General Sales, Merchandising (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Riverside City College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,009

Est. from national median (8 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$20,500

Est. from national median (5 programs)

Analysis

A certificate in sales and merchandising at Riverside City College presents an unusual data puzzle. Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $41,000 with typical debt of $20,500—a manageable 0.50 ratio. But California's reported outcomes tell a starkly different story: the state median for this credential sits at just $15,849, less than 40% of what similar programs produce elsewhere. That's a massive gap that can't be explained by cost of living or regional variation alone.

The national estimate might reflect programs with stronger employer pipelines or more developed curricula, while California's actual outcomes suggest many graduates struggle to translate this credential into meaningful wage gains. Without reported data from Riverside specifically, there's no way to know whether this program delivers closer to the national pattern or follows California's disappointing trend. For a family considering this path, that uncertainty is the central problem—you're essentially betting on which outcome materializes.

Given that stark divergence between national estimates and California's reality, treating this as a $20,500 gamble on $41,000 earnings would be reckless. The safer assumption is that outcomes lean closer to what peer California programs actually report. If your student needs sales training, look for programs with transparent placement data or consider entering the field directly—many retail and B2B sales roles hire and train without requiring upfront educational debt.

Where Riverside City College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all general sales, merchandising certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

General Sales, Merchandising certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (62 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Riverside City CollegeRiverside	$1,420	$41,009*	—	$20,500*	—
CET-San JoseSan Jose	—	$15,849*	$15,181	—*	—
CET-El CentroEl Centro	—	$15,849*	$15,181	—*	—
National Median	—	$41,008*	—	$20,500*	0.50

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with general sales, merchandising graduates

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.

$74,100/yrJobs growth:

Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors

Contact new or existing customers to determine their solar equipment needs, suggest systems or equipment, or estimate costs.

$74,100/yrJobs growth:

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

$74,100/yrJobs growth:

Advertising Sales Agents

Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.

$61,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Travel Agents

Plan and sell transportation and accommodations for customers. Determine destination, modes of transportation, travel dates, costs, and accommodations required. May also describe, plan, and arrange itineraries and sell tour packages. May assist in resolving clients' travel problems.

$48,450/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Parts Salespersons

Sell spare and replacement parts and equipment in repair shop or parts store.

$34,730/yrJobs growth:No formal educational credential

Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products

Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. May negotiate contracts. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.

Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel

Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

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 Riverside City College, 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 8 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.