Exploring the Value of Educational Options in Marketing

Marketing educators have long been interested in the value of the education they provide, and the importance of educational value has accelerated in an age of increasing educational options, rising college tuition and residential costs, and rapidly changing market needs. The present study surveys marketing managers and utilizes Thurstone pairwise comparisons, a methodology that has previously been overlooked in this context, to estimate the dollar value of several components of marketing education. These components include types of undergraduate and graduate degrees, industry certifications, internships, graduate academic certificates, additional undergraduate coursework, and written communication and Excel skills training. We provide recommendations concerning how marketing academic program directors can modify their programs to increase the return on investment for their students.