Quick Highlights
A social media certificate adds one specific skill to an existing degree. A bachelor’s degree, such as Arkansas State University’s online B.S. in Strategic Communication with Social Media Management Certification, builds the full entry-level foundation. A master’s degree, such as A-State’s online M.S. in Strategic Communication – Social Media Management, adds strategy and measurement skills on top of either of the first two. Which one fits depends on what you already hold.
Whether you already run a brand’s channels or are just starting in social media, the right credential depends on what you already hold. Social media credentials span three levels: a certificate, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. This guide compares the three side by side, with A-State’s own programs at each level.
Three Credentials, Matched to What You Already Hold
Which credential fits depends on one fact you can check today: whether you already hold a bachelor’s degree. A-State’s master’s program requires one. The certificate and the bachelor’s do not, and all three are available online to communications and marketing professionals in Arkansas, the Mid-South and beyond.
- Want a focused add-on in a few months, with or without a degree: A vendor certificate from Hootsuite, HubSpot, Meta or Google typically covers one platform or tool, while A-State’s online Certificate in Social Media Management program is 12 credits for $3,624 total and takes as few as 4 months in 7-week courses in the fall and winter and 5-week courses in the summer. It includes preparation for Google Ads and Hootsuite certifications, and with a 3.0 GPA or higher, its credits can count toward a bachelor’s degree at A-State.
- No degree or some college courses attended and want to start in social media: A bachelor’s degree builds the foundation. A-State’s online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Strategic Communication with Social Media Management Certification program is 120 credits at $302 per credit hour, accepts up to 90 transfer credits (so the total depends on how many transfer) and prepares students for Google Analytics and Hootsuite certifications.
- A bachelor’s degree already, want to move from manager toward strategist or director: A master’s degree adds depth on the channel and its measurement. A-State’s online Master of Science (M.S.) in Strategic Communications with an Emphasis in Social Media Management program is 30 credits for $10,500 with all fees included, and it can be finished in as few as 10 months in 7-week courses in fall and spring and 5-week courses in summer. Its emphasis courses are Integrated Marketing Communications, Social Media in Strategic Communication, Interactive Advertising and Social Media Measurement.
| Credential | Typical time | What it adds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor or university certificate | Varies by vendor; as few as 4 months for A-State’s certificate | One named, specific skill (a platform, a tool, a certification) | Someone who wants a narrow add-on, with or without a degree |
| Bachelor’s degree | 120 credits; up to 90 transfer credits accepted at A-State | A full degree foundation (42 of the 120 credits are major courses) | Someone with no degree yet, starting in the field |
| Master’s degree | As few as 10 months at A-State, in 7-week courses (5-week in summer) | Strategy and measurement coursework beyond entry-level execution | Someone with a bachelor’s already, aiming at a strategist or director track |
Each route has a limit to know before you apply. The certificate gives you one skill set and no bachelor’s degree, the bachelor’s takes the most credits and the master’s requires a bachelor’s degree on file. For a closer look at the undergraduate option, read A-State’s overview of what a bachelor’s in social media management covers.
What Employers and BLS Say About Entry Education
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for marketing managers, the closest government category to social media management. The 2025 BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for marketing managers adds that these roles generally require related work experience.
BLS does not profile social media managers separately, and the page does not mention social media or certificates, so treat it as the closest government category rather than a description of every social media job. How an employer weighs a certificate against a degree varies by role, so you should read the postings for your target jobs before choosing.
Vendor Certificates vs. A-State’s Own Certificate
Vendor certificates from Hootsuite, HubSpot, Meta and Google typically each cover one platform or tool. A-State’s Certificate in Social Media Management is a university credential rather than a single-platform certification: four undergraduate courses in Interactive Advertising, Strategic Visual Communication, Social Media in Strategic Communications and Social Media Measurement, with preparation for Google Ads and Hootsuite certifications built in.
The certificate requires a high school diploma or equivalent and a $30 application fee, not a bachelor’s degree. At 12 credits and $3,624 total ($302 per credit hour), it is the shortest and lowest-priced of A-State’s three social media credentials, and with a 3.0 GPA or higher, those credits can count toward a degree-seeking program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a social media certificate, a bachelor’s or a master’s degree?
It depends on what you already have. No degree points to a bachelor’s, or to A-State’s certificate, whose credits can count toward a degree. A bachelor’s degree already in hand calls for a certificate for a narrow skill add, or a master’s degree if the goal is a strategist or director role.
What education do employers expect for a social media manager role?
BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for marketing managers, the closest government category to social media management, and notes that these roles generally require related work experience. BLS does not address certificates, so employer expectations for them vary by role.
Does A-State offer a social media certification like Hootsuite?
Yes. Preparation for Hootsuite certification is part of A-State’s online B.S. in Strategic Communication with Social Media Management Certification program and its 12-credit online Certificate in Social Media Management program. The online M.S. in Strategic Communications – Social Media Management program page does not list it.
Is a master’s degree worth it if I already have a social media certificate?
It can be, if your next role centers on strategy and measurement, and only if you also hold a bachelor’s degree, since A-State’s online M.S. in Strategic Communications – Social Media Management program requires one. A certificate adds one platform skill; the master’s adds coursework in measurement, audience analysis and strategic communication management, and it does not promise a promotion or a salary increase.
How much faster is a certificate than a full degree?
A-State’s certificate takes as few as 4 months in 7-week courses, compared with as few as 10 months for the master’s degree (7-week courses in fall and spring, 5-week in summer). The bachelor’s is 120 credits, so its length depends on how many of up to 90 transfer credits you bring. The tradeoff is scope: a certificate covers one skill set, not the full foundation or the strategy coursework a degree covers.
I already have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field. Where should I start?
A-State’s online Certificate in Social Media Management program adds a focused skill set without repeating a full degree, and the online M.S. in Strategic Communications – Social Media Management program is the graduate option if you want strategy and measurement coursework.
Key Takeaways
- The right credential depends on what you already hold: the master’s requires a bachelor’s degree, and the certificate does not.
- BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for marketing managers, the closest government category, and does not address certificates.
- A certificate, from vendor or A-State, adds a focused skill set; A-State’s certificate can also count toward a degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- A master’s degree adds strategy and measurement coursework for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree, and it does not promise a promotion.
- Already hold a bachelor’s and deciding on a master’s? See Social Media Manager to Director: Which Master’s Should You Get?
The same idea runs through all three credentials: each adds something specific, and the right one depends on what you hold today and the role you want next. A certificate adds a skill set in as few as 4 months, a bachelor’s builds the foundation across 120 credits and a master’s adds strategy and measurement for people who already have a degree. If you hold a bachelor’s degree and want strategy-level coursework, the M.S. program page lists the courses, cost and admission requirements.
Already have a bachelor’s degree? Explore A-State’s online M.S. in Strategic Communications – Social Media Management program.