Compare 24 Retailing and Retail Operations. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $66,221. Top programs: $125,167+.
The highest-earning Retailing and Retail Operations program isn't at the most prestigious school. With an $80K earnings gap across 24 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. A regional public can—and does—outperform a private university when you measure what graduates actually earn.
Topping the list, Baylor University's Retailing and Retail Operations program delivers $125K in median graduate earnings—nearly double the $66K field average. Texas A&M-College Station follows at $93K, and Bowling Green State University, an Ohio public, ranks third at $86K. Regional publics competing with and outranking private institutions is exactly the story the data tells.
Earnings tell only part of the story—debt burden reveals the rest. CUNY Baruch graduates carry just $11,512 in student debt and face a 2.9% payment burden, firmly in the 'Excellent' affordability tier. When family borrowing is factored in, Baruch again leads with an 8.8% combined burden—the lowest family burden among all ranked programs with GPS data. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $125,167
Strong outcomes ($86,245) with 81% acceptance rate
2.9% payment burden | Excellent
8.8% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $125,167 | 28 | $23,000 | Excellent | $50,786 | Good |
| #2 | $93,141 | 349 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good | |
| #3 | $86,245 | 36 | $25,000 | Excellent | $25,947 | Good | |
| #4 | $82,441 | 142 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $82,081 | 143 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $79,147 | 28 | $23,833 | Excellent | $19,000 | Good | |
| #7 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $78,401 | 14 | $23,250 | Excellent | $20,800 | Good |
| #8 | $76,565 | 507 | $11,512 | Excellent | $20,000 | Good | |
| #9 | $75,796 | 26 | $21,000 | Excellent | $15,191 | Good | |
| #10 | Tuskegee UniversityPrivate | $73,435 | 10 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,000 | Challenging |
| #11 | University Of HoustonPublic | $72,199 | 131 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Good |
| #12 | $70,867 | 44 | $23,250 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $68,903 | 96 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Manageable | |
| #14 | $66,306 | 20 | $23,000 | Excellent | $11,000 | Good | |
| #15 | Virginia Union UniversityPrivate | $64,924 | 6 | $29,000 | Good | $31,153 | Challenging |
| #16 | $64,631 | 137 | $21,500 | Excellent | $31,393 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $58,141 | 21 | $26,778 | Good | $35,625 | High | |
| #18 | $52,607 | 11 | — | — | — | — | |
| #19 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $50,856 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| #20 | $45,435 | 239 | — | — | — | — | |
| #21 | St. Thomas Aquinas CollegePrivate | $42,435 | 9 | — | — | — | — |
| #22 | Barry UniversityPrivate | $36,134 | 13 | — | — | — | — |
| #23 | Lincoln UniversityPublic | $26,760 | 8 | — | — | — | — |
| #24 | Georgia State UniversityPublic | $16,682 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
