Best colleges for Specialized Sales
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Specialized Sales by graduate earnings are Northwood University ($64,100), Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia ($56,794) and Marist University ($47,137), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Northwood University (Midland, MI): $64,100, 43 graduates a year
- Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA): $56,794, 161 graduates a year
- Marist University (Poughkeepsie, NY): $47,137, 84 graduates a year
- Baylor University (Waco, TX): $43,414, 26 graduates a year
- Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX): $42,712, 59 graduates a year
Compare 128 U.S. colleges offering Specialized Sales by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 36 states.
Specialized Sales programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,306 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 52.19 and the Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Specialized Sales programs
The Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations program equips students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in various sales and marketing roles. This program is ideal for individuals interested in exploring specialized areas such as fashion merchandising, auctioneering, and tourism marketing, among others. Students will learn to navigate the complexities of consumer behavior and market dynamics.
In this program, students develop core skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and effective communication. Coursework covers essential topics such as sales and marketing strategies, customer service principles, and data collection methods, preparing graduates for a variety of roles in the business and marketing sectors.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwood University Midland, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,100 | 43 | 63% | $24,986 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,794 | 161 | 79% | $34,418 | $26,500 |
| 3 | Marist University Poughkeepsie, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,137 | 84 | 80% | $33,867 | $25,000 |
| 4 | Baylor University Waco, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,414 | 26 | 80% | $35,682 | $23,115 |
| 5 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,712 | 59 | 86% | $25,823 | $19,500 |
| 6 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,407 | 25 | 69% | $26,034 | $26,750 |
| 7 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,787 | 72 | 61% | — | $23,250 |
| 8 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,643 | 76 | 90% | — | $25,500 |
| 9 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,625 | 192 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | LIM College New York, NY Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,708 | 105 | 51% | $37,014 | $27,000 |
| 11 | Berkeley College - New York New York, NY Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,740 | 24 | 44% | $29,326 | $37,500 |
| 12 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,040 | 82 | 55% | — | $24,156 |
| 13 | Immaculata University Immaculata, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $47,289 | 4 | 71% | $26,941 | $27,000 |
| 14 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,695 | 17 | 47% | — | $26,750 |
| 15 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,823 | 6 | 62% | $24,653 | $22,000 |
| 16 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $41,181 | 62 | 43% | $34,565 | $31,149 |
| 17 | Mount Mary University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,038 | 4 | 43% | $18,836 | $25,000 |
| 18 | Lasell University Newton, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,438 | 17 | 59% | $23,724 | $27,000 |
| 19 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,787 | 1 | 70% | $19,552 | $26,000 |
| 20 | Berkeley College - Woodland Park Woodland Park, NJ Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,748 | 10 | 44% | $23,170 | $32,075 |
| 21 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,686 | 1 | 69% | — | $22,317 |
| 22 | Fisher College Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,306 | 6 | 28% | $26,273 | $27,875 |
| 23 | Ball State University Muncie, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,904 | 16 | 62% | — | $25,583 |
| 24 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,299 | 10 | 49% | — | $23,108 |
| 25 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,422 | 15 | 54% | — | $24,625 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NY Public · Associate degree | $23,778 | 1,099 | 81% | — | $12,000 |
| 2 | The New School New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $41,562 | 17 | 69% | $54,185 | — |
Specializations within Specialized Sales
10 of the 11 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 52.19 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Fashion MerchandisingCIP 52.19022,552 graduates / yr84 institutions30 states
- Special Products Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1909partial data204 graduates / yr8 institutions6 states
- Specialized Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1999partial data195 graduates / yr5 institutions5 states
- Tourism and Travel Services Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1905141 graduates / yr15 institutions7 states
- Apparel and Accessories Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1904partial data74 graduates / yr8 institutions7 states
- Hospitality and Recreation Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1910partial data56 graduates / yr8 institutions6 states
- Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1907partial data46 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
- Business and Personal/CIP 52.1908
Financial Services Marketing Operations partial data33 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states - AuctioneeringCIP 52.1901limited data17 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states
- Tourism Promotion OperationsCIP 52.1906partial data16 graduates / yr4 institutions3 states
Show all 11 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Fashion Modeling52.1903
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 36 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 13-1161, Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Specialized Sales program can pursue careers in diverse fields, with a job outlook projected to grow by 6.7% and approximately 87,200 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is around $76,950, and a typical education requirement is a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Specialized Sales
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 52.19.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 52.19 (Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations) maps to 12 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-2021 | Marketing Managers |
| 13-1022 | Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products |
| 13-1161 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialistsprimary |
| 27-1026 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers |
| 41-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers |
| 41-1012 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers |
| 41-2022 | Parts Salespersons |
| 41-3031 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents |
| 41-3041 | Travel Agents |
| 41-4012 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products |
| 41-9012 | Models |
| 41-9099 | Sales and Related Workers, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Specialized 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
- Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
- Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
- Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
- Measure and assess customer and employee satisfaction.
- Devise and evaluate methods and procedures for collecting data, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires, or arrange to obtain existing data.
- Measure the effectiveness of marketing, advertising, and communications programs and strategies.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
The program offers specializations in areas such as Auctioneering, Fashion Merchandising, and Tourism Promotion Operations.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
Students will gain skills in critical thinking, writing, data analysis, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is expected to grow by 6.7%, with around 87,200 annual job openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in this field.
How much do Specialized Sales graduates earn?+
Specialized Sales graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,306, College Scorecard (2019); the Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists occupation pays about $89,490 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Specialized Sales?+
Specialized Sales maps to CIP 52.19 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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