General Sales, Merchandising at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

UW-Oshkosh's sales and merchandising program sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, delivering exactly what you'd expect: graduates earn right at the national median ($54,213 versus $53,448) with manageable debt of $23,500. Within Wisconsin's limited market—only three schools offer this program—it ranks 60th percentile, landing between UW-Madison's higher earners and UW-Stout's significantly lower outcomes. That's meaningful context since most Wisconsin students will choose among these in-state options for tuition reasons.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means graduates would devote less than half their first-year salary to paying off loans—a workable starting point for a sales career. Earnings climb modestly to $57,376 by year four, which suggests steady but unspectacular career progression. This isn't the field where you'll see explosive income growth, but it offers stability.

For families considering this program, the calculus is straightforward: you're paying average debt for average outcomes in a field where personality and hustle matter as much as the diploma. If your student thrives in relationship-building and doesn't need to be at the top-ranked program, UW-Oshkosh provides a cost-effective entry point into sales careers without the premium price tag of UW-Madison.