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 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying sales merchandising marketing ops schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send sales merchandising marketing ops graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Kent State University At Kent, our #1 for sales merchandising marketing ops graduate salaries in Ohio. Kent State University At Kent is a public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,169.
A rank of #2 makes Owens Community College one of the highest-paying schools for sales merchandising marketing ops. Set in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the sales merchandising marketing ops program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,330.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #3 place for sales merchandising marketing ops. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. Sales Merchandising Marketing Ops graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of about $75,758 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in sales merchandising marketing ops will find them at Bowling Green State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career sales merchandising marketing ops graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus make a median of around $58,773 per year.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their sales merchandising marketing ops graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 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.