General Sales, Merchandising at Weber State University

Weber State's General Sales program delivers exceptional outcomes that dramatically outpace national norms—graduates earn $60,215 their first year, more than double the $27,837 national median for this associate's degree. That 95th percentile performance nationally puts this program in a league of its own, even surpassing what most bachelor's-level business programs achieve. The $17,031 debt load creates a highly favorable 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans with less than four months of gross income.

The state context requires some interpretation: Weber State ranks at the 60th percentile among Utah's two programs offering this degree, which simply reflects that both Utah schools deliver strong outcomes—the state median matches Weber State's numbers exactly. This isn't a knock on the program; it confirms that Utah students in general sales have access to robust local employment markets that pay associate's degree holders significantly above national rates.

For families concerned about return on investment, this program offers one of the clearest value propositions you'll find at the associate's degree level. Graduates enter the workforce with minimal debt and earning power that rivals many four-year degrees. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these outcomes without suggesting the program is untested.