by our College Data Analytics Team
[Sales Merchandising Marketing Ops](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/sales-merchandising-marketing-ops/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools.
What’s on this page:
The sales merchandising marketing ops program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. To help, we created our Highest Paid Sales Merchandising Marketing Ops Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its sales merchandising marketing ops graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Sales Merchandising Marketing Ops Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools send sales merchandising marketing ops graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Baylor University the top school for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings in the United States. Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Early-career sales merchandising marketing ops graduates from Baylor University make a median of around $154,528 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the highest-paying schools for sales merchandising marketing ops. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,382.
St Cloud Technical And Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public institution. Early-career sales merchandising marketing ops graduates from St Cloud Technical And Community College make a median of around $56,424 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in sales merchandising marketing ops will find them at William Paterson University Of New Jersey, which ranked #4. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public school located in the suburb of Wayne. Early-career sales merchandising marketing ops graduates from William Paterson University Of New Jersey make a median of around $88,706 per year.
Kennesaw State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools. Kennesaw State University is a public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. After graduating, sales merchandising marketing ops degree recipients from Kennesaw State University typically earn about $111,624 annually.
Northland Community And Technical College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for sales merchandising marketing ops. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,573.
Umpqua Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools. Umpqua Community College is a public school located in the town of Roseburg. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,591.
Bellevue University earned the #8 position for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. After graduating, sales merchandising marketing ops degree recipients from Bellevue University typically earn about $90,361 annually.
Weber State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a public institution. Early-career sales merchandising marketing ops graduates from Weber State University make a median of around $81,451 per year.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #10 for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Sales Merchandising Marketing Ops graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $92,129 a year early in their careers.
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #11 for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public institution. Sales Merchandising Marketing Ops graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of about $44,107 a year early in their careers.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,016.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #13 position for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school located in the city of College Station. Early-career sales merchandising marketing ops graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $66,372 per year.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #14 for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Kent State University At Kent is a public school located in the suburb of Kent. Sales Merchandising Marketing Ops graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of about $57,169 a year early in their careers.
American Public University System earned the #15 position for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,639.
Ball State University came in at #16 for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a public institution. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,184.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot for sales merchandising marketing ops salaries this year. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. After graduating, sales merchandising marketing ops degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College typically earn about $45,122 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #18 spot for sales merchandising marketing ops salaries this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,814.
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Fargo. Early-career sales merchandising marketing ops graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus make a median of around $55,734 per year.
Owens Community College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for sales merchandising marketing ops. Owens Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,330.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for sales merchandising marketing ops. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, sales merchandising marketing ops degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities typically earn about $76,798 annually.
University Of Houston ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. After graduating, sales merchandising marketing ops degree recipients from University Of Houston typically earn about $74,478 annually.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #23 spot for sales merchandising marketing ops salaries this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Akron. After graduating, sales merchandising marketing ops degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus typically earn about $75,758 annually.
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #24 spot for sales merchandising marketing ops salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a public institution. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,698.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #25 for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, sales merchandising marketing ops degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus typically earn about $58,773 annually.
These schools also send sales merchandising marketing ops graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries sales merchandising marketing ops graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 39 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
