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Retail management internship education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a retail management internship. Retail management interns usually study business, specialized sales and merchandising, or marketing. 82% of retail management interns hold a bachelor's degree, and 8% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,146 real retail management internship resumes to see exactly what retail management internship education sections show.

The most common colleges for retail management interns are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

There are also many online retail management internship courses to help get the education required to be a retail management internship.

What education do you need to become a retail management internship?

What degree do you need to be a retail management internship?

The most common degree for retail management interns is bachelor's degree, with 82% of retail management interns earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 8% and associate degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 82%
  • Associate, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 5%
  • Master's, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a retail management internship?

You should major in business to become a retail management internship. 27% of retail management interns major in business. Other common majors for a retail management internship include specialized sales and merchandising and marketing.

Most common colleges for retail management interns

Retail management interns often get their degrees at Fashion Institute of Technology, University of Washington, and Johnson & Wales University. Here are the most common colleges for retail management interns in the US based on their resumes.
Retail management internship common collegePercentages
Fashion Institute of Technology9.36%
University of Washington6.81%
Johnson & Wales University6.81%
Ohio State University5.96%
Florida State University5.53%

Best majors for retail management interns

Best colleges for retail management interns

The best colleges for retail management interns are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Boston University.

A retail management internship with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for retail management interns. 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 retail management interns.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of Georgia

Athens, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,830

Enrollment

29,474

3. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

4. Baylor University

Waco, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$45,542

Enrollment

14,159

5. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

6. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

8. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

9. Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,853

Enrollment

14,759

10. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

20 best online courses for retail management interns

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1. Retail Customer Service

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The Retail Customer Service course examines the day-to-day tasks that will be tackled in a retail customer service setting, including advanced skills such as returns and exchanges. You will apply guidelines for transactions such as sales, returns, exchanges, and data entry for customer information in real simulations. You will also observe the skills within a retail community location, evaluating the types of tasks observed and shared with a group of peers. You will complete sample transactions...

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The demand for customer service representatives is huge, there are thousands of open job roles in the US alone. This program prepares you for a retail customer service role. Retail customer service is an exciting career where every day is a new day and a new adventure. The target audience for this certificate is anyone who is customer obsessed and is looking to launch a career in retail customer service.\n\nThis program uniquely prepares you for your new role by using a blend of videos,...

3. Operations Management: Inventory Management

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Operations Management Training Program (Course 4 of 8)...

4. Management - Leadership, Negotiating, Assertiveness, Sales

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4.5
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A practical guide covering assertiveness, time management, leadership, negotiating, sales & project management...

5. Sales Operations/Management

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Sales jobs span nearly every industry, from agribusiness and pharmaceuticals, to telecommunications and property management. And essential to sales is the management of the sales force. This course provides the knowledge and know how required for careers in sales management. Students are exposed to all facets of sales management, including organizing, selecting, training, motivating, supervising and compensating the sales force, territory management and administration and sales and expense...

6. TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP Management Coach Training

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Management Training, Coaching Remote Team, Management Coaching, Sales Coaching, Sales Management Coach, Sales Leadership...

7. Diploma Course in Retail Management

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Enhance your skills (Operations/Sales/VM/HR/SCM) in the ever growing Retail industry - Cover latest trends, casestudies...

8. Customer Relationship Management A Retail Perspective

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The success of your business through managing relationships with customers effectively...

9. Customer Service Training: Dealing with Difficult Customers

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10. Sales Analysis for Management Consultants

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11. Operations Management: Supply Chains, Products and Services

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Master Supply Chain Management and Product and Service Development in Manufacturing and Service Organizations...

12. Retail for Business Analysts and Management Consultants

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A practical guide with cases studies how to analyze and improve a retail business during management consulting projects...

13. MBA: Retail business, Merchandising, and E-commerce

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4.5
(307)

Build and grow your own retail business and e-commerce...

14. Customer Service Foundation

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4.5
(290)

An introductory course about understanding the foundations of Customer Service...

15. Sales Fire: B2B Sales & Business Development for Startups

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The Ultimate Sales Methodology for Business Development & B2B Sales to Learn Sales Strategy, Sales Skills & Deal Closing...

16. The Operations Management Training Program

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Learn how to design, plan, direct, and improve all the activities that transform resources into goods or services...

17. Customer Service Fundamentals: Putting People First

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Customer Care Listening Great Customer Service Concern for Others Company Culture Engaging People Responding...

18. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

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Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

19. Retail Management

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Retailing includes all business activities involved in selling goods and services to end consumers...

20. Start Improving Customer Service

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Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...

Top 10 most affordable universities for retail management interns

The most affordable schools for retail management interns are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.

If the best universities for retail management interns 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 retail management interns.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

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. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$5,740

Cost of attendance

17,864

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

8. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

10. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for retail management interns

The hardest universities for retail management interns to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Boston University.

Some great schools for retail management interns 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 retail management interns 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

5. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

6. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

10. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for retail management interns

The easiest schools for retail management interns to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a retail management internship 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 retail management interns.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

7. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

8. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

9. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

10. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

Average retail management internship salary by education level

According to our data, retail management interns with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $51,658 annually. Retail management interns with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $46,057.
Retail management internship education levelRetail management internship salary
Master's Degree$51,658
High School Diploma or Less$37,313
Bachelor's Degree$46,057
Some College/ Associate Degree$38,898

Retail management internship 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.