marketing Worth It?

We analyzed the benefits of pursuing an MBA in Digital Marketing and certain challenges along the way. The question that now arises is: Is the program really worth it?

The answer is yes! As highlighted in the above section (tuition fee and other expenses), there may be upfront costs involved in pursuing the course. However, the long-term financial benefits outweigh these initial costs, and the investment is totally worth it. This is because the program yields high returns in terms of a rewarding career complete with high salary packages. 

Moreover, it is noteworthy here that the course offers the best value against any other course or certification in Marketing. The MBA degree enables graduates to easily transition into leadership or managerial roles. It also facilitates those with entrepreneurial ideas to start their own business in digital marketing with the skills gained during the program.

Conclusion  

The blog aimed to bring forward a comprehensive overview of an MBA in Digital Marketing for aspiring learners. It is important to weigh the value that the degree holds against maybe the cost of the program or other factors. Make sure to assess your professional aspirations, personal interests, and finances before making an informed choice for your career.

Manipal University Jaipur offers an online MBA in Digital Marketing to enable learners to gain an in-depth knowledge of the rapidly changing digital landscape. The program is available online, so you can pursue it from the comfort of your home or any other location of your choice. Additionally, the course is highly cost-effective, saving undue costs involved in commutation or infrastructure when pursuing traditional campus degrees.