by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 11 U.S. colleges awarded 123 degrees and certificates in Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $42,391 one year after completing, rising to $64,776 after four years.
A degree in Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management explores Consumer Merchandising/retailing Management. A Program That Focuses On Product And Service Promotion From The Perspective Of Individual And Family Consumers And That Prepares Individuals To Function As Consumer Management And Marketing Consultants In For-Profit And Non-Profit Enterprises. Includes Instruction In Applied Market Research, Consumer Behavior, Product Sourcing And Distribution, Profitability, Customer Feedback And Evaluation Methods, Promotion And Retailing Campaign Development, And Applications To Specific Domestic And International Consumer Markets.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, consumer merch&ising/retailing management is a widely-pursued major, with 123 degrees awarded annually. 11 colleges award consumer merch&ising/retailing management degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 30.
By level, the 123 awards include 1 certificates, 75 bachelor’s degrees and 47 master’s degrees.
Women earned 70% of consumer merch&ising/retailing management degrees and certificates in the latest year (86 of 123). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (70) and Hispanic or Latino (13), and international students earned 11.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks consumer merch&ising/retailing management schools within 2 states. In all, 11 colleges offer consumer merch&ising/retailing management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common consumer merch&ising/retailing management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 75 of the 123 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to consumer merch&ising/retailing management call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Administration and Management, 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 consumer merch&ising/retailing management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 75 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 47 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to consumer merch&ising/retailing management, at 36.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 36.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management, with an average median salary of $79,510; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm and Home Management Educators, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Future Farmers of America Advisor (FFA Advisor), Smart Home Expert, Farm Agent and Extension Service Specialist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to consumer merch&ising/retailing management, at 1,304,119.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 671,367 | 10.3% |
| Marketing Managers | 259,371 | -4.4% |
| Search Marketing Strategists | 199,758 | 8.2% |
| Sales Managers | 98,501 | -0.6% |
Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management graduates earn a median $42,391 one year after completing their program, $64,776 after four years and $63,925 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,391 |
| 4 years | $64,776 |
| 5 years | $63,925 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to consumer merch&ising/retailing management is Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, with a median salary of $124,518.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $124,518 |
| Marketing Managers | $90,143 |
| Search Marketing Strategists | $85,177 |
| Sales Managers | $68,051 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management has 2 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 395 degrees a year; the largest are Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences (390) and Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication (5). Browse all Family, Consumer & Human Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 390 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
