Analysis
A bachelor's in sales from Colorado Christian appears to position graduates near the national middle of the pack, with peer programs nationwide suggesting first-year earnings around $53,400. That's neither impressive nor alarming for a four-year degree—it's solidly average. The estimated debt load of roughly $25,000 translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, meaning graduates would owe less than half their expected first-year salary.
The challenge here is uncertainty. As the only school in Colorado offering this specific bachelor's program through the federal data system, there's no local comparison point, and the small graduate cohort means these figures come from national peers rather than actual CCU outcomes. Sales and merchandising careers can vary enormously depending on industry, commission structure, and individual hustle—factors that program outcomes can't capture. The national data shows a meaningful spread between typical and top-performing programs, with 75th percentile graduates earning $64,500.
For families evaluating this program, the numbers suggest reasonable value if your student is committed to sales as a career path. The debt burden appears modest enough to manage on entry-level compensation, but recognize you're making this decision with limited visibility into how CCU's specific graduates perform. If your student has other options with reported outcomes, those might offer more certainty about return on investment.
Where Colorado Christian University Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all general sales, merchandising bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
General Sales, Merchandising bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,266 | $53,449* | — | $24,810* | — | |
| $8,300 | $93,151* | $81,347 | $24,272* | 0.26 | |
| $54,844 | $84,271* | $129,286 | $20,500* | 0.24 | |
| $8,886 | $75,543* | $72,918 | $24,810* | 0.33 | |
| $5,786 | $72,092* | $77,423 | $20,750* | 0.29 | |
| $13,099 | $66,372* | — | $22,000* | 0.33 | |
| National Median | — | $53,448* | — | $24,649* | 0.46 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with general sales, merchandising graduates
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Advertising Sales Agents
Travel Agents
Parts Salespersons
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Colorado Christian University, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 26 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.