Best institutions to study General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations
Any instructional program in merchandising, sales, and related marketing operations not listed above.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 229 General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1899, a specialization of General Sales (CIP 52.18), and leads most directly to the First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers occupation (BLS SOC 41-1011).
About General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations programs
Any instructional program in merchandising, sales, and related marketing operations not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The General Merchandising program, officially titled General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other, is designed for students interested in the business, management, and marketing sectors. This program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary for effective sales and merchandising in various retail environments.
Students in this program will develop core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and customer service. Coursework often covers essential knowledge areas such as sales and marketing, administration and management, and customer service techniques.
Credentials awarded
What General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year136 graduates / yr · 5 institutions59%
- Bachelor's degree59 graduates / yr · 5 institutions26%
- Award of less than 12 weeks27 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
- Associate's degree7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.1%
Graduates over time
General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 425 |
| 2013 | 410 |
| 2014 | 365 |
| 2015 | 376 |
| 2016 | 365 |
| 2017 | 313 |
| 2018 | 272 |
| 2019 | 303 |
| 2020 | 228 |
| 2021 | 233 |
| 2022 | 187 |
| 2023 | 208 |
| 2024 | 217 |
| 2025 | 229 |
Top 12 institutions for General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, 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 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 100 | 75% | — | $64,382 |
| 2 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 44 | 53% | — | $16,682 |
| 3 | Sullivan University Louisville, KYPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 27 | 71% | $29,703 | — |
| 4 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 56% | — | — |
| 5 | Wade College Dallas, TXPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 9 | 54% | $25,989 | $35,406 |
| 6 | Virginia Union University Richmond, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 34% | $21,249 | — |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 59% | — | — |
| 8 | Lincoln University Jefferson City, MOPublicBachelor's | 3 | 21% | — | $26,760 |
| 9 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 45% | — | — |
| 10 | Vincennes University Vincennes, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 39% | — | — |
| 11 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Ponce Mercedita, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 2 | 41% | $9,980 | — |
| 12 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader General Sales field (CIP 52.18) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states & territories
Where General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all General Sales programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 2 | 103 | University of Missouri - Columbia100 / yr |
| Kentucky | 2 | 52 | Sullivan University27 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 44 | Georgia State University44 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 9 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 9 | Wade College9 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 7 | Virginia Union University7 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 2 | Vincennes University2 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 2 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Ponce2 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Brigham Young University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 41-1011, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the General Merchandising program can pursue careers as First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, among other roles. The job outlook indicates a decline of 5% in this field, with approximately 125,100 annual openings and a median wage of $47,320. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.1899
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workersprimary SOC 41-1011 | $48,520 | -5.0% Decline | ~125,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products SOC 41-4012 | $72,080 | +0.3% Little or no change | ~114,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers SOC 41-1012 | $87,520 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~24,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products SOC 13-1022 | — | — | — | — |
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products SOC 13-1023 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations 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
- Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
- Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
- Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
- Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
- Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
- Assign employees to specific duties.
Tools and technology used
Other General Sales specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under General Sales (CIP 52.18).
- Sales, Distribution, and Marketing OperationsCIP 52.18013,572 graduates / yr138 institutions
- Selling Skills and Sales OperationsCIP 52.18041,847 graduates / yr85 institutions
- Retailing and Retail OperationsCIP 52.1803960 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Merchandising and Buying OperationsCIP 52.1802limited data50 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What types of degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, a Bachelor's degree, an Award of less than 12 weeks, or an Associate's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 12 colleges in the U.S. offering the General Merchandising program.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, customer service, and effective communication.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Career opportunities include roles like First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers and Sales Representatives, with a typical requirement of a high school diploma.
What is the CIP code for General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations?+
General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations is CIP 52.1899 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within General Sales (CIP 52.18). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in merchandising, sales, and related marketing operations not listed above.
How many institutions offer General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states & territories, awarding 229 credentials in the year. That is 3.4% of all General Sales graduates.
How much do General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers occupation, which General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations most directly leads to, pays a median of $48,520 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader General Sales field report median earnings of $35,406 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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