Missouri·Business and Financial Operations Occupations·SOC 13-1161

Best Market Research Analyst programs in Missouri, ranked by enrollment

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign.

28 schools in Missouri run programs that feed this job, graduating 923 people a year. The job pays a median of $70,140 in Missouri across about 14,890 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledMarket AnalystDigital Media PlannerPaid Search StrategistMarket Research AnalystMarket Research ConsultantMarket Research SpecialistOnline Marketing ConsultantSEO Strategist (Search Engine Optimization Strategist)
Graduates / yr
923
in Missouri
Median pay · Missouri
$70,140
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
14,890
people employed
Schools
28
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
53%
across those schools
Median net price
$21,269
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Missouri that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

6 programs in Missouri that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Missouri (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Missouri page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 52.1401In Missouri
622
67.4%
21$44,670$24,250
2
CIP 30.7102In Missouri
269
29.1%
8
3
CIP 52.1499In Missouri
17
1.8%
4$44,670$24,250
4
CIP 52.1404In Missouri
12
1.3%
4$44,670$24,250
5
CIP 52.1908In Missouri
2
0.2%
1$35,157$26,750
6
CIP 45.0602In Missouri
1
0.1%
1$51,725$22,907

Top 25 schools in Missouri

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 11 of the 28 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
158Marketing/Marketing Management, General$43,64158%91%
2University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
148Business Analytics75%78%
3Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
86Marketing/Marketing Management, General$42,72980%$24,88675%
4Webster University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
59Business Analytics64%$25,09086%
5Ozarks Technical Community College
Springfield, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
56Marketing/Marketing Management, General$30,45633%
6University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
56Marketing/Marketing Management, General$43,32054%64%
7Three Rivers College
Poplar Bluff, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
41Marketing/Marketing Management, General33%
8Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 2 feeder programs
37Marketing/Marketing Management, General$42,48258%74%
9Columbia College
Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
36Marketing/Marketing Management, General$40,26342%$23,247
10Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
36Marketing/Marketing Management, General$41,40449%$17,43657%
11Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
35Marketing/Marketing Management, General$70,81994%$14,12612%
12Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
34Business Analytics75%$21,89070%
13Park University
Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
32Marketing/Marketing Management, General38%$16,013
14Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
25Marketing/Marketing Management, General$48,55754%86%
15Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
19Marketing/Marketing Management, General66%$24,92195%
16Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
17Marketing/Marketing Management, General$43,07039%
17College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
8Marketing/Marketing Management, General64%$8,36012%
18Evangel University
Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
6Marketing, Other$30,57965%$17,88172%
19University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
6Marketing, Other57%63%
20Culver - Stockton College
Canton, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
5Marketing/Marketing Management, General39%$21,26999%
21St Charles Community College
Cottleville, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
5Marketing/Marketing Management, General25%
22Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
4Marketing/Marketing Management, General48%$25,40769%
23Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
3Marketing/Marketing Management, General42%97%
24William Woods University
Fulton, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
3Business Analytics47%$22,20371%
25Crowder College
Neosho, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
2Digital Marketing49%

All 28 schools in Missouri

Every school in Missouri with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Missouri that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Missouri State University - SpringfieldSpringfieldPublic1582
University of Missouri - ColumbiaColumbiaPublic1482
Saint Louis UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit864
Webster UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit592
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfieldPublic561
University of Central MissouriWarrensburgPublic561
Three Rivers CollegePoplar BluffPublic411
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape GirardeauPublic372
Columbia CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit363
Lindenwood UniversitySaint CharlesPrivate not-for-profit361
Washington University in St LouisSt. LouisPrivate not-for-profit351
Rockhurst UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit341
Park UniversityParkvillePrivate not-for-profit323
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryvillePublic251
Maryville University of Saint LouisSaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit191

What market research analysts and marketing specialists earn in Missouri

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Missouri
$70,140
Mean annual
$78,560
Jobs in state
14,890
What the range looks like
10th pct$37,970Median$70,14090th pct$129,140
Versus the national median
-10.9%

U.S. median $78,760. Missouri pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.88×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Missouri

St. Louis, MO-IL
$74,130median
6,980 jobs
Kansas City, MO-KS
$72,580median
6,920 jobs
Columbia, MO
$64,720median
600 jobs
Jefferson City, MO
$62,460median
270 jobs
St. Joseph, MO-KS
$58,530median
160 jobs
Springfield, MO
$57,280median
900 jobs
Joplin, MO-KS
$55,050median
270 jobs
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
$50,340median
140 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+6.7%
Faster than average
Openings per year
87,200
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
63,000
941,700 → 1,004,700
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists page.

How to become a Market Research Analyst

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingActive Learning

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Missouri

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 16 majors mapped to Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists16 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 19.0203Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management
  • 19.0905Apparel and Textile Marketing Management
  • 30.7102Business Analytics
  • 45.0602Applied Economics
  • 52.1401Marketing/Marketing Management, General
  • 52.1402Marketing Research
  • 52.1403International Marketing
  • 52.1404Digital Marketing
  • 52.1499Marketing, Other
  • 52.1904Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations
  • 52.1905Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations
  • 52.1906Tourism Promotion Operations
  • 52.1907Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing Operations
  • 52.1908Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations
  • 52.1909Special Products Marketing Operations
  • 52.1910Hospitality and Recreation Marketing Operations

Common questions

Answers for people weighing market research analysts and marketing specialists programs in Missouri.

What degree do you need to become a Market Research Analyst?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Marketing/Marketing Management, General, which awarded 622 degrees in Missouri in 2024-25, 67.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Market Research Analyst?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 6 programs to this occupation. The largest are Marketing, Data Analytics, Specialized Sales, Economics. Together they graduate about 923 people a year in Missouri.

How much do market research analysts and marketing specialists earn in Missouri?+

The median is $70,140 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 10.9% below the U.S. median of $78,760. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for market research analysts and marketing specialists growing?+

BLS projects a +6.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 87,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Missouri?+

28 institutions in Missouri reported graduates from at least one of the 6 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do market research analysts and marketing specialists work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Market Analyst, Digital Media Planner, Paid Search Strategist, Market Research Analyst, Market Research Consultant, Market Research Specialist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 13-1161.

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists in other statesTexasFloridaOhioUtahNew YorkPennsylvaniaMassachusettsIllinois

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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