What can you do with a Marketing degree from Penn State University?

First, some facts. Of the Marketing graduates from Penn State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 50 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 65%, Marketing graduates from Penn State University have a slightly lower likelihood (-2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 16% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Marketing graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Marketing degree from Penn State University?
• What do Marketing graduates from Penn State University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Marketing degree from Penn State University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Marketing degree from Penn State University?
• What are the best colleges for Marketing?

View a random Marketing graduate from Penn State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 97% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2018 from Penn State University with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION MTP Intern Anheuser-Busch Jun 2018 - Aug 2018 The MTP Intern position at Anheuser-Busch does not require core marketing skills or knowledge, as it likely focuses on general intern duties unrelated to marketing expertise. Analyst, Optimization & Innovation Kepler Jan 2019 - Jan 2020 As an Analyst in Optimization & Innovation at Kepler, the job directly applies marketing knowledge in data-driven analysis and strategy development, reflecting the core skills acquired during the Bachelor's program. Senior Analyst, Optimization & Innovation Kepler Feb 2020 - Apr 2021 The role of Senior Analyst in Optimization & Innovation at Kepler continues to build on marketing principles and analytical skills, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's in Marketing. Manager, Optimization & Innovation Kepler Apr 2021 - May 2022 As a Manager in Optimization & Innovation at Kepler, this position necessitates advanced marketing acumen and leadership in strategic initiatives, aligning closely with the individual's academic background. Expert Consultant, Marketing Bain & Company May 2022 - Present The Expert Consultant position at Bain & Company requires extensive marketing knowledge and strategic insights, utilizing the skills developed during the Bachelor's degree in Marketing on a substantial basis. ABOUT Enthusiastic and motivated marketing consultant with a strong strategic mindset. Demonstrated ability to analyze, organize, manage and deliver results. Experienced in marketing across various industries (Retail, Streaming, CPG, B2B, Media/Subscription), with expertise in a multitude of channels across the entire marketing landscape.

What jobs can you get with a Marketing degree from Penn State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Project Manager
• Marketing Intern
• Assistant Buyer
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Driver
• Management Trainee
• Account Executive
• Project Coordinator
• Senior Project Manager
• Department Manager of Loss Prevention and Safety

When analyzing the career paths of individuals who graduated with a Marketing degree from Penn State University, it’s clear that a significant number have carved their way into positions where marketing principles are either directly applied or at least somewhat relevant. Many of the more fruitful careers seem to be in roles like Product Marketing, Brand Management, and Buyer positions, particularly in retail. These jobs typically leverage foundational marketing skills like understanding consumer behavior, strategic planning, and product promotion, making them a strong fit for what was learned during the degree program.

However, it's equally evident that a considerable portion of alumni ended up in positions that are less aligned with the marketing field. Roles like physical therapists, massage therapists, and administrative assistants, while respectable, don't utilize marketing expertise in any substantive way. This trend suggests that while a Marketing degree opens doors to exciting career opportunities—especially in fields like retail and brand management—many graduates might find themselves in roles that are somewhat tangential, lacking a direct connection to their studies. So, if you’re considering a Marketing degree, it's important to be open-minded about the diverse career pathways, knowing that not every job will neatly align with your degree's focus.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Marketing graduates (this is across all Marketing graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Penn State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Marketing graduates from Penn State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

The career trajectories of Penn State Marketing graduates show a mix of solid paths and a few that veer off into unexpected areas. Right after graduation, many of these individuals tend to land internships, entry-level positions, or roles related to marketing at recognizable companies like DICK'S Sporting Goods and Volkswagen, suggesting that they are starting off on a strong footing in relevant fields. Fast forward about five years into their careers, and you can see a variety of positions being taken on that align well with marketing, such as product managers, brand analysts, and various roles within marketing teams at significant corporations. Some graduates have even climbed the ranks to achieve positions like Director of Marketing or Senior Buyer, indicating they're making good strides into their chosen field.

