Best institutions to study General Sales
Compare 241 U.S. colleges offering General Sales by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 40 states.
General Sales programs report a median of $55,734 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 30 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | 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 | Bellevue University Bellevue, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,543 | 4 | 33% | $29,230 | $24,810 |
| 3 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,092 | 45 | 52% | — | $20,750 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,372 | 292 | 84% | — | $22,000 |
| 5 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,639 | 5 | 57% | $10,199 | $45,429 |
| 6 | Ball State University Muncie, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,184 | 14 | 62% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Certificate degree | $64,382 | 100 | 75% | — | $20,500 |
| 8 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,580 | 108 | 83% | — | $19,402 |
| 9 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,698 | 18 | 37% | — | $24,711 |
| 10 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,773 | 26 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 11 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg, OR Public · Certificate degree | $58,591 | 147 | 31% | — | $8,237 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,760 | 328 | 90% | — | $21,630 |
| 13 | Weber State University Ogden, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,451 | 198 | 46% | — | $18,500 |
| 14 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH Public · Certificate degree | $57,169 | 29 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 15 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Certificate degree | $55,734 | 39 | 64% | — | $25,222 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,213 | 24 | 46% | — | $23,500 |
| 17 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,684 | 96 | 63% | — | $18,750 |
| 18 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,066 | 81 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 19 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,605 | 30 | 52% | — | $27,500 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,501 | 2 | 55% | — | $26,000 |
| 21 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,947 | 29 | 70% | $28,133 | $24,587 |
| 22 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,052 | 152 | 79% | — | $24,979 |
| 23 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,897 | 540 | 72% | — | $9,850 |
| 24 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN Public · Associate degree | $39,563 | 26 | 47% | — | $17,500 |
| 25 | Wade College Dallas, TX Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,406 | 9 | 54% | $25,989 | $29,180 |
| 26 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC Public · Associate degree | $28,150 | 44 | 18% | — | $16,361 |
| 27 | Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC Public · Associate degree | $27,524 | 106 | 21% | — | $13,953 |
| 28 | Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,760 | 3 | 21% | — | $31,000 |
| 29 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA Public · Certificate degree | $26,283 | 124 | 32% | — | $15,412 |
| 30 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $16,682 | 49 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
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.
Concentrations within General Sales
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, GeneralCIP 52.1801
A program that focuses on the general process and techniques of direct wholesale and retail buying and selling operations and introduces individuals to related careers
- Merchandising and Buying OperationsCIP 52.1802
A program that prepares individuals to function as professional buyers of resale products and product lines for stores, chains, and other retail enterprises
- Retailing and Retail OperationsCIP 52.1803
A program that prepares individuals to perform operations associated with retail sales in a variety of settings
- Selling Skills and Sales OperationsCIP 52.1804
A program that prepares individuals to possess the skills associated with direct promotion of products and services to potential customers and to function as independent sales representatives and mana
- ReservedCIP 52.1880
Reserved for use by Statistics Canada
- General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, OtherCIP 52.1899
Any instructional program in merchandising, sales, and related marketing operations not listed above.
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 of $55,734 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); 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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