2027 Best Value Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Schools in the Southwest Region

[Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/specialized-sales-merchandising-marketing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing students.
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2027 Best Value Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing Schools in the Southwest 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
El Centro College earned the #1 spot for value among specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the specialized sales, merchandising & marketing program here. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Houston Community College one of the best values for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas Womans University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,640, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,108 to complete the specialized sales, merchandising & marketing program here. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $35,299. That is a strong return on a $23,108 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of North Texas came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $39,787 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Sam Houston State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in specialized sales, merchandising & marketing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. 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 Sam Houston State University generally make around $32,444. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #6 among the best values for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,156 to complete the specialized sales, merchandising & marketing program here. Early-career specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates make about $33,040. That is a strong return on a $24,156 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Texas Christian University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value specialized sales, merchandising & marketing schools. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, specialized sales, merchandising & marketing degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $42,712. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University placed #8 among the best values for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Typical student debt for specialized sales, merchandising & marketing graduates is $23,115. Specialized Sales, Merchandising & Marketing graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $43,414 early in their careers. Set against $23,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.