by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 243 U.S. colleges awarded 6,802 degrees and certificates in General Sales & Marketing. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 110 schools in its 2027 Best General Sales & Marketing Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $52,387 one year after completing, rising to $74,379 after four years.
Have you ever wondered how your favorite snack food gets from the supplier to the store shelf? Who makes the decisions on what products to offer on the grocery store aisle? By majoring in General Sales and Marketing, you will learn the process behind how products get into the marketplace. This program will teach students the process and techniques behind wholesale and retail buying and selling operations.
There are a few different concentrations associated with this major; they include Merchandising and Buying Operations, Retailing and Retail Operations, and Selling Skills and Sales Operations.
While pursuing this major, you will be taking a variety of courses; they include consumer behavior, marketing research, sales management, and professional selling. This major is commonly offered as a Bachelor's degree.
A major in General Sales & Marketing explores General Sales, Merchandising And Related Marketing Operations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general sales & marketing draws strong interest, with 6,802 degrees awarded annually. 243 colleges award general sales & marketing degrees, an average of 28 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 540.
By level, the 6,802 awards include 178 certificates, 941 associate degrees, 2,495 bachelor’s degrees and 3,096 master’s degrees.
Women earned 58% of general sales & marketing degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,929 of 6,802). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,657) and Hispanic or Latino (1,042), and international students earned 737.
College Factual ranks 110 schools in its 2027 Best General Sales & Marketing Schools ranking, including 36 for associate degrees, 26 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general sales & marketing schools within 20 states. In all, 243 colleges offer general sales & marketing programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Sales & Marketing Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general sales & marketing credential is the master’s degree: 3,096 of the 6,802 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general sales & marketing call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Persuasion, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Students must be persuasive in order to find success in sales and marketing. Deals and negotiations are all a part of sales, therefore being able to communicate effectively is important. Persistence is another key skill to possess. Much of your time will be spent interacting with others, both in groups and one-on-one. Students should work on their interpersonal skills while in college.
Nothing can prepare you for the field like first-hand experience. Explore any internship opportunities offered through your college or in local businesses. Part time work in retail, customer service or sales can also give you great insight into the field.
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How long a general sales & marketing degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 178 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 941 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,495 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,096 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general sales & marketing, at 36.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 36.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.8% |
| Some college courses | 10.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 6.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Master’s degree | 1.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to General Sales & Marketing, with an average median salary of $52,699; the strongest outlook belongs to Advertising Sales Agents, at 11.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Sales Specialist, Sales Coordinator, Sales Consultant and Inside Sales Representative.
There are many different career paths that students can enter into with a degree in General Sales and Marketing. Buyers and Purchasers buy from suppliers in order to fill stores that consumers shop in, while Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to various business or organizations. Other career options include Store Operations, Product Developer, Store Management and Sales Representatives. Typically jobs in sales remain fairly stable, as businesses always need to sell their products. However, other jobs may be more competitive.
The occupation related to general sales & marketing with the most projected jobs is Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products, at 1,332,640.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,332,640 | 6.0% |
| Advertising Sales Agents | 1,158,077 | 11.9% |
| Parts Salespersons | 1,068,511 | 7.9% |
| Travel Agents | 926,319 | -3.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | 730,602 | 2.6% |
| Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors | 652,173 | 7.5% |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | 570,973 | 5.6% |
General Sales & Marketing graduates earn a median $52,387 one year after completing their program, $74,379 after four years and $66,918 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $52,387 |
| 4 years | $74,379 |
| 5 years | $66,918 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general sales & marketing is Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products, with a median salary of $111,183.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Travel Agents | $65,314 |
| Advertising Sales Agents | $63,488 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $61,441 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $60,515 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $45,048 |
General Sales & Marketing includes 5 concentrations that together award 6,802 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General (3,613), Selling Skills and Sales Operations (1,916) and Retailing and Retail Operations (984). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 877,347 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration, Management and Operations (421,752), Accounting and Related Services (86,793) and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (68,298). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 421,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 68,298 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 27,822 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 15,088 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
