by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 62 U.S. colleges awarded 1,363 degrees and certificates in Retail Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Retail Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing, rising to $79,232 after four years.
Studying Retail Management explores Retail Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Operations Of A Wide Variety Of Retail Businesses, Including Department Stores; Independent And Chain Stores; Fashion, Food And Beverage, And Pharmaceutical Establishments; And Online Retail Businesses. Includes Instruction In Retail Management, Merchandise Management, Customer Service Management, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Accounting, Finance, Business Law, And Personnel Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, retail management is a popular field of study, with 1,363 degrees awarded annually. 62 colleges award retail management degrees, an average of 22 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 615.
By level, the 1,363 awards include 222 certificates, 91 associate degrees, 96 bachelor’s degrees and 954 master’s degrees.
Women earned 63% of retail management degrees and certificates in the latest year (856 of 1,363). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (554) and Hispanic or Latino (494), and international students earned 23.
College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Retail Management Schools ranking, including 9 for associate degrees, 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks retail management schools within 4 states. In all, 62 colleges offer retail management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Retail Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common retail management credential is the master’s degree: 954 of the 1,363 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to retail management call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a retail management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 222 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 91 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 96 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 954 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to retail management, at 28.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 28.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.3% |
| Master’s degree | 13.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.0% |
| Some college courses | 6.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Retail Management, with an average median salary of $111,647; the strongest outlook belongs to Business Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Shift Supervisor, Department Manager, Store Manager and Delicatessen Manager.
The occupation related to retail management with the most projected jobs is First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, at 830,802.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | 403,205 | 4.2% |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | 320,819 | 2.9% |
| Spa Managers | 184,703 | -2.2% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 163,335 | -2.2% |
Retail Management graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing their program, $79,232 after four years and $73,412 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,256 |
| 4 years | $79,232 |
| 5 years | $73,412 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to retail management is Personal Service Managers, All Other, with a median salary of $176,674.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Spa Managers | $143,396 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | $66,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
Retail Management has 15 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 420,389 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration and Management, General (352,768), Organizational Leadership (16,833) and Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (12,704). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 352,768 |
| Organizational Leadership | 16,833 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,704 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 11,915 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 11,775 |
| Project Management | 6,038 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 2,975 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,443 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 805 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 506 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
