General Sales, Merchandising, and Related Marketing Operations at Lincoln University
MO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.18
Executive Summary
Graduates with a General Sales, Merchandising, and Related Marketing Operations degree from Lincoln University earn a median salary of $51,223 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $57,425. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$39,342
Typical Career
$51,223
Top Performers
$72,585
Estimated break-even: 13.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$341
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,269. Most students can comfortably afford about a $341 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Missouri buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Public Administration, Health Care & Social Assistance.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$57,425
Nominal: $51,223 in Missouri (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $27,453 | $35,797 | $44,469 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,342 | $51,223 | $72,585 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $33,937 | $54,453 | $79,787 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $51,223 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MO, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $51,223 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $57,425 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Educational Services (18.0%), Public Administration (17.3%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (16.4%), reflecting a diverse range of career opportunities. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 13.8 years, suggesting that while the initial investment in education may take time to recoup, the long-term benefits in earnings and career advancement can be significant. Overall, pursuing this degree appears to offer a reasonable return on investment for students.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.