Is An Ecommerce Degree Worth It In 2024?

The growing craze for online shopping has changed the business landscape. Gone are the days when businesses and companies focused only on marketing and offering products and services to a local region and a limited number of consumers.

Today, they can expand their reach and tap into the market far beyond the geographical barriers.

However, the rise of online selling also comes with a few issues: more intense competition, fast-changing trends and practices, website technical issues, complex logistical processes, and many more. 

That's why it's important for businesses and companies not just to learn business and marketing skills but also to develop the technical skills needed for managing and growing a digital business, and that's what a digital marketing and ecommerce course can provide them with.

But with any educational investment, there’s this burning question that we have to answer: is an ecommerce degree worth it?

In this article, we'll dig deeper into the process and implications of pursuing this degree, presenting you with both the potential benefits and challenges so you can make an informed decision about whether or not taking this degree is the right step.

Is An Ecommerce Degree Worth It? 

Whether planning to build your own ecommerce business, work for one, or already have one, getting an ecommerce degree has surely crossed your mind.

But what is this new business degree specialization all about, and is it really worth the hype? Here are some information that can help you find the answer you need:

What are the benefits of studying an ecommerce degree program?

While it's true that most people can learn ecommerce on their own (and you can do it, too), formal education can provide plenty of benefits you can't get when you try learning it on your own. These include:

Up-to-date knowledge

With new trends turning up regularly, ecommerce is a fast-changing and rapidly growing business sector. To keep up with the changing times, you need to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies and an ecommerce degree can help you with that.

A comprehensive ecommerce program updates you on the latest tools and strategies in the world of online business and everything you need to know to thrive and adapt to this ever-changing environment.

Industry’s best practices and strategies

Building a thriving ecommerce business or a successful career in ecommerce takes more than just creating a beautiful website and a sought-after product list. It also involves understanding online consumer behavior, implementing the right digital marketing strategies, optimizing user experience, developing good communication skills, increasing conversion rates, and many more.

A well-structured ecommerce program can help you learn the tried-and-tested strategies that can help increase sales and drive business growth.

Hands-on experience

When mastering the intricacies of marketing and ecommerce, practical knowledge trumps theoretical knowledge every single time.

The good news is most ecommerce programs provide students with hands-on activities, simulations, and case studies that allow them to put their knowledge into practice without the risks and costs you’ll have to deal with when you do it on your own.

Stronger business connections

Most business programs provide students with mixers, webinars, online forums, and platforms that allow them to connect and even collaborate with other business professionals and seek mentorship from industry experts.

Better career opportunities

Since most multinational companies have already started marketing online goods and services, the demand for professionals with in-depth digital marketing knowledge has significantly increased, so getting this degree can give you plenty of opportunities in ecommerce.

What are the drawbacks of studying an ecommerce degree program?

But of course, this program is not just all rainbows and butterflies. It also comes with a few drawbacks to be familiar with if you want to make the right decision. Here they are:

Limited Scope

While a degree can provide you with specialized knowledge in the ecommerce world, its narrow focus can restrict your career prospects if you decide to transition to more traditional business roles.

Because of this, you should pursue this program only if you’ve fully decided to go deeper into the ecommerce industry. 

Time and Labor-intensive

The requirements and activities involved in this program will certainly take a significant amount of time and effort. When not balanced well with your other responsibilities, it may lead to stress and burnout. 

Significant Financial Investment

Considering the high tuition fees and additional costs for books, materials, and other miscellaneous fees, earning a business degree is expensive.

Considerations before applying for a degree in ecommerce

To determine if a degree in ecommerce is worth it, you need to ensure that it aligns with your career goals and long-term plans, and you can do that by considering the following factors:

Program Content

Review the degree’s curriculum to see if the content aligns with the field of ecommerce you wish to specialize in. But, of course, it's also important for the course to cover basic topics like user experience, online retail management, digital marketing, and many more. 

Schedule and Format

These days, business programs are available in three different formats: in-person, online, or hybrid. You can also choose from three types of schedules: full-time, part-time, or self-paced.

Consider your current work demands and personal responsibilities so you can choose a schedule and format that fits your lifestyle.

Financial Considerations

Before deciding to make the big step, ensure you can cover the program's high costs. But more than that, you should also consider the program's ROI by evaluating the career prospects and earning potential that can open up after you finish the program.

Conclusion - Is a Degree In Ecommerce Worth It?

Considering its pros and cons, we can say that a degree in ecommerce is not for everyone. However, it’s a worthy undertaking if you are:

• an aspiring business entrepreneur planning to build an online startup

• a business owner who wants to add ecommerce to your existing venture or explore international trade

• a business professional aspiring to switch or specialize in ecommerce

• a businessman who loves and enjoys working with technology

• an ecommerce owner who wishes to improve their website's user experience

For these individuals, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. And here’s some good news: Nexford University offers an online MBA program that will provide you with all the program’s benefits with little to no drawbacks.

These online courses are DEAC accredited and come from a highly reputable US-based University, so they can equip you with the high-quality business and marketing knowledge you need to increase your business's online presence or stand out in the digital marketing field.

The best part is you can enjoy all these perks without having to deal with the high costs (lower tuition fees and no extra expenses for fares and allowances) and struggle with your schedule (self-paced and online, so you can access it whenever and wherever you want).

FAQs - About How To Decide If It’s Right For You 

What can you do with a master's in ecommerce?

Qualify for higher-paying positions and leadership and management roles with an MBA in Ecommerce. With this degree, you can transition from upper management to executive management roles.

Here are some of the jobs you can apply for when you have this master's degree in business administration:

• Product Manager

• Project Manager

• Community Manager

• Director of eCommerce

• eCommerce Consultant

• Operations Manager

• Marketing Manager

• eCommerce Manager 

Is a master's in ecommerce worth it?

Good academic standing is an important requirement for building a lucrative career in the ecommerce industry, so having a master's in ecommerce is worth it if you're a business professional wanting to advance your career or, get a promotion or land higher roles.

Since a formal degree is not always required for managing an online business, it may not be a worthy undertaking if you're a startup business owner unless you plan to enter the global market or grow your business exponentially anytime soon.

However, it’s important to take note that a master’s degree is much more expensive and time-consuming as compared to a bachelor’s degree. With that said, you may want to check out Nexford University’s online MBA program.

Since it's online, you can access it at home, saving additional expenses from taking an on-campus program. Not only that, but it's also self-paced, so you can take it at your own pace at whatever time is most convenient for you, making it easier for you to find the right balance between your school and work.