Why Major in Marketing?
Marketing is the process of understanding and satisfying customer needs. Advertising, personal selling, determining customer groups to target, making products available in stores, and maintaining inventories are just a few activities that help organizations sell their products and services. A major in marketing at Northwest is an interdisciplinary program that provides students an opportunity to interact with surrounding businesses, complete projects that can be utilized in a portfolio, and prepare students for future interviews.
Also available: Online B.S. in Marketing
Northwest's Marketing major is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Transfer Students
For transfer students completing a vocational or technical Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited community college, a Bachelor of Applied Science with an emphasis in Marketing is available. The coursework for this program builds on workplace skills and practical career training provided by an associate degree.
Career Ready. Day One.
Northwest ensures students are career ready, day one through internships, field experiences and networking opportunities. Read Alia's story »
Career Opportunities
100%
placement rate
100% of students graduating with a degree in marketing either continued their education or found employment within six months after graduation.
The following is a listing of common positions for graduates with a marketing major:
- Retail Management
- Advertising
- Product Management
- Industrial Purchasing
- Sales Management
- Marketing Research
- Personal Selling
- Management Training
For a list of job placements by year, view the placement reports »
*Based on self-reported data in recent years.
Profession-Based Learning Experiences
Knacktive combines six disciplines (computer science, English, graphic design, marketing, mass communications and public relations) into a one-semester interactive and collaborative course. The student-led teams conduct market research, analyze data, write creative strategies, and developed an integrated, digital marketing communication campaign and promotional materials for a real-world client.
At the end of each course, the team makes a formal presentation or client pitch in an attempt to convince the client to use their project. This experience aligns with the digital marketing and advertising agencies competing for clients.
The following organizations have been clients of Knacktive:
- 2011 – Cincinnati-based LasikPlus Vision
- 2012 – Science City, located in Kansas City at the Union Station
- 2013 – Tri-State Ford
- 2014 – Horace Mann Laboratory School
- 2015 – DecisionFx, located in Kansas City
- 2016 – Hy-Vee Market, located in Des Moines, IA
- 2017 – Velocitie, located in Kansas City, MO
- 2018 – American Royal, located in Kansas City, MO
- 2019 – Maryville Tourism
Study Abroad is an opportunity for students to apply hands-on international experience to their own academic development. Faculty members supervise short-term study abroad programs that prepare students before, during and after the program. Two types of study abroad programs are available – faculty-led and traditional study abroad.
The traditional program may be a semester, summer or year-long program and is taught by Northwest’s international partner institutions. Students from the business school have recently traveled and studied in China, Africa and Eastern Europe including Hungary, Austria and Czech Republic.
For more information about study abroad opportunities »
Student Organizations
AdInk is a student organization that combines majors from Marketing, Advertising, and Graphic Design in an effort for those students to understand the relationship among those disciplines and how they work together in the "real world." The organization is focused on students' careers through the identification of internships, various networking events, and understanding which types of jobs are available for their major.
For a full list of student organizations with in the School of Business »
Internships
Although internships are not required in the marketing major, they are highly encouraged to gain real-world experiences.
Lluis Altimires |
Jessica Muhlbauer |
The Northwest Difference
Founded in 1905, Northwest is a traditional campus with more than 7,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in the middle of everywhere, Maryville is two hours from Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri and 2 ½ hours from Des Moines, Iowa.
The Bearcat Advantage provides out-of-state students the opportunity to earn in-state tuition rates that can save more than $7,500. With the average undergraduate financial aid award of $3,588 for in-state students and $9,804 for out-of-state students, Northwest offers a quality education at an affordable price.
At Northwest, the American Dream Grant covers 100% of the tuition and fees for Pell-eligible students.

Save more than $7,200 over four years through our textbooks and laptop program.
Laptop Program Information
Nearly $22 Million in scholarships and grants awarded annually.
Scholarship Information
Students organizations, internships and profession-based learning experiences ensure students are Career Ready, Day One.
Read student stories
Graduation Rate: 90th percentile of Northwest's national peer group.