2027 Best Value Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/specialized-sales-merchandising-marketing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the specialized sales, merchandising & marketing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Schools
Ferris State University tops our 2027 list of the best value specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $26,750. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $46,695. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in specialized sales, merchandising & marketing will find it at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the specialized sales, merchandising & marketing program here. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Chippewa Valley Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in specialized sales, merchandising & marketing, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $14,234. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $42,410 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,829 median debt.
Youngstown State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $26,373. Soon after graduation, specialized sales, merchandising & marketing degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $49,025. That is a strong return on a $26,373 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Madison Area Technical College placed #6 among the best values for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, specialized sales, merchandising & marketing degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
Hocking College landed the #7 spot for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing value this year. Hocking College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $10,290. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $15,156. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $37,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ball State University earned the #8 position for value in specialized sales, merchandising & marketing this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $25,583. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $35,904. That is a strong return on a $25,583 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University landed the #9 spot for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the specialized sales, merchandising & marketing program here. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $28,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #10 for value in specialized sales, merchandising & marketing this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $34,499. Soon after graduation, specialized sales, merchandising & marketing degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $33,121. That is a strong return on a $34,499 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Central Michigan University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the specialized sales, merchandising & marketing program here. Soon after graduation, specialized sales, merchandising & marketing degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $29,203. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #12 spot for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing value this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $25,000. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $36,625 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Northwood University Michigan earned the #13 position for value in specialized sales, merchandising & marketing this year. Northwood University Michigan is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Midland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,400. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, specialized sales, merchandising & marketing degree recipients from Northwood University Michigan generally make around $64,100. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Narrow Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Schools by State
More Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Rankings
View All Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
