Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$76,575 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$76,575Median year-4 earnings
$33,077Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$76,575Median reported earnings · year 4
$128,091Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
48thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
3Reporting programs
3With 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$62,856National median$76,57575th percentile$76,575
3 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.
3 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$226,638Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,6892Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$76,575Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$28,9283Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$62,856Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$40,613
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia$226,6382Thomas Jefferson University$76,5753Academy of Art University$62,856Observed 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. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $226,638 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,689 |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $76,575 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,928 |
| 3 | Academy of Art UniversityMaster's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $62,856 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,613 |
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.