Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 53 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$188,220 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
32.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−69%Modeled 10-year ROI
$53,539Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$53,539Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,694Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,975Median federal debt
32thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
53Reporting programs
50With 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$46,797National median$53,53975th percentile$61,066
50 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia$80,7642Northwood University$77,6473Marist University$74,5344Fashion Institute of Technology$70,7275Lasell University$69,1566Baylor University$67,0667LIM College$66,9688Texas Tech University$66,4409Texas Christian University$66,10810Seattle Pacific University$62,392Observed 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
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 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $80,764 | $26,500 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Northwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Midland, MI | $77,647 | $27,000 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Marist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $74,534 | $25,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $70,727 | $21,500 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Lasell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newton, MA | $69,156 | $27,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $67,066 | $23,115 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | LIM CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $66,968 | $27,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $66,440 | $22,317 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $66,108 | $19,500 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Seattle Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $62,392 | $22,000 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Texas Woman's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $62,009 | $23,108 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $61,955 | $25,500 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $61,884 | $26,750 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Mercyhurst UniversityBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $61,066 | $26,950 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Kent State University at KentBachelor's Degree | Kent, OH | $61,055 | $25,000 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Academy of Art UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $60,284 | Not available | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $58,794 | $24,156 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $57,815 | $26,750 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $57,513 | $27,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Immaculata UniversityBachelor's Degree | Immaculata, PA | $57,245 | $27,000 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $56,160 | $27,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $55,878 | $23,250 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Mount Mary UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $55,207 | $25,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Lynn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $55,029 | Not available | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $53,539 | $27,000 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $53,539 | $27,000 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $53,539 | $27,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Stevenson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Owings Mills, MD | $53,007 | $26,345 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Indiana University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Indiana, PA | $51,725 | $27,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Berkeley College-New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $51,653 | $37,500 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $51,355 | $31,149 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $51,020 | $34,499 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Sam Houston State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntsville, TX | $47,823 | $27,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | $47,584 | $25,583 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Berkeley College-Woodland ParkBachelor's Degree | Woodland Park, NJ | $47,104 | $32,075 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Dominican UniversityBachelor's Degree | River Forest, IL | $47,078 | $27,000 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of Central MissouriBachelor's Degree | Warrensburg, MO | $46,797 | $24,625 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Western Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $46,543 | $26,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Youngstown State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Youngstown, OH | $44,232 | Not available | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Stephen F Austin State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nacogdoches, TX | $42,078 | Not available | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of Central OklahomaBachelor's Degree | Edmond, OK | $38,164 | $14,494 | -127% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Concord UniversityBachelor's Degree | Athens, WV | $34,925 | Not available | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Fisher CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | Not available | $27,875 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $26,649 |
| 44 | Stephens CollegeBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $23,459 |
| 45 | Meredith CollegeBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | Not available | $26,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,488 |
| 46 | Bay State CollegeBachelor's Degree | , | $50,210 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 47 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | , | $44,841 | $42,969 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 48 | Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute DallasBachelor's Degree | , | $44,841 | $42,969 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 49 | The Art Institute of HoustonBachelor's Degree | , | $42,657 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 50 | The Art Institute of AustinBachelor's Degree | , | $42,657 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 51 | The Art Institute of San AntonioBachelor's Degree | , | $42,657 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 52 | The Art Institute of AtlantaBachelor's Degree | , | $38,879 | $43,111 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 53 | The Art Institute of Virginia BeachBachelor's Degree | , | $38,879 | $43,111 | 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.