The 6 Best Graduate Degree Programs for Brand Management Professionals

As you begin reflecting on your current branding career, you might be considering advancement opportunities and how you can become a brand manager. It’s a common path for many people in brand-related positions who want more responsibilities and higher pay. After exploring their options, many individuals conclude a graduate degree would most effectively help them meet their goals.

What Are the Best Degrees for Creative People?

Many individuals have pondered the answer — and a master’s degree in brand management stands out. Whether you got into branding because you loved “Mad Men” growing up and could see yourself developing extensive ad campaigns or felt fascinated by the branding elements that capture and keep attention, a master’s degree is an effective way to take the next step in your career. You can apply your new skills to create the most memorable brand strategies.

Earning a master’s degree is an excellent way to signal to potential employers that you take career growth seriously and have gone through specialized courses and real-world experiences to strengthen your capabilities and broaden your perspective.

Where Can You Get a Master’s Degree in Brand Management?

Reputable options exist across the country and world, and you should evaluate them by considering the curriculum, tuition fees, program length and other specifics. Consider how what you’d learn in the program would align with your existing knowledge, current position and mid-to-long-term aspirations. Becoming familiar with some standout options will also help you make well-informed decisions.

1. SVA Branding Studio’s Master’s in Branding

Unsurprisingly, New York City has well-respected graduate-level programs for brand management professionals. Many of the world’s most well-known brands have offices there and regularly advertise on Times Square billboards.

With its Master’s in Branding program, the SVA Branding Studio is one of the best grad schools in NYC. The program’s highly stimulating and applicable curriculum encourages students to explore and understand all branding strategy elements and how they affect behaviors, culture, business decisions and more.

The Master’s in Branding program is an accelerated, 10-month degree that starts in September and ends in July. Since the classes occur on weekday evenings, the course schedule suits working professionals’ needs. For maximum convenience, you can also choose to learn in person or online. The school uses the latest streaming technologies to facilitate real-time discussions between students learning remotely and those taking in-person classes.

Students complete 36 credits during the program, and the faculty grades them using a pass/fail system. Participants must also defend their graduate thesis to cap off their experience. While the fall semester includes foundational courses, such as Brand Failures: 1970 to the Present, the spring term pairs students with professional mentors and engages them with real-world client projects, group presentations and other skill-developing applications.

SVA graduates make notable achievements in their industry after finishing. They have collectively won dozens of branding agency awards and secured roles at nearly 50 studios. Many have also gone on to work with some of the world’s biggest names, from Netflix to PepsiCo. That track record strongly suggests this program equips learners to prove to potential employers that they have what it takes to succeed in rewarding and lucrative positions.

2. Academy of Art University’s Master of Fine Arts in Fashion Marketing & Brand Management

If you are interested in the fashion industry, this California-based Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program provides the tools and knowledge needed to excel in its fast-paced and frequently admired world. Levi’s and Kate Spade are some of the globally known clothing and accessory brands that have hired graduates of this institution.

The carefully created curriculum develops students’ analytical and creative abilities, ensuring they are well-prepared for wherever their careers take them after earning their degrees. Additionally, numerous hands-on projects give learners practical experience in vital areas such as brand development, promotion and oversight.

As students explore the details of strategic brand management, they will grow their entrepreneurial mindsets, which will help them succeed in today’s demanding corporate environments. Additionally, the coursework teaches participants to integrate social media and other digital channels with traditional marketing mechanisms, making them highly adaptable to companies’ current needs and whatever the future holds.

Marketing communications practices are another integral part of this graduate-level program. Students will create an integrated marketing communication strategy for a specific fashion business, giving them valuable and highly applicable experience. They will build a plan incorporating the latest trends and technologies.

3. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Master’s in Creative Brand Management

Whether you hope to be an account manager at a world-renowned agency or have set your sights on a C-suite brand management role, this 60-week program prepares you to immediately and confidently apply new skills.

