Best institutions to study Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management
A program that focuses on product and service promotion from the perspective of individual and family consumers and that prepares individuals to function as consumer management and marketing consultants in for-profit and non-profit enterprises.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 107 Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 19.0203, a specialization of Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services (CIP 19.02), and leads most directly to the Sales Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-2022).
About Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management programs
A program that focuses on product and service promotion from the perspective of individual and family consumers and that prepares individuals to function as consumer management and marketing consultants in for-profit and non-profit enterprises. Includes instruction in applied market research, consumer behavior, product sourcing and distribution, profitability, customer feedback and evaluation methods, promotion and retailing campaign development, and applications to specific domestic and international consumer markets.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management program focuses on promoting products and services from the perspective of individual and family consumers. It prepares students to work as consumer management and marketing consultants in both for-profit and non-profit enterprises. This program is ideal for those interested in understanding consumer behavior and enhancing retail strategies.
Students will gain knowledge in applied market research, consumer behavior, product sourcing, distribution, and retailing campaign development. Core skills include speaking, critical thinking, and active listening, which are essential for effective communication and problem-solving in the field.
Credentials awarded
What Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree59 graduates / yr · 5 institutions55%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year31 graduates / yr · 2 institutions29%
- Master's degree15 graduates / yr · 3 institutions14%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.9%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.9%
Graduates over time
Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 253 |
| 2013 | 188 |
| 2014 | 187 |
| 2015 | 240 |
| 2016 | 211 |
| 2017 | 187 |
| 2018 | 232 |
| 2019 | 227 |
| 2020 | 172 |
| 2021 | 171 |
| 2022 | 141 |
| 2023 | 110 |
| 2024 | 109 |
| 2025 | 107 |
Top 11 institutions for Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 26 | 60% | — | $58,733 |
| 2 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor's | 26 | 70% | — | $37,913 |
| 3 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor's | 21 | 83% | — | $40,999 |
| 4 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 84% | $28,851 | $55,192 |
| 5 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 7 | 65% | — | $40,949 |
| 6 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 68% | — | — |
| 7 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 5 | 68% | — | — |
| 8 | Canisius University Buffalo, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 66% | $17,353 | — |
| 9 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TXPublicBachelor's | 2 | 53% | — | — |
| 10 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 34% | $40,294 | — |
| 11 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 29% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services field (CIP 19.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1 | 26 | Alexandria Technical & Community College26 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 26 | Oregon State University26 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 21 | Purdue University - Main Campus21 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 13 | Syracuse University9 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 9 | University of Houston7 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 5 | University of Arizona5 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 5 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus5 / yr |
| California | 1 | 1 | Academy of Art University1 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Salt Lake Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-2022, Sales Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Sales Managers, Market Research Analysts, and Marketing Managers. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 4.7% and approximately 49,000 annual openings. The median wage for related occupations is around $138,060, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 19.0203
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sales Managersprimary SOC 11-2022 | $148,270 | +4.7% About as fast as average | ~49,000 | Bachelor's degree |
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers SOC 41-1011 | $48,520 | -5.0% Decline | ~125,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists SOC 13-1161 | $78,760 | +6.7% Faster than average | ~87,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Marketing Managers SOC 11-2021 | $166,790 | +6.6% Faster than average | ~34,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Farm and Home Management Educators SOC 25-9021 | $60,220 | -2.5% Decline | ~1,100 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
Tools and technology used
Other Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services (CIP 19.02).
- Business Family and Consumer Sciences/CIP 19.0201
Human Sciences partial data388 graduates / yr5 institutions - Family and Consumer Sciences/CIP 19.0202
Human Sciences Communication limited data5 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Family and Consumer Sciences/
Human Sciences Business Services19.0299
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services programs →
Common questions
What degree do I earn from this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, among other awards.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in sales, marketing, critical thinking, and customer service.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Sales Manager, Market Research Analyst, or Marketing Manager.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.7%.
What is the CIP code for Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management?+
Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management is CIP 19.0203 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services (CIP 19.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on product and service promotion from the perspective of individual and family consumers and that prepares individuals to function as consumer management and marketing consultants in for-profit and non-profit enterprises. Includes instruction in applied market research, consumer behavior, product sourcing and distribution, profitability, customer feedback and evaluation methods, promotion and retailing campaign development, and applications to specific domestic and international consumer markets.
How many institutions offer Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 107 credentials in the year. That is 21.4% of all Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services graduates.
How much do Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Sales Managers occupation, which Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $148,270 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services field report median earnings of $40,999 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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