Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$135,195 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
133.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−92%Modeled 10-year ROI
$46,098Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$46,098Median reported earnings · year 4
$45,050Average reported earnings · year 5
$17,005Median federal debt
46thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
11Reporting programs
10With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,009
- Federal debt
- $18,698
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,098
- Federal debt
- $17,005
- Reporting programs
- 11
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,539
- Federal debt
- $26,975
- Reporting programs
- 53
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,575
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$41,667National median$46,09875th percentile$54,371
10 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
9 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1The New SchoolNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$72,595Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$58,7412Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$60,504Federal debt$12,000Annual net price$19,0953LIM CollegeNew York, NY · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$59,486Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$38,6674Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, NH · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$46,352Federal debt$27,194Annual net price$36,7085Berkeley College-Woodland ParkWoodland Park, NJ · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$45,844Federal debt$18,853Annual net price$27,1006Herkimer County Community CollegeHerkimer, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,446Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$13,4197Brookdale Community CollegeLincroft, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$41,667Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,2318Berkeley College-New YorkNew York, NY · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$36,560Federal debt$21,707Annual net price$34,1249Hocking CollegeNelsonville, OH · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$15,156Annual net price$13,704
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1The New School$72,5952Fashion Institute of Technology$60,5043LIM College$59,4864Southern New Hampshire University$46,3525Berkeley College-Woodland Park$45,8446Herkimer County Community College$43,4467Brookdale Community College$41,6678Berkeley College-New York$36,5609Hocking CollegeNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsSOC 13-1161 · 7 crosswalk linksSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsSOC 41-4012 · 3 crosswalk linksSales and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 41-9099 · 2 crosswalk linksWholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm ProductsSOC 13-1022 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersSOC 41-1012 · 1 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersSOC 41-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksMarketing ManagersSOC 11-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksMerchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersSOC 27-1026 · 1 crosswalk linksModelsSOC 41-9012 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksParts SalespersonsSOC 41-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksSecurities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsSOC 41-3031 · 1 crosswalk links
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The New SchoolAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $72,595 | Not available | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $60,504 | $12,000 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | LIM CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $59,486 | Not available | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityAssociate's Degree | Manchester, NH | $46,352 | $27,194 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Berkeley College-Woodland ParkAssociate's Degree | Woodland Park, NJ | $45,844 | $18,853 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Herkimer County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Herkimer, NY | $43,446 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Brookdale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lincroft, NJ | $41,667 | Not available | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Berkeley College-New YorkAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $36,560 | $21,707 | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Hocking CollegeAssociate's Degree | Nelsonville, OH | Not available | $15,156 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,704 |
| 10 | FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & MerchandisingAssociate's Degree | , | $54,371 | $12,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 11 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignAssociate's Degree | , | $38,723 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.