While Houston is perhaps more famously known as the communication hub for America’s astronauts, the sprawling city’s opportunities extend far beyond NASA. The Houston metro is home to half of the Fortune 500 companies in Texas and is ranked third among metro areas in Fortune 500 headquarters.
Renowned for its affordable cost of living and multitude of job opportunities, Houston also tops Forbes’ list of America’s coolest cities. Its favorable business landscape makes it an attractive option for anyone looking to pursue a career in marketing.
The Best Houston Marketing MBA Programs
McCombs School of Business – University of Texas at Austin
The McCombs School of Business offers a marketing specialization to its full-time MBA students. U.S. News rates McCombs as one of the top schools in the country to earn a Marketing MBA. At McCombs, a concentration in marketing will not appear on a student’s diploma, but will rather provide a roadmap for prioritizing courses. The flexibility of McCombs’s curriculum allows students to tailor their education to their career goals. McCombs focuses on training students to think critically and understand the complexities of managerial decision-making. According to Forbes, about 24 percent of McCombs graduates go on to pursue jobs in marketing or sales.
Rice University – Jones Graduate School of Business
It is no secret that Rice University is one of the most prestigious schools in Texas and the Jones Graduate School of Business provides registrants the choice to earn an MBA with a marketing concentration. Students can earn up to two concentrations, making Jones the perfect option for anyone who would like to specialize in marketing, but also wishes to gain immersive experience in a complementary field within the general management program, such as accounting or entrepreneurship. Jones has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, making it a fantastic option for students who prioritize small class sizes and individualized attention from the staff. The program is constantly changing, but as of right now, Marketing MBA students take four required courses and earn the rest of their credit hours through electives.
C.T. Bauer College of Business – University of Houston
The C.T. Bauer College of Business has comprehensive options for students pursuing a Marketing MBA. The program offers the opportunity to earn one of six different marketing certificates, each of which demands nine credit hours:
- Business Consulting—The business consulting track zeroes in on problem-solving and project management. This is an ideal option for students who wish to pursue a career in business and management consulting. The curriculum includes two mandatory consulting labs.
- Digital Marketing Management—In this internet age, digital marketing has become ubiquitous. Bauer’s digital marketing management certificate is sure to provide the knowledge needed to get a job in this growing field. Students must take Introduction to Digital Marketing. After that, they can choose from the following suggested courses: Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Web Analytics and Digital Marketing Lab.
- Entrepreneurship—This is the perfect track for entrepreneurial-minded students interested in creative thinking and pioneering innovation.
- Marketing Analysis—The Marketing Analysis certification is the ideal path for those whose interests lie in the big picture thinking required to assess the market and draw larger conclusions.
- Product Management—This track is appropriate for those who want to be involved in the entire marketing lifecycle of specific products.
- Sales Leadership—The Sales Leadership curriculum will empower students to inspire and seize growth opportunities for their future clients.
Cameron School of Business – University of St. Thomas
The Cameron School of Business MBA program provides nine concentration options, including marketing. CSB’s MBA requires 27 hours of the standard core business classes, including Marketing Management and Ethical and Moral Business Management. Additionally, students will devote nine credit hours to electives. To earn their elective credits, students can choose three of the following courses: Marketing Applications and Research, Seminar in Marketing, Global Marketing, E-Business Strategies, Entrepreneurship and Sourcing Management.