General Sales at Wade College

Dallas, TX · Private for-profit · Associate Degree · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

a compact campus enrolling 205 students in Dallas, TX.

Program Analysis

At $12,995 per year, General Sales graduates from Wade College earn below the $34,853 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

A 6.0x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

Career paths for General Sales carry above-average AI exposure