by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management explores Consumer Merchandising/retailing Management. A Program That Focuses On Product And Service Promotion From The Perspective Of Individual And Family Consumers And That Prepares Individuals To Function As Consumer Management And Marketing Consultants In For-Profit And Non-Profit Enterprises. Includes Instruction In Applied Market Research, Consumer Behavior, Product Sourcing And Distribution, Profitability, Customer Feedback And Evaluation Methods, Promotion And Retailing Campaign Development, And Applications To Specific Domestic And International Consumer Markets. Read on to learn the key facts every consumer merch&ising/retailing management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering consumer merch&ising/retailing management programs.
Nationwide, consumer merch&ising/retailing management is a widely-pursued major, with 126 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management Schools ranking analyzes these 8 schools to determine the best overall colleges for consumer merch&ising/retailing management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of consumer merch&ising/retailing management programs later in this article.
Studies in Consumer Merch&ising/Retailing Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations consumer merch&ising/retailing management graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a consumer merch&ising/retailing management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a consumer merch&ising/retailing management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several consumer merch&ising/retailing management 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 | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 79 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 45 |
People currently working in careers related to consumer merch&ising/retailing management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 36.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in consumer merch&ising/retailing management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in consumer merch&ising/retailing management prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to consumer merch&ising/retailing management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to consumer merch&ising/retailing management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 671,367 | 10.3% |
| Marketing Managers | 259,371 | -4.4% |
| Search Marketing Strategists | 199,758 | 8.2% |
| Sales Managers | 98,501 | -0.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of consumer merch&ising/retailing management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,391 |
| 4 years | $54,186 |
| 5 years | $63,925 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for consumer merch&ising/retailing management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers consumer merch&ising/retailing management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $124,518 |
| Marketing Managers | $90,143 |
| Search Marketing Strategists | $85,177 |
| Sales Managers | $68,051 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $53,224 |
With 8 different consumer merch&ising/retailing management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased consumer merch&ising/retailing management school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in consumer merch&ising/retailing management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 366 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Communication | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
