Best colleges for General Sales
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for General Sales by graduate earnings are Baylor University ($84,271), Kennesaw State University ($72,092) and Texas A&M University - College Station ($66,372), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Baylor University (Waco, TX): $84,271, 36 graduates a year
- Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA): $72,092, 45 graduates a year
- Texas A&M University - College Station (College Station, TX): $66,372, 292 graduates a year
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN): $62,580, 108 graduates a year
- Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH): $58,773, 26 graduates a year
Compare 241 U.S. colleges offering General Sales by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 40 states.
General Sales programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,734 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 52.18 and the Parts Salespersons occupation (BLS SOC).
About General Sales programs
The General Sales program, officially titled General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations, focuses on equipping students with essential skills in sales and marketing within the business sector. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing a career in sales, distribution, and merchandising, providing a foundation for various roles in the industry.
Students in this program will develop core skills such as active listening, speaking, and critical thinking. Coursework covers essential knowledge areas, including customer service, sales and marketing strategies, and inventory management, preparing graduates for effective roles in sales operations.
Top 22 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baylor University Waco, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,271 | 36 | 80% | $35,682 | $20,500 |
| 2 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,092 | 45 | 52% | — | $20,750 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,372 | 292 | 84% | — | $22,000 |
| 4 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,580 | 108 | 83% | — | $19,402 |
| 5 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,773 | 26 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,760 | 328 | 90% | — | $21,630 |
| 7 | Weber State University Ogden, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,451 | 198 | 46% | — | $18,500 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,213 | 24 | 46% | — | $23,500 |
| 9 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,684 | 96 | 63% | — | $18,750 |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,066 | 81 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 11 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,605 | 30 | 52% | — | $27,500 |
| 12 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,947 | 29 | 70% | $28,133 | $24,587 |
| 13 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,052 | 152 | 79% | — | $24,979 |
| 14 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,897 | 540 | 72% | — | $9,850 |
| 15 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $16,682 | 49 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
| 16 | Bellevue University Bellevue, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $75,543 | 4 | 33% | $29,230 | $24,810 |
| 17 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $65,639 | 5 | 57% | $10,199 | $45,429 |
| 18 | Ball State University Muncie, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $65,184 | 14 | 62% | — | $26,000 |
| 19 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $59,698 | 18 | 37% | — | $24,711 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,501 | 2 | 55% | — | $26,000 |
| 21 | Wade College Dallas, TX Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,406 | 9 | 54% | $25,989 | $29,180 |
| 22 | Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $26,760 | 3 | 21% | — | $31,000 |
Top 8 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Certificate | $64,382 | 100 | 75% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg, OR Public · Certificate | $58,591 | 147 | 31% | — | $8,237 |
| 3 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH Public · Certificate | $57,169 | 29 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | North Dakota State University Fargo, ND Public · Certificate | $55,734 | 39 | 64% | — | $25,222 |
| 5 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN Public · Associate degree | $39,563 | 26 | 47% | — | $17,500 |
| 6 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA Public · Certificate | $26,283 | 124 | 32% | — | $15,412 |
| 7 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC Public · Associate degree | $28,150 | 44 | 18% | — | $16,361 |
| 8 | Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC Public · Associate degree | $27,524 | 106 | 21% | — | $13,953 |
Specializations within General Sales
5 of the 5 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 52.18 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Sales, Distribution, and Marketing OperationsCIP 52.18013,572 graduates / yr138 institutions27 states
- Selling Skills and Sales OperationsCIP 52.18041,847 graduates / yr85 institutions28 states
- Retailing and Retail OperationsCIP 52.1803960 graduates / yr22 institutions16 states
- General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1899229 graduates / yr12 institutions9 states
- Merchandising and Buying OperationsCIP 52.1802limited data50 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
Offered across 40 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 41-2022, Parts Salespersons, and its national outlook.
The career outlook for graduates in General Sales is promising, with an expected growth rate of 3.1% and approximately 30,200 annual job openings. The median wage for positions in this field is around $37,440, and many roles do not require formal educational credentials, making it accessible for a wide range of candidates.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for General Sales
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 52.18.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 52.18 (General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations) maps to 13 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 13-1022 | Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products |
| 13-1023 | Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products |
| 25-1011 | Business Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 41-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers |
| 41-1012 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers |
| 41-2022 | Parts Salespersonsprimary |
| 41-3011 | Advertising Sales Agents |
| 41-3041 | Travel Agents |
| 41-3091 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel |
| 41-4011 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products |
| 41-4012 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products |
| 41-9011 | Demonstrators and Product Promoters |
| 41-9099 | Sales and Related Workers, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in General Sales programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.
- Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts.
- Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock.
- Receive and fill telephone orders for parts.
- Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock.
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, Merchandising and Buying Operations, Retailing and Retail Operations, and Selling Skills and Sales Operations.
What skills will I develop in the General Sales program?+
You will develop skills such as active listening, speaking, critical thinking, and mathematics, which are essential for success in sales.
What is the job outlook for graduates of this program?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.1% and around 30,200 annual openings.
Is formal education required to enter this field?+
Typically, no formal educational credential is required for entry-level positions in this field.
How much do General Sales graduates earn?+
General Sales graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,734, College Scorecard (2019); the Parts Salespersons occupation pays about $43,830 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for General Sales?+
General Sales maps to CIP 52.18 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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