Is a digital marketing course or a community college certificate better?
It depends on what you need. A community college certificate is better if you want college credit, a path toward an associate degree, or the lowest price as an in-state student. 20 Minute Marketing is better if you want to start today with no terms or intake dates and learn current platform skills in lessons of about 20 minutes: self paced online, paid once from $499 (Essentials) to $999 (Expert), short courses from $79, 12 months access, tutor support, a 30 day money-back guarantee and a Certificate of Completion. Start with Essentials or find the right course for you.
Is community college cheaper than 20 Minute Marketing?
It can be. A California resident pays $775 in enrollment fees for Foothill College's online Digital Marketing Certificate of Achievement (25 units at $31) and $828 for Cañada College's Digital Marketing Certificate of Achievement (18 units at $46). In-district tuition for similar certificates at Maricopa in Arizona ($1,649 to $1,746) and Dallas College in Texas ($1,782) costs more than our Expert course, and distance learning, out-of-state and nonresident rates at these colleges run from $4,301 to $7,100. Our courses cost $79 to $999, paid once, wherever you live.
Is this course accredited?
No, and that's a deliberate choice. 20 Minute Marketing is not an accredited institution. Our courses are not accredited by any accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education, they do not carry college credit, and they have not been evaluated for an ACE credit recommendation.
Accreditation adds cost, and that cost would put practical digital marketing education out of reach for many people, especially people starting out. It is also slow: an accredited program changes its curriculum through formal review, while Google, Meta and the AI tools change every few months. We update our lessons when the platforms change.
If you need college credit or a degree, a community college or university program is the right choice. If you want current, practical skills, a portfolio you can show an employer or client, and a Certificate of Completion, you're in the right place. Many learners also collect free certificates from Google and HubSpot alongside our courses.
Can I use federal student aid for 20 Minute Marketing?
No. Federal student aid, such as Pell Grants and federal student loans, can only be used for an eligible degree or certificate program. Our courses are not one, so federal aid cannot be used for them. If you want to use federal aid at a community college, ask the college's financial aid office whether the certificate you want is eligible.
Can I do a community college certificate and 20 Minute Marketing together?
Yes. Some learners take a college certificate for the credit and one of our short courses for extra hands on practice on a single platform, such as Google Ads or SEO, with a portfolio brief at the end.
How fast can I finish?
Essentials has over 50 lessons of about 20 minutes, about 18 hours in total, so at three lessons a week it takes about four months, and faster if you have more time. You have 12 months access from the date of purchase. Scottsdale Community College says students generally complete the Maricopa Social Media Marketing certificate in nine months, and in as little as four.
