Best institutions to study Merchandising and Buying Operations
A program that prepares individuals to function as professional buyers of resale products and product lines for stores, chains, and other retail enterprises.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 50 Merchandising and Buying Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1802, a specialization of General Sales (CIP 52.18).
About Merchandising and Buying Operations programs
A program that prepares individuals to function as professional buyers of resale products and product lines for stores, chains, and other retail enterprises. Includes instruction in product evaluation, merchandising, applicable aspects of brand and consumer research, principles of purchasing, and negotiation skills.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Merchandising and Buying Operations program prepares individuals to become professional buyers for retail enterprises, including stores and chains. This program focuses on equipping students with the necessary skills to evaluate products, understand merchandising strategies, and conduct brand and consumer research. It is ideal for those looking to enter the dynamic field of retail management and purchasing.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in product evaluation, principles of purchasing, negotiation skills, and merchandising techniques. Coursework is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the retail buying process and the factors influencing consumer behavior.
Credentials awarded
What Merchandising and Buying Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of less than 12 weeks38 graduates / yr · 1 institution76%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year11 graduates / yr · 1 institution22%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.0%
Graduates over time
Merchandising and Buying Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 73 |
| 2013 | 42 |
| 2014 | 68 |
| 2015 | 71 |
| 2016 | 73 |
| 2017 | 62 |
| 2018 | 66 |
| 2019 | 52 |
| 2020 | 55 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2022 | 42 |
| 2023 | 134 |
| 2024 | 57 |
| 2025 | 50 |
Top 2 institutions for Merchandising and Buying 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MIPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 49 | 33% | — |
| 2 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZPublicAssociate's | 1 | 16% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Merchandising and Buying Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all General Sales programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 1 | 49 | Washtenaw Community College49 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 1 | Mesa Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
Graduates of the Merchandising and Buying Operations program can pursue careers as Wholesale and Retail Buyers, except for farm products. With approximately 50 graduates per year in the U.S. and two colleges offering this program, it provides a solid foundation for entering the retail industry.
Career pathways for CIP 52.1802
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products SOC 13-1022 | — | — | — | — |
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
- General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1899229 graduates / yr12 institutions
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Award of less than 12 weeks, an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an Associate's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are two colleges offering the Merchandising and Buying Operations program in the U.S.
What is the primary occupation for graduates?+
Graduates typically work as Wholesale and Retail Buyers, except for farm products.
How many graduates complete this program each year?+
Approximately 50 graduates complete this program each year in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Merchandising and Buying Operations?+
Merchandising and Buying Operations is CIP 52.1802 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within General Sales (CIP 52.18). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to function as professional buyers of resale products and product lines for stores, chains, and other retail enterprises. Includes instruction in product evaluation, merchandising, applicable aspects of brand and consumer research, principles of purchasing, and negotiation skills.
How many institutions offer Merchandising and Buying Operations programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Merchandising and Buying Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 50 credentials in the year. That is 0.8% of all General Sales graduates.
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card