Compare 7 Retailing and Retail Operations. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $61,721.
With top graduates earning $72,005, Retailing and Retail Operations stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $10K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey's Retailing and Retail Operations program leads with graduates earning $72,005, well above the $61,721 average across all 7 Northeast programs. Rochester Institute Of Technology follows at $67,214, while Cuny Bernard M Baruch College delivers $64,013—demonstrating that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates borrow $11,512 and face just a 3.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.18.
Highest program earnings: $72,005
Strong outcomes with 93% acceptance
3.8% payment burden | Excellent
11.4% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $72,005 | 10 | $22,334 | Excellent | $20,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $67,214 | 48 | $26,778 | Good | $35,625 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $64,013 | 442 | $11,512 | Excellent | $20,000 | Good | |
| #4 | $59,787 | 216 | $23,500 | Good | $25,362 | Challenging | |
| #5 | University Of HartfordPrivate | $59,163 | 31 | $27,000 | Good | $44,000 | High |
| #6 | St. Thomas Aquinas CollegePrivate | $55,209 | 10 | $23,198 | Good | $32,425 | High |
| #7 | Long Island UniversityPrivate | $54,659 | 9 | $23,577 | Good | $36,515 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
