Best institutions to study Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations
A program that prepares individuals to perform operations connected with the distribution and sale of apparel and accessories.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 74 Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1904, a specialization of Specialized Sales (CIP 52.19), and leads most directly to the Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 13-1161).
About Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations programs
A program that prepares individuals to perform operations connected with the distribution and sale of apparel and accessories. Includes instruction in wholesaling and retailing, apparel technologies, distribution, customer sales and service skills, and principles of consumer research and sales forecasting.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations program, part of the Specialized Sales field, prepares individuals for careers in the distribution and sale of apparel and accessories. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of marketing operations in the fashion industry.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and customer service. Coursework covers wholesaling, retailing, apparel technologies, and principles of consumer research and sales forecasting.
Credentials awarded
What Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree33 graduates / yr · 2 institutions45%
- Associate's degree19 graduates / yr · 3 institutions26%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate10 graduates / yr · 2 institutions14%
- Bachelor's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions8.1%
Graduates over time
Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,076 |
| 2013 | 1,103 |
| 2014 | 831 |
| 2015 | 160 |
| 2016 | 102 |
| 2017 | 148 |
| 2018 | 197 |
| 2019 | 149 |
| 2020 | 136 |
| 2021 | 120 |
| 2022 | 97 |
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2024 | 77 |
| 2025 | 74 |
Top 8 institutions for Apparel and Accessories 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 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJPublicMaster's | 31 | 64% | — | — |
| 2 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 39% | — | — |
| 3 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 53% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RIPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 8 | 73% | — | — |
| 5 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAssociate's | 8 | 29% | — | — |
| 6 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 43% | — | — |
| 7 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 69% | $26,034 | $40,407 |
| 8 | Dallas College Dallas, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 32% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Specialized Sales field (CIP 52.19) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 7 states
Where Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all Specialized Sales programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 1 | 31 | Rutgers University - Newark31 / yr |
| Iowa | 2 | 16 | Des Moines Area Community College13 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 8 | Portland State University8 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 8 | University of Rhode Island8 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 8 | Madison Area Technical College8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Thomas Jefferson University2 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Dallas College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-1161, Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, with a promising job outlook of 6.7% growth and approximately 87,200 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $76,950, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.1904
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialistsprimary SOC 13-1161 | $78,760 | +6.7% Faster than average | ~87,200 | Bachelor's degree |
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 |
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products SOC 13-1022 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Apparel and Accessories 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
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Specialized Sales specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Specialized Sales (CIP 52.19).
- Fashion MerchandisingCIP 52.19022,552 graduates / yr84 institutions
- Special Products Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1909partial data204 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Specialized Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1999partial data195 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Tourism and Travel Services Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1905141 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Hospitality and Recreation Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1910partial data56 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing OperationsCIP 52.1907partial data46 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Business and Personal/CIP 52.1908
Financial Services Marketing Operations partial data33 graduates / yr4 institutions - AuctioneeringCIP 52.1901limited data17 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Tourism Promotion OperationsCIP 52.1906partial data16 graduates / yr4 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes 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.
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
Degrees include Master's, Associate's, Postbaccalaureate certificates, and Bachelor's.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 8 colleges offering this program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, data analysis, and customer service.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Market Research Analyst, Sales Representative, or Wholesale and Retail Buyer.
What is the CIP code for Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations?+
Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations is CIP 52.1904 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Specialized Sales (CIP 52.19). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to perform operations connected with the distribution and sale of apparel and accessories. Includes instruction in wholesaling and retailing, apparel technologies, distribution, customer sales and service skills, and principles of consumer research and sales forecasting.
How many institutions offer Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 74 credentials in the year. That is 2.2% of all Specialized Sales graduates.
How much do Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists occupation, which Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,760 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Specialized Sales field report median earnings of $40,407 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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