However, it’s also interesting to note that despite these successes, there are outliers who’ve pursued completely different paths, like those who became licensed massage therapists or moved into fields such as health care and public service. This mix suggests that while a degree in marketing provides valuable opportunities in that arena, not all graduates end up staying strictly within the marketing domain. As we look ten years down the line, many graduates seem to be doing well, often in higher-level positions involving managerial or specialist roles, which is pretty promising for anyone eyeing a future in marketing. So, overall, it seems a degree from Penn State in Marketing can provide a good launchpad into relevant careers, although individual paths can vary significantly."

How hard is a Marketing degree from Penn State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing at Penn State, like many places, can be a bit of a mixed bag. It's not necessarily the easiest degree out there, but it’s also not the most challenging—kind of like a medium spice level in your favorite dish. You’ll dive into stuff like consumer behavior, market research, and digital marketing, and while some of the classes might be a breeze if you enjoy those topics, others can really challenge your critical thinking and creativity. Plus, balancing group projects, presentations, and exams can keep you on your toes, so it’s definitely a commitment. Overall, if you stay on top of your work and engage with the material, it's totally manageable, but you should be ready to put in a good amount of effort.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Marketing.

Do Marketing graduates from Penn State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Penn State Marketing graduates, it's clear some have done pretty well for themselves while others might be still finding their footing. Graduates who landed roles at well-known companies, especially in managerial or specialized positions, like those at Volkswagen and Universal Music Group, likely pull in solid salaries. These positions, especially in marketing and sales, often come with good compensation, benefits, and room for growth. On the flip side, some early careers seem to have started slow with less prestigious roles, like retail or administrative jobs, which probably don't pay as well. So, overall, while many of these grads seem to be on a decent financial trajectory, there are others still climbing the ladder or figuring things out in terms of their earnings.

