Advertising Schools and Programs in The United States

Advertising Studies in The United States

In the United States, advertising is usually taught as a major within a four-year bachelor's degree. Many programmes sit in a college of communication or journalism, often next to public relations; others are part of a business school or an art and design college. Courses combine strategy and research with creative work such as copywriting and art direction, and programmes often include client projects and internships.

SpainExchange lists 43 colleges and universities in the United States under advertising.

How advertising degrees are organised

• Associate degree: a two-year programme, usually at a community college, that leads to a specific vocation or transfers into a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree: usually four years of full-time study. Students take courses in many subjects besides their major and normally declare the major by the end of the second year
• Master's degree: typically two years of specialised study after the bachelor's degree; some programmes are shorter

Three programmes show the range. The University of Florida's Bachelor of Science in Advertising has two tracks, the Advertising Agency Track and the Persuasive Messaging Track; agency-track students finish with an Advertising Campaigns class in which they work with a real client. Boston University's BS in Advertising is a 128-credit programme that covers brand building, art direction, copywriting, strategy, account management, consumer insights and media. At The Pennsylvania State University, advertising is taught within the advertising/public relations major, where students create concepts and write copy for outdoor, print, radio and television.

At graduate level, Boston University's MS in Advertising has 48 credits in 12 courses over three semesters. The University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications offers in-residence and online master's degrees, graduate certificates, a PhD programme, and a combination degree in which undergraduates take graduate courses and receive both a bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication.

Admission and language

International students apply directly to each college or university. U.S. universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Each university reviews the subjects an applicant studied abroad and may ask for a report from a credential evaluation agency. Test policies differ by school: Boston University lists the ACT and SAT as optional for its BS in Advertising and does not require the GRE for its MS in Advertising.

Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the student receives a Form I-20 from the school's international student office and uses it to apply for the F student visa.

Costs

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at four-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private non-profit institutions. At public two-year institutions the average was $4,000. The public figures are in-district or in-state rates; international students should check which rate applies to them.

Where to study advertising

Boston and Miami each have two schools in this directory: Boston University and Suffolk University in Boston, and the University of Miami and Florida International University in Miami. The other schools are spread across the country. Examples include large universities such as The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Florida, the University of Oregon and Temple University; art and design schools such as College for Creative Studies in Detroit and Academy of Art University in San Francisco; and community colleges such as Broward College and Santa Ana College.

Accreditation and recognition

BLS lists a bachelor's degree and related work experience, not a licence, as the typical requirements for advertising, promotions and marketing managers. For the degree itself, what matters is accreditation: recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by U.S. and international employers is linked to the accreditation of the institution. For programmes in journalism and mass communications schools there is also a specialised accreditor, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), which is recognised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Careers

The University of Florida names roles such as social media manager, account executive, market researcher, digital media strategist, media planner, brand manager, art director and copywriter. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), advertising, promotions and marketing managers typically need a bachelor's degree in a business field or in a related field such as communications, plus work experience in advertising, marketing, promotions or sales.

There were about 454,800 jobs for advertising, promotions and marketing managers in 2025, and employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 36,300 openings a year. For market research analysts, BLS projects 7% growth and about 82,000 openings a year over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Which degree do I need to work in advertising in the United States?

Most routes start with a bachelor's degree. BLS says advertising, promotions and marketing managers typically need a bachelor's degree in a business field or a related field such as communications, together with related work experience.

How long does a bachelor's degree in advertising take?

A bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study. Boston University's BS in Advertising, for example, has 128 credits.

Can I start at a community college?

Yes. A student can spend two years at a community college and then two years at a university to earn a bachelor's degree. The transfer process varies for each school.