by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 23 U.S. colleges awarded 984 degrees and certificates in Retailing and Retail Operations. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 57% of graduates. College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Retailing and Retail 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.
A degree in Retailing and Retail Operations involves the study of Retailing And Retail Operations. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Operations Associated With Retail Sales In A Variety Of Settings. Includes Instruction In Over-The-Counter And Other Direct Sales Operations In Business Settings, Basic Bookkeeping Principles, Customer Service, Team/staff Leadership And Supervision, Floor Management, And Applicable Technical Skills.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., retailing and retail operations draws strong interest, with 984 degrees awarded annually. 23 colleges award retailing and retail operations degrees, an average of 43 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 343.
By level, the 984 awards include 41 certificates, 119 associate degrees, 556 bachelor’s degrees and 253 master’s degrees.
Women earned 68% of retailing and retail operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (673 of 984). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (631) and Hispanic or Latino (97), and international students earned 35.
College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Retailing and Retail Operations Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees and 5 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks retailing and retail operations schools within 6 states. In all, 23 colleges offer retailing and retail operations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common retailing and retail operations credential is the bachelor’s degree: 556 of the 984 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to retailing and retail operations call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Service Orientation, 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a retailing and retail operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 41 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 119 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 556 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 253 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to retailing and retail operations, at 57.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 57.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 24.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Master’s degree | 0.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Retailing and Retail Operations, with an average median salary of $53,908; the strongest outlook belongs to First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, at 5.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Collector, Product Specialist, Shop Manager and Retail Sales Manager.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to retailing and retail operations, at 830,802.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | 730,602 | 2.6% |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | 498,256 | 3.6% |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 202,305 | 1.4% |
Retailing and Retail 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 highest-paying occupation related to retailing and retail operations is Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel, with a median salary of $61,441.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $40,454 |
Retailing and Retail Operations has 4 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 5,818 degrees a year; the largest are Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General (3,613), Selling Skills and Sales Operations (1,916) and General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other (239). 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 |
| General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other | 239 |
| Merchandising and Buying Operations | 50 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
