by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, professional sales was the 553rd most popular major nationwide with 1,177 degrees awarded. This represents a 22.6% increase in sales degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 911.
This year's Best Professional Sales Schools ranking compares 17 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sales programs later in this article.
When studying Sales, you’ll learn that talking to others to convey information effectively will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. 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 and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic professional sales program qualifications, to serve in some sales careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Sales degree levels vary. Professional Sales programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest sales degree you can get. Professional Sales programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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 sales, with approximately 30.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for sales workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30.1% |
| High School Diploma | 29.7% |
| Some College Courses | 15.4% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 13.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 7.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in professional sales careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the sales career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your sales degree? Professional Sales careers are expected to grow 5.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to professional sales.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Sales Supervisors | 1,590,100 | 3.8% |
| Sales Representatives | 1,077,900 | 9.7% |
| Sales Supervisors | 425,200 | 4.9% |
| Wholesale Scientific Products Sales Representatives | 361,300 | 5.2% |
| Parts Salespersons | 264,500 | 5.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for sales graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for professional sales graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers sales grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Wholesale Scientific Products Sales Representatives | $91,830 |
| Sales Supervisors | $84,600 |
| Sales Representatives | $64,860 |
| Advertising Sales Agents | $63,360 |
| Retail Sales Supervisors | $45,080 |
With over 126 different sales 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 sales school rankings to help you with this.
Professional Sales 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 |
| Retailing and Retail Operations | 1,025 |
| Other General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations | 233 |
| Merchandising and Buying Operations | 48 |
Image Credit: By Nick Nijhuis under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
