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Merchandise worker education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a merchandise worker. Merchandise workers usually study business, psychology, or kinesiology. 34% of merchandise workers hold a bachelor's degree, and 30% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 192 real merchandise worker resumes to see exactly what merchandise worker education sections show.

The most common colleges for merchandise workers are the Norfolk State University and the Norfolk State University.

There are also many online merchandise worker courses to help get the education required to be a merchandise worker.

What education do you need to become a merchandise worker?

What degree do you need to be a merchandise worker?

The most common degree for merchandise workers is bachelor's degree, with 34% of merchandise workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 30% and high school diploma degree at 27%.
  • Bachelor's, 34%
  • High School Diploma, 30%
  • Associate, 27%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a merchandise worker?

You should major in business to become a merchandise worker. 16% of merchandise workers major in business. Other common majors for a merchandise worker include psychology and kinesiology.

Most common colleges for merchandise workers

Merchandise workers often get their degrees at Norfolk State University, DeVry University, and Manhattan College. Here are the most common colleges for merchandise workers in the US based on their resumes.
Merchandise worker common collegePercentages
Norfolk State University9.09%
DeVry University9.09%
Manhattan College4.55%
Adelphi University4.55%
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point4.55%

Best majors for merchandise workers

RankMajorPercentages
1Business16.0%
2Psychology8.0%
3Kinesiology6.0%
4Communication6.0%
5General Studies6.0%

Best colleges for merchandise workers

The best colleges for merchandise workers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A merchandise worker with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for merchandise workers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become merchandise workers.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

3. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

6. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

7. University of Minnesota - Crookston

Crookston, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$11,822

Enrollment

1,834

8. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Lincoln, NE • Private

In-state tuition

$9,242

Enrollment

20,592

9. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

10. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

20 best online courses for merchandise workers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for merchandise workers

The most affordable schools for merchandise workers are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.

If the best universities for merchandise workers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for merchandise workers.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. Dickinson State University

Dickinson, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$6,768

Cost of attendance

15,506

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for merchandise workers

The hardest universities for merchandise workers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for merchandise workers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for merchandise workers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

8. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,448

9. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for merchandise workers

The easiest schools for merchandise workers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a merchandise worker without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for merchandise workers.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

7. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

8. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

9. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

10. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

Average merchandise worker salary by education level

Merchandise workers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $32,413 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, merchandise workers earn a median annual income of $32,351 compared to $29,941 for merchandise workers with an Associate degree.
Merchandise worker education levelMerchandise worker salary
Master's Degree$32,413
High School Diploma or Less$29,908
Bachelor's Degree$32,351
Some College/ Associate Degree$29,941

Merchandise worker education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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