2027 Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools

[Retailing and Retail Operations](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/sales-merchandising-marketing-ops/retailing-and-retail-operations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value retailing and retail operations schools.
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Finding the Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations School for You
Where you study retailing and retail operations affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
Customize Your Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
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2027 Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in retailing and retail operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools
Our analysis ranked Lake Land College the best value for a degree in retailing and retail operations in the United States. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $7,769. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Moraine Valley Community College one of the best values for retailing and retail operations. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the retailing and retail operations program here. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in retailing and retail operations, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $9,616. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Kingsborough Community College one of the best values for retailing and retail operations. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,252, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $35,562 early in their careers. Set against $7,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hutchinson Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in retailing and retail operations, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $18,148. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $42,285. Set against $18,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miracosta College earned the #6 position for value in retailing and retail operations this year. Located in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,158, while out-of-state students pay about $9,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,845 ten years after entry.
Umpqua Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value retailing and retail operations schools. Located in the town of Roseburg, Umpqua Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,104. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $8,237 in student loans. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $58,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tacoma Community College landed the #8 spot for retailing and retail operations value this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,507, with out-of-state students paying around $11,646. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $15,412. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $26,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Arizona College came in at #9 for value in retailing and retail operations this year. Set in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,352, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete the retailing and retail operations program here. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $40,304. Set against $6,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weber State University came in at #10 for value in retailing and retail operations this year. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $17,766. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $58,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #11 spot for retailing and retail operations value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the retailing and retail operations program here. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $51,066. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #12 for value in retailing and retail operations this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $21,630. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $57,760 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Commonwealth Technical Institute ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value retailing and retail operations schools. Set in the suburb of Johnstown, Commonwealth Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,714. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Commonwealth Technical Institute generally make around $20,049.
Texas Tech University landed the #14 spot for retailing and retail operations value this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $24,271. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value retailing and retail operations schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $24,979. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $45,052. That is a strong return on a $24,979 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.