Best institutions to study Retailing and Retail Operations
A program that prepares individuals to perform operations associated with retail sales in a variety of settings.
22 U.S. institutions graduated 960 Retailing and Retail Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1803, 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 Retailing and Retail Operations programs
A program that prepares individuals to perform operations associated with retail sales in a variety of settings. Includes instruction in over-the-counter and other direct sales operations in business settings, basic bookkeeping principles, customer service, team/staff leadership and supervision, floor management, and applicable technical skills.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Retailing and Retail Operations program, with a focus on General Sales, prepares individuals for various roles in retail sales environments. This program is ideal for those interested in developing their skills in customer service, sales operations, and team management within the retail sector.
Students will gain essential skills in customer service, sales and marketing, and team leadership. Coursework includes training in direct sales operations, basic bookkeeping, and effective communication strategies to enhance customer interactions.
Credentials awarded
What Retailing and Retail Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree532 graduates / yr · 6 institutions55%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year253 graduates / yr · 7 institutions26%
- Associate's degree119 graduates / yr · 9 institutions12%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years41 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.3%
- Award of less than 12 weeks15 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.6%
Graduates over time
Retailing and Retail Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 839 |
| 2013 | 832 |
| 2014 | 831 |
| 2015 | 936 |
| 2016 | 872 |
| 2017 | 868 |
| 2018 | 1,027 |
| 2019 | 948 |
| 2020 | 934 |
| 2021 | 1,015 |
| 2022 | 921 |
| 2023 | 947 |
| 2024 | 984 |
| 2025 | 960 |
Top 22 institutions for Retailing and Retail 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 Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor's | 324 | 90% | — | $57,760 |
| 2 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicBachelor's | 152 | 79% | — | $45,052 |
| 3 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 147 | 31% | — | $58,591 |
| 4 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of less than 12 weeks | 124 | 32% | — | $26,283 |
| 5 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAssociate's | 64 | 46% | — | $57,451 |
| 6 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 30 | 85% | — | $51,066 |
| 7 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicBachelor's | 20 | 69% | — | — |
| 8 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 42% | — | — |
| 9 | CUNY Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NYPublicAssociate's | 13 | 28% | — | — |
| 10 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, ILPublicAssociate's | 10 | 40% | — | — |
| 11 | Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 53% | — | — |
| 12 | Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts Saint Louis, MOPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 9 | 14% | $20,095 | — |
| 13 | Suffolk County Community College Selden, NYPublicAssociate's | 9 | 29% | — | — |
| 14 | Black Hawk College Moline, ILPublicAssociate's | 7 | 40% | — | — |
| 15 | Clackamas Community College Oregon City, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 23% | — | — |
| 16 | Nashville State Community College Nashville, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 5 | 18% | — | — |
| 17 | American Public University System Charles Town, WVPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 57% | $10,199 | $65,639 |
| 18 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney, ILPublicAssociate's | 4 | 63% | — | — |
| 19 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NYPublicAssociate's | 4 | 23% | — | — |
| 20 | Colby Community College Colby, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 55% | — | — |
| 21 | Harcum College Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 1 | 44% | $27,244 | — |
| 22 | Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 48% | — | — |
* 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 16 states
Where Retailing and Retail Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all General Sales programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 1 | 324 | University of Wisconsin - Madison324 / yr |
| Oregon | 2 | 153 | Umpqua Community College147 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 152 | University of South Carolina - Columbia152 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 124 | Tacoma Community College124 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 64 | Weber State University64 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 30 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities30 / yr |
| New York | 3 | 26 | CUNY Kingsborough Community College13 / yr |
| Illinois | 3 | 21 | Moraine Valley Community College10 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 20 | Texas Tech University20 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 14 | Eastern Arizona College14 / yr |
| Kansas | 2 | 11 | Hutchinson Community College10 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 9 | Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts9 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 5 | Nashville State Community College5 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 5 | American Public University System5 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Harcum College1 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | Coastal Pines Technical College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 41-1011, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers and other related positions. The job outlook shows a decline of 5%, with approximately 125,100 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $47,320, typically requiring at least a high school diploma.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.1803
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 of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel SOC 41-3091 | $69,990 | +3.1% About as fast as average | ~123,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Sales and Related Workers, All Other SOC 41-9099 | $48,280 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~16,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Demonstrators and Product Promoters SOC 41-9011 | $39,320 | -0.1% Little or no change | ~14,000 | No formal educational credential |
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 Retailing and Retail 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
- General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1899229 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Merchandising and Buying OperationsCIP 52.1802limited data50 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, customer service, critical thinking, and team leadership.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers, among other sales-related roles.
What is the job outlook for retail positions?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 5%, but there are still about 125,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Retailing and Retail Operations?+
Retailing and Retail Operations is CIP 52.1803 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 perform operations associated with retail sales in a variety of settings. Includes instruction in over-the-counter and other direct sales operations in business settings, basic bookkeeping principles, customer service, team/staff leadership and supervision, floor management, and applicable technical skills.
How many institutions offer Retailing and Retail Operations programs?+
22 U.S. institutions reported Retailing and Retail Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 960 credentials in the year. That is 14.4% of all General Sales graduates.
How much do Retailing and Retail 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 Retailing and Retail 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 $57,451 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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