by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying E-Commerce explores E-Commerce/electronic Commerce. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan, Manage, Supervise, And Market Electronic Business Operations, Products, And Services Provided Online Via The Internet. Includes Instruction In Business Administration, Information Technology, Information Resources Management, Web Design, Computer And Internet Law And Policy, Computer Privacy And Security, E-Trading, Insurance, Electronic Marketing, Investment Capital Planning, Enterprise Operations, Personnel Supervision, Contracting, And Product And Service Networking. Read on to learn the essential details every e-commerce student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering e-commerce programs.
Across the country, e-commerce is a popular field of study, with 467 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best E-Commerce Schools ranking analyzes these 39 schools to determine the best overall colleges for e-commerce students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of e-commerce programs later in this article.
Programs in E-Commerce build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations e-commerce graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a e-commerce program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a e-commerce major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several e-commerce degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 21 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 217 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 204 |
People currently working in careers related to e-commerce tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.8% |
| Some college courses | 12.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.5% |
| Master’s degree | 7.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in e-commerce careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in e-commerce prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to e-commerce.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to e-commerce.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Security Management Specialists | 765,822 | -1.0% |
| Business Continuity Planners | 678,409 | 12.4% |
| Online Merchants | 677,689 | 10.1% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 615,875 | -1.7% |
| Sustainability Specialists | 564,227 | 14.3% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of e-commerce graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for e-commerce graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers e-commerce grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Security Management Specialists | $128,654 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $113,637 |
| Online Merchants | $106,971 |
| Sustainability Specialists | $81,004 |
| Business Continuity Planners | $53,239 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $27,636 |
With 39 different e-commerce programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased e-commerce school rankings to help you.
Those considering e-commerce, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 336,590 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 12,273 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
