General Sales, Merchandising at Baylor University

Baylor's sales and merchandising graduates earn $84,271 in their first year—58% above the national median and $18,000 more than even Texas A&M's top-ranked program in the state. By year four, median earnings jump to $129,286, placing Baylor's graduates on an earnings trajectory that justifies the private school price tag. At $20,500 in median debt (below both state and national averages), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 means graduates owe less than three months of their starting salary.

Among Texas programs, Baylor ranks in the 80th percentile for earnings, but that undersells the gap—the nearest competitor is Texas A&M at $66,372, and Baylor beats that by $18,000. Nationally, these graduates sit in the 95th percentile, outperforming 79 of the 84 schools offering this degree. The 53% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are quickly moving into management or higher-commission roles, a pattern that reflects well on both the program's preparation and Baylor's alumni network in Texas business circles.

For families concerned about private school costs, this program demonstrates clear ROI. The combination of strong starting salaries, rapid earnings growth, and manageable debt makes this one of the stronger sales programs in the state—and graduates enter the workforce with credentials that command significantly higher compensation than peers from other programs.