Eager to earn your marketing degree, but not sure about spending four (or more) years in school? Good news is, you have options.
At Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), we're proud to offer an online Bachelor of Applied AI Analytics - Marketing that can be completed in just 90 credit hours — saving you time and money as you work toward your career goals. With the marketing industry changing so rapidly, earning your degree sooner could give you a competitive edge as you enter the workforce and begin applying your newfound knowledge in the real world.
So, what should you know about an accelerated degree in marketing, and how can you decide whether this path could be right for you?
As accelerated bachelor’s degree options become increasingly common, more students are asking about them — and for good reason.
Up until relatively recently, when schools began offering fast track marketing degree options, 120 credits was the standard for earning a bachelor's degree. Unfortunately, even though 120-credit programs are "designed" to be completed in four years, many students end up taking more than that due to life circumstances and other factors.
Enter the 90-credit accelerated marketing degree online, an option that allows students to graduate with 30 fewer credits and (potentially) within just three years. With a faster time to completion and fewer credit hours to pay for, it only makes sense that these accelerated degree options are growing in popularity. This is especially true among students who are eager to acquire the valuable marketing, advertising, and branding skills they need to enter the field.
Does enrolling in a shorter marketing degree program mean missing out on valuable knowledge and skill-building? Not at all, assuming that you choose a program with a thoughtfully designed and career-focused curriculum.
Rather than simply reducing the total number of credit hours by cutting valuable coursework, IWU's 90-credit AI marketing analytics program actually reduces the number of general education courses students need to take to earn their degrees. As a result, students enjoy a shorter and more focused path toward a bachelor's degree that can prepare them for entry-level roles.
With fewer credit hours to focus on, an accelerated degree in marketing needs to be paired with a purpose-built curriculum. IWU's online degree in applied AI analytics and marketing combines marketing, analytics, and artificial intelligence into a single degree that gives students the competitive advantage they need in today's data-driven economy.
At the same time, earning your degree faster shouldn't mean missing out on important skills and knowledge-building. Students in IWU's accelerated marketing program focus their studies and hands-on practice on the career-ready skills that matter most, with coursework covering topics such as:
Nobody wants to spend more time in school than they need to. Fortunately, an accelerated marketing degree program through IWU can:
Speaking of cost, opting for an accelerated marketing degree could also result in substantial college cost savings. Here's how:
Still, when considering an accelerated marketing degree, students should look carefully at total pathway costs to determine whether it's a sensible financial choice for them.
A 90-credit degree path can be an excellent fit for marketing students who are eager to break into the field and begin working in public relations, advertising, content marketing, and other digital marketing careers.
Let's begin with the fact that the marketing field, by its very nature, is rapidly changing and evolving. Students who earn their degrees faster may also be equipped with the most relevant and in-demand skills that employers are seeking, which could help them stand out among other job applicants.
As digital marketing and analytics become more complex, professionals in the field need focused preparation to build practical skills. Through the dedicated coursework and hands-on experience offered in a digital marketing degree program, graduates are equipped with the campaign optimization, customer data analysis, and AI marketing skills needed to thrive in their future roles.
For learners who are eager to build foundational skills and enter the workforce sooner rather than later, a fast-track marketing analytics education may be especially appealing. By earning your degree and entering the field sooner, you can build valuable career momentum and start seeing a return on investment on your marketing education faster than if you were to go a more traditional 120-credit route.
If you're leaning towards an accelerated degree in marketing and AI analytics, there are some things you should think about before you fill out an application. After all, not all programs are created equal.
Start by reviewing the overall curriculum, structure, and format of the program you're considering. This will help you get a better feel for the kinds of skills and concepts you can expect to focus on as part of your education.
If you're interested in online learning for working adults, keep in mind that not all online learning formats are the same. Some may be synchronous (meaning classes still meet in real-time), whereas others may be asynchronous (meaning you can work independently at your own pace). Make sure to choose an online program with a format that best supports your learning style and scheduling needs.
You'll also want to consider how the program you're considering may support your long-term career goals. For example, does the school offer a career services center or similar resources to help you explore and apply for your first entry-level jobs after graduation? What other kinds of support does your school offer for online students?
Applied learning experiences are also an important aspect of any online degree program. What kinds of opportunities will your program offer to apply the abstract concepts you've learned in real-world scenarios?
Before you fill out an application, here's a quick list of questions to consider asking an admissions counselor or other program representative:
The world of AI and marketing is evolving rapidly, but Indiana Wesleyan University's Fast Forward Bachelor of Applied AI Analytics with a Specialization in Marketing is thoughtfully designed with current and future workforce demands in mind. With coursework and hands-on experience in data-driven marketing, ethical AI in marketing, workflow automation, and more, students build the practical skills needed to thrive in a dynamic marketing landscape.
Plus, with a flexible online format, even busy working professionals and those with other responsibilities on their plates can work toward their degree at their own pace.
Contact us to learn more about IWU's 90-credit marketing degree or any of our other Fast Forward programs. You can also get the ball rolling on your application for admission now. Need help finding your ideal program? Get started here.
Considering a Fast Forward marketing degree at IWU? Discover answers to some of our most commonly asked questions about this program below.
Yes, you can finish a marketing degree in 90 credits, provided that the program is specifically designed as a 90-credit pathway. The key here is that the curriculum must be purpose-built around focused learning outcomes, rather than simply shortening a traditional program by removing courses.
The primary difference between a 90-credit degree and a traditional bachelor's degree is that the former requires 30 fewer credit hours to complete. As a result, students may be able to enjoy a significantly faster path to completion and lower costs due to reduced total tuition exposure.
No, students in a 90-credit degree program can learn just as much as students in a traditional degree program — so long as the accelerated program is designed around essential, career-relevant skills. Students considering an accelerated marketing degree should carefully review the curriculum, learning outcomes, applied projects, and available support to get a better feel for what they can expect to get out of the program.
A 90-credit degree program can help students save money because with 30 fewer credit hours than a traditional program, tuition exposure is inherently lower. Meanwhile, students in a Fast Forward program could also cut down on time-related costs of staying in school longer, including semester-based fees and opportunity costs.
A three-year path could be a sensible option for marketing students because the field changes so quickly, especially in areas like digital strategy, AI analytics, branding, and customer engagement. With a shorter path to a college degree, students can build relevant skills and move toward career goals sooner.
It can be, especially when the program is offered in an online format that's structured for flexibility. Still, working adults considering enrollment in a degree program should always review the curriculum, workload, pacing, and student support options before enrolling to ensure the program is a good fit for their needs and schedule.