In addition to working on projects with others in the Creative Brand Management program, the activities include periodic all-concentration efforts. These allow you to work alongside students studying copywriting, art direction and other relevant disciplines, realistically mimicking the experience of working at an agency on a multidepartment effort.

The rigorous curriculum lays the groundwork with foundational courses that teach research methodologies, the business of branding and more. As you progress through the program, brand design, analytics and persuasion are some other focus areas.

The summer between your first and second years includes an optional internship. The program’s faculty will give you the tools to land an exciting opportunity at a brand agency or company.

One of the program’s final requirements is that you submit an advanced portfolio showing cumulative examples of your work. This exercise is an excellent opportunity to become accustomed to showing your best efforts as you eventually compete in the labor market for top positions.

4. The American University of Paris’ Master of Science in Strategic Brand Management

Many aspiring brand managers have international goals or want to learn skills that will remain relevant wherever they decide to work. This graduate program combines an American-style university experience with a broad, global-focused curriculum. If you have been considering how a career break might fit your intentions, this program could meet most of your expectations and needs.

It equips students to manage and influence international brands while remaining aware of the effects that entity has on employees, consumers and other stakeholders. The curriculum includes core courses from the institution’s forward-looking International Management program, as well as offerings specific to your chosen concentration.

You can complete this program in three or four semesters and begin during the autumn or spring. That flexibility is ideal if you’re ready to take the next step in your career development path but must arrange a purposeful absence with your employer. Additionally, the faculty teaches in English, so you do not need to learn French to participate.

Once students complete the foundational courses, they take three modules and two electives. The subjects for the latter range from the fashion business to sustainability management. Many members of the program’s alum network work in managerial roles, and some have founded agencies, design firms and brands.

5. SCAD’s Master’s in Luxury and Brand Management

Would you love to lead or launch a luxurious brand that captures the world’s admiration? This program could be your springboard. It provides guidance from professors with extensive industry experience and opens opportunities to complete hands-on projects while working with real-life brands.

This highly ranked graduate program also includes access to an on-site design studio, where learners assist personnel from existing luxury brands to develop new products or make tailored refinements. Additionally, since the university’s two museums include permanent collections collectively showing more than 1,000 pieces from world-renowned designers and fashion houses, students will be inspired by the possibilities.

Since SCAD has other relevant graduate programs in areas such as sneaker design, fibers and creative business leadership, those in the luxury and brand management track have ongoing opportunities to collaborate with and learn from other graduates, giving everyone well-balanced, diverse perspectives.

Students’ course requirements range from 45 to 115 hours, depending on whether they pursue a Master of Arts or a MFA. Faculty members assign some learners to intensive courses. Participants can learn online or at one of the university’s two physical locations.

6. The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Master of Business Administration in Brand and Marketing Management

This Master of Business Administration (MBA) program caters to those eager to thrive in leadership roles, whether heading brands they own or making significant decisions at some of the world’s most established companies. The curriculum features numerous applied learning experiences, from topic seminars to visits from company executives. The associated case studies and expertise will help you develop skills to use in demanding but exciting roles.

Attend workshops with marketing experts to learn the fundamentals of storytelling, problem-solving and more. You’ll also develop and present comprehensive strategies to real-life brand personnel, preparing you to excel in highly competitive environments.

This full-time MBA program spans two years of intensive coursework, encouraging you to broaden your knowledge and become a critical thinker. Whether taking classes on strategic brand management or marketing for the digital age, the curriculum provides the foundational knowledge needed for a successful career.

Those enrolled in this graduate program also access the Marketing Leadership Institute, a specific component of the MBA program. It introduces you to industry professionals and encourages forging strong connections with alums who could later help you on your career journey.

Will You Pursue a Brand Management Graduate Program?

These are some of the most worthwhile brand management programs to consider while exploring graduate-level studies. Although you must consider numerous factors, such as your career goals, personal obligations and budget, these tailored degrees can give you a competitive edge in a fast-moving and crowded industry.