What buzzwords do Marketing graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Marketing (this is across all Marketing graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Penn State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Marketing?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Marketing (ordered by the average relevance score of their Marketing graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
Gonzaga University	84	10
University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business	81	13
Florida International University - College of Business	78	12
University of Wisconsin-Madison	76	17
University of Florida	75	18
University of Arizona	75	11
Portland State University	75	13
California State University, Long Beach	75	14
Bowling Green State University	74	13
LIM College	74	14
Michigan State University	73	11
Rider University	73	16
University of Colorado Boulder	72	15
Minnesota State University, Mankato	72	16
Bentley University	72	21
The Ohio State University	71	17
Fairfield University	71	11
John Carroll University	71	10
Florida State University	70	44
University of Kentucky	70	18
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	70	16
Davenport University	70	17
The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business	70	29
Brigham Young University - Idaho	69	11
The University of Georgia	69	14
University of Delaware	69	17
Iowa State University - Ivy College of Business	69	10
Iowa State University	68	10
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	68	14
University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management	68	15
Colorado State University	67	17
Grand Valley State University	67	30
Georgia State University	67	29
Kean University	67	15
Loyola Marymount University	67	19
Lindenwood University	67	11
California State University, Fullerton	66	26
University of Iowa	66	15
Old Dominion University	66	12
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	66	16
Indiana Wesleyan University	66	10
Loyola University Maryland	66	15
Arizona State University - W. P. Carey School of Business	66	14
Texas Tech University - Rawls College of Business	66	12
Georgia State University - J. Mack Robinson College of Business	66	14
Penn State University	65	50
Florida International University	65	24
Southern New Hampshire University	65	28
Auburn University	65	14
Oregon State University	65	12
The University of Texas at San Antonio	65	34
The University of Alabama	65	31
Virginia Tech	65	12
Utah Valley University	65	11
Eastern Michigan University	65	19
California State University, Chico	65	10
Seton Hall University	65	10
University of Houston	64	13
San Diego State University	64	32
Virginia Commonwealth University	64	15
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	64	16
Florida Gulf Coast University	64	10
University of Central Missouri	64	12
University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business	64	12
East Carolina University	63	17
California State University, Northridge	63	27
University of Arkansas	63	33
Appalachian State University	63	14
College of Charleston	63	15
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	63	16
University of Dayton	63	15
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania	63	15
University of Cincinnati College of Business	63	11
University of South Florida	62	62
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	62	20
Boise State University	62	16
North Dakota State University	62	14
University of Nevada, Reno	62	13
The University of Southern Mississippi	62	14
Providence College	62	13
University of Central Florida	61	67
Texas A&M University	61	40
Louisiana State University	61	29
Miami University	61	28
University of Illinois at Chicago	61	11
San Diego State University-California State University	61	18
University of Louisville	61	23
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	61	14
Western Governors University	60	38
Kent State University	60	21
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	60	23
Central Michigan University	60	14
Florida Atlantic University	60	25
Ball State University	60	17
Montclair State University	60	13
California State University-Fullerton	60	12
University of North Carolina at Wilmington	60	10
Wichita State University	60	11
Salisbury University	60	11
Monmouth University	60	12
Columbus State University	60	10
Siena College	60	17
James Madison University	59	24
University of Pittsburgh	59	16
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	59	24
Kennesaw State University	59	22
Georgia Southern University	59	20
DePaul University	59	17
Northern Illinois University	59	23
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	59	46
Columbia College Chicago	59	12
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	59	21
Quinnipiac University	59	16
Southeastern Louisiana University	59	10
University of Montana	59	11
University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business	59	14
Texas State University	58	33
Illinois State University	58	19
West Virginia University	58	23
Rowan University	58	16
West Chester University of Pennsylvania	58	19
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	58	15
Eastern Illinois University	58	13
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	58	15
University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business	58	11
University of North Texas	57	44
The University of Texas at Arlington	57	12
University of Oklahoma	57	12
Baylor University	57	12
University of Tennessee, Knoxville	57	11
California State University, Fresno	57	16
The University of Akron	57	17
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania	57	10
Cleveland State University	57	14
Hofstra University	57	15
University of San Diego	57	12
University of Georgia - Terry College of Business	57	26
Roger Williams University	57	11
Pace University - Lubin School of Business	57	10
University of Missouri-Columbia	56	28
Missouri State University	56	16
Baruch College	56	25
University of San Francisco	56	11
University of St. Thomas	56	16
Sacred Heart University	56	15
Jacksonville State University	56	10
University of Phoenix	55	29
San Jose State University	55	30
Towson University	55	25
Western Washington University	55	15
Stephen F. Austin State University	55	12
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	55	10
Temple University - Fox School of Business and Management	55	12
Liberty University	54	10
San Francisco State University	54	33
Texas Tech University	54	17
Wright State University	54	14
Indiana University - Kelley School of Business	54	17
Bryant University	54	16
University of Washington	53	10
Indiana University Bloomington	53	16
Grand Canyon University	53	18
University of Cincinnati	53	23
Clemson University	53	29
University of North Florida	53	17
California State University San Marcos	53	13
University of Central Oklahoma	53	10
State University of New York College at Oswego	53	10
Ohio University	52	15
Kansas State University	52	28
Mississippi State University	52	21
Loyola University Chicago	52	10
Coastal Carolina University	52	25
Sonoma State University	52	11
Temple University	51	20
Oklahoma State University	51	40
Western Michigan University	51	11
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale	51	17
Northern Kentucky University	51	16
The College of New Jersey	51	17
University of North Georgia	51	11
Northwood University	51	14
Florida State University - College of Business	51	16
California State University-Long Beach	50	12
Johnson & Wales University	50	11
University of West Georgia	50	16
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	50	21
Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business	50	12
California State University-Northridge	49	19
University of Alabama	49	15
University of Tampa	49	15
University of Northern Colorado	49	11
University of Denver	49	10
Georgia Gwinnett College	48	11
Washington State University	47	15
The University of Texas at Dallas	47	17
Sam Houston State University	47	13
Oakland University	47	20
Radford University	47	13
Saint Joseph's University	47	14
Louisiana Tech University	46	12
Indiana University of Pennsylvania	45	17
Suffolk University	45	12
Fox School of Business at Temple University	45	14
University of Mississippi	44	18
East Tennessee State University	44	17
California State University-San Bernardino	43	10
California State University-Los Angeles	43	11
St. Cloud State University	43	12
The University of Memphis	42	10
Tarleton State University	41	13
University of South Alabama	38	10
Metropolitan State University of Denver	37	12
New Mexico State University	33	11
Abilene Christian University	29	11