General Sales, Merchandising at University of Pennsylvania

A bachelor's in sales and merchandising from one of the world's most selective universities—admitting just 6% of applicants—produces estimated first-year earnings around $53,000, based on what similar programs nationally report. That figure sits right at the national median for this degree, which raises an immediate question: why would families pay Ivy League prices for middle-of-the-pack outcomes?

The estimated debt of $24,810 is manageable relative to earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio under 0.5. But context matters enormously here. Penn's average SAT of 1545 and single-digit admission rate signal you're looking at students who could access virtually any program anywhere. For these high-achievers, sales and merchandising programs at other institutions produce the same $53,000 starting point—without the competitive pressure or opportunity cost of using a Penn acceptance on this particular major. The real cost isn't just the debt; it's what else that Penn credential could have opened.

If your child is genuinely passionate about retail strategy or merchandising and has their heart set on Penn's specific curriculum or network, the numbers aren't prohibitive. But be clear-eyed: this combination of school and major doesn't appear to unlock earnings advantages that would justify choosing it over either a business-focused degree at Penn or a similar merchandising program elsewhere that's far easier to access.