General Sales at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public · Certificate · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

North Dakota State University-Main Campus accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 9,567 in Fargo, ND.

Program Analysis

At $55,734 per year, General Sales graduates from North Dakota State University-Main Campus significantly outpace the $34,853 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 53.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for General Sales graduates.

The median debt load of $24,095 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #3 out of 16 programs, North Dakota State University-Main Campus's General Sales program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

With 8 registered apprenticeships mapped to General Sales, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
75
Low End
78
Score
80
High End
Earnings $55,734/yr (60% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (56% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$583K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
53.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
11 of 11
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$10,857
Out-of-state: $15,511
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,095
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for General Sales graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products $100,070 +1.9% 54%
Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270 +5.7% 51%
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers $84,130 0.0% 46%
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
$100,070
+1.9% growth 54% AI-proof
Business teachers, postsecondary
$97,270
+5.7% growth 51% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
$84,130
0.0% growth 46% AI-proof

View all 11 career paths with full salary data →

About General Sales Careers

Your career in sales can take you in two main directions. You might become a first-line supervisor in a retail store, where your day involves managing schedules for your sales team, tracking inventory in the back room, and being the go-to person on the floor for tough customer issues. Alternatively, you could hit the road as a B2B sales representative, meeting with business clients to understand their needs, demonstrating how your products or services can help, and negotiating contracts.

Read the full General Sales career guide →

Compare & Explore

General Sales Overview

General Sales at Other Schools

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does North Dakota State University-Main Campus's General Sales program score?
At 78/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How vulnerable is General Sales to AI automation?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $583,100 in decade earnings vs $583,100 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes North Dakota State University-Main Campus's General Sales program stand out?
Ranked #3 of 16 programs nationally, North Dakota State University-Main Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for General Sales graduates?
There are 8 registered apprenticeships connected to General Sales occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for General Sales graduates?
The career paths mapped to General Sales have roughly 499,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →