2026 Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools
[Retailing and Retail Operations](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/sales-merchandising-marketing-ops/retailing-and-retail-operations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong retailing and retail operations education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 71 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value retailing and retail operations schools.
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Finding the Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations School for You
The right retailing and retail operations school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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2026 Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the retailing and retail operations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Retailing and Retail Operations Schools
Leading the list is Lake Land College, our #1 best value for retailing and retail operations in the United States. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $30,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Georgia Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in retailing and retail operations, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hutchinson Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in retailing and retail operations, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $18,148. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $42,285. Set against $18,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in retailing and retail operations will find it at Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus, which ranked #4. Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Roswell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,256, compared with $5,616 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $11,110. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $21,129. That is a strong return on a $11,110 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in retailing and retail operations will find it at Joliet Junior College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the retailing and retail operations program here. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #6 spot for retailing and retail operations value this year. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. Students borrow a median of $9,980 to complete the retailing and retail operations program here. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $35,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value retailing and retail operations schools. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $44,523. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miracosta College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value retailing and retail operations schools. Set in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,158, with out-of-state students paying around $9,750. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,845.
Tacoma Community College placed #9 among the best values for retailing and retail operations. Located in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,507, with out-of-state students paying around $11,646. Students borrow a median of $15,412 to complete the retailing and retail operations program here. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Tacoma Community College generally make around $26,283. That is a strong return on a $15,412 median debt.
Umpqua Community College placed #10 among the best values for retailing and retail operations. Located in the town of Roseburg, Umpqua Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,104. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $8,237. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of Umpqua Community College earn a median of $58,591 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,237 median debt.
Weber State University landed the #11 spot for retailing and retail operations value this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $17,766 to complete the retailing and retail operations program here. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $58,833 early in their careers. Set against $17,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Arizona College landed the #12 spot for retailing and retail operations value this year. Set in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,352, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $6,781. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from Eastern Arizona College generally make around $40,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #13 spot for retailing and retail operations value this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $43,121 early in their careers. Set against $14,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #14 among the best values for retailing and retail operations. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $21,630 in student loans. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $57,760 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #15 for value in retailing and retail operations this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for retailing and retail operations graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $51,066. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University came in at #16 for value in retailing and retail operations this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Early-career retailing and retail operations graduates make about $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #17 among the best values for retailing and retail operations. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Retailing And Retail Operations graduates carry a median of $24,979 in student loans. Soon after graduation, retailing and retail operations degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $45,052. Set against $24,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
