by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 50 degrees and certificates in Merchandising and Buying Operations. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 22% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Merchandising and Buying Operations 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.
Studying Merchandising and Buying Operations covers Merchandising And Buying Operations. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Function As Professional Buyers Of Resale Products And Product Lines For Stores, Chains, And Other Retail Enterprises. Includes Instruction In Product Evaluation, Merchandising, Applicable Aspects Of Brand And Consumer Research, Principles Of Purchasing, And Negotiation Skills.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, merchandising and buying operations is a popular field of study, with 50 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award merchandising and buying operations degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 49.
By level, the 50 awards include 1 associate degrees and 11 master’s degrees.
Women earned 44% of merchandising and buying operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (22 of 50). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (26) and Hispanic or Latino (9), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Merchandising and Buying Operations Schools ranking. In all, 2 colleges offer merchandising and buying operations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Merchandising and Buying Operations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common merchandising and buying operations credential is the master’s degree: 11 of the 50 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to merchandising and buying operations call most for Negotiation, Persuasion and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a merchandising and buying operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to merchandising and buying operations, at 34.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 13.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 10.3% |
| Some college courses | 8.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Merchandising and Buying Operations, with an average median salary of $111,183; the strongest outlook belongs to Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products, at 2.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Contract Sourcing Specialist, Buyer, Print Buyer and Procurement Officer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to merchandising and buying operations, at 465,393.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | 465,393 | 2.6% |
Merchandising and Buying Operations 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to merchandising and buying operations, with a median salary of $111,183.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
Merchandising and Buying Operations has 4 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 6,752 degrees a year; the largest are Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General (3,613), Selling Skills and Sales Operations (1,916) and Retailing and Retail Operations (984). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General | 3,613 |
| Selling Skills and Sales Operations | 1,916 |
| Retailing and Retail Operations | 984 |
| General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other | 239 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
