by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, merchandising and buying operations was the 1,168 most popular major nationwide with 48 degrees awarded. This represents a 14.6% reduction in merchandising and buying operations degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 55.
Our 2023 Best Merchandising and Buying Operations Schools ranking analyzes 2 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for merchandising and buying operations students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of merchandising and buying operations programs later in this article.
A major in merchandising and buying operations prepares you for careers in which bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences is crucial. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most merchandising and buying operations degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific merchandising and buying operations careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Merchandising and Buying Operations degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in merchandising and buying operations to the highest merchandising and buying operations degree, a . Depending on the merchandising and buying operations degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to merchandising and buying operations, with approximately 34.7% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for merchandising and buying operations workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 36.7% |
| High School Diploma | 21.5% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 14.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in merchandising and buying operations careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the merchandising and buying operations career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your merchandising and buying operations degree?
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to merchandising and buying operations.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers | 120,300 | -2.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for merchandising and buying operations graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for merchandising and buying operations graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers merchandising and buying operations grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|
With over 7 different merchandising and buying operations degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased merchandising and buying operations school rankings to help you with this.
Merchandising and Buying Operations is one of 4 different types of General Sales & Marketing programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations | 3,440 |
| Professional Sales | 1,177 |
| Retailing and Retail Operations | 1,025 |
| Other General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations | 233 |
View All Merchandising and Buying Operations Related Majors >
Image Credit: By Nick Nijhuis under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
