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General Sales at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,052/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #20 of 26 General Sales programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to General Sales graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$536K	$532K	$495K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.6x	10.5x	9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.8x	3.8x	3.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	58

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,752

Out-of-state: $139,736 (3.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,128

-93% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$55,908

24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $45,052 per year, General Sales graduates from University of South Carolina-Columbia earn below the $54,790 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI General Sales programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in General Sales's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,250 represents roughly 6 months of the $45,052 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #20 of 26 General Sales programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $45,052 to $55,908 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

University of South Carolina-Columbia accepts 61% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 28,113 students in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

Top Career Paths

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products $100,070/yr

Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270/yr

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers $84,130/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

General Sales at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for General Sales at University of South Carolina-Columbia?

This program scores 61/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of General Sales programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace General Sales careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $494,769 in decade earnings vs $536,372 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with General Sales from University of South Carolina-Columbia?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →