Best institutions to study Selling Skills and Sales Operations
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 managers.
85 U.S. institutions graduated 1,847 Selling Skills and Sales Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1804, a specialization of General Sales (CIP 52.18), and leads most directly to the Parts Salespersons occupation (BLS SOC 41-2022).
About Selling Skills and Sales Operations programs
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 managers. Includes instruction in consumer psychology, image projection, public speaking and interpersonal communications, sales organization and operations, customer relations, professional standards and ethics, and applicable technical skills.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Selling Skills and Sales Operations program prepares individuals for careers in the dynamic field of sales. This program is ideal for those looking to develop the skills necessary for promoting products and services directly to customers, as well as managing sales operations effectively.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in areas such as consumer psychology, public speaking, interpersonal communications, and customer relations. Coursework also covers professional standards, ethics, and applicable technical skills necessary for success in sales.
Credentials awarded
What Selling Skills and Sales Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,133 graduates / yr · 47 institutions61%
- Bachelor's degree444 graduates / yr · 28 institutions24%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate119 graduates / yr · 3 institutions6.4%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years71 graduates / yr · 9 institutions3.8%
- Associate's degree65 graduates / yr · 11 institutions3.5%
- Award of less than 12 weeks12 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.6%
- Master's degree3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Selling Skills and Sales Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 722 |
| 2013 | 676 |
| 2014 | 681 |
| 2015 | 922 |
| 2016 | 988 |
| 2017 | 979 |
| 2018 | 965 |
| 2019 | 974 |
| 2020 | 887 |
| 2021 | 1,106 |
| 2022 | 968 |
| 2023 | 1,205 |
| 2024 | 1,501 |
| 2025 | 1,847 |
Top 50 institutions for Selling Skills and Sales 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 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 136 | 71% | — | — |
| 2 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicBachelor's | 134 | 46% | — | $57,451 |
| 3 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 122 | 71% | — | — |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicPost-degree cert. | 110 | 75% | — | — |
| 5 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor's | 108 | 83% | — | $62,580 |
| 6 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 96 | 63% | — | $52,684 |
| 7 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 68 | 68% | — | — |
| 8 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 66 | 50% | — | — |
| 9 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 56 | 36% | — | — |
| 10 | Utah Valley University Orem, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 53 | 45% | — | — |
| 11 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 48 | 80% | — | — |
| 12 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 46 | 60% | — | — |
| 13 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 40 | 65% | — | — |
| 14 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 39 | 64% | — | $55,734 |
| 15 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 35 | 38% | — | — |
| 16 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 66% | $24,175 | — |
| 17 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 33 | 37% | — | — |
| 18 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 30 | 58% | — | — |
| 19 | Northeast State Community College Blountville, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 30 | 33% | — | — |
| 20 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 54% | — | — |
| 21 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 64% | — | $57,169 |
| 22 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 28 | 37% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 27 | 61% | — | — |
| 24 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MNPublicBachelor's | 27 | 65% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 24 | 64% | — | — |
| 26 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 20 | 44% | — | — |
| 27 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 51% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 37% | — | $59,698 |
| 29 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 30 | Danville Area Community College Danville, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 17 | 45% | — | — |
| 31 | Ensign College Salt Lake City, UTPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 43% | $11,149 | — |
| 32 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 33% | — | — |
| 33 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicBachelor's | 14 | 62% | — | $65,184 |
| 34 | Clark College Vancouver, WAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 14 | 39% | — | — |
| 35 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 51% | — | — |
| 36 | Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 12 | 26% | — | — |
| 37 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 39% | — | — |
| 38 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 12 | 52% | — | $49,605 |
| 39 | Miami University - Hamilton Hamilton, OHPublicBachelor's | 12 | 25% | — | — |
| 40 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 21% | — | — |
| 41 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 37% | — | — |
| 42 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 35% | — | — |
| 43 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 34% | — | — |
| 44 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 61% | — | — |
| 45 | Adrian College Adrian, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 48% | $20,357 | — |
| 46 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, COPublicBachelor's | 7 | 32% | — | — |
| 47 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 54% | — | — |
| 48 | Miami University - Middletown Middletown, OHPublicBachelor's | 7 | 32% | — | — |
| 49 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 59% | — | — |
| 50 | Bentley University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 87% | $31,677 | — |
* 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 28 states
Where Selling Skills and Sales Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all General Sales programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 41-2022, Parts Salespersons, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Selling Skills and Sales Operations program can pursue various careers, including roles as Parts Salespersons and First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers. The job outlook for these positions is about as fast as average, with an estimated 30,200 annual openings and a median wage of $37,440, typically requiring no formal educational credential.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.1804
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Parts Salespersonsprimary SOC 41-2022 | $38,630 | +3.1% About as fast as average | ~30,200 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 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 Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products SOC 41-4011 | $104,920 | +1.9% Little or no change | ~27,200 | Bachelor's degree |
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 |
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 |
Advertising Sales Agents SOC 41-3011 | $64,820 | -6.4% Decline | ~9,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Travel Agents SOC 41-3041 | $50,160 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~7,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
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 Selling Skills and Sales 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
- 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.
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
- Retailing and Retail OperationsCIP 52.1803960 graduates / yr22 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 types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, a Bachelor's degree, a Postbaccalaureate certificate, or an Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, speaking, critical thinking, and customer service.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with approximately 30,200 annual openings.
What types of jobs can I get after completing this program?+
You can work as a Parts Salesperson, First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers, or in various sales representative roles.
What is the CIP code for Selling Skills and Sales Operations?+
Selling Skills and Sales Operations is CIP 52.1804 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 possess the skills associated with direct promotion of products and services to potential customers and to function as independent sales representatives and managers. Includes instruction in consumer psychology, image projection, public speaking and interpersonal communications, sales organization and operations, customer relations, professional standards and ethics, and applicable technical skills.
How many institutions offer Selling Skills and Sales Operations programs?+
85 U.S. institutions reported Selling Skills and Sales Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states, awarding 1,847 credentials in the year. That is 27.7% of all General Sales graduates.
How much do Selling Skills and Sales Operations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Parts Salespersons occupation, which Selling Skills and Sales Operations most directly leads to, pays a median of $38,630 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader General Sales field report median earnings of $57,760 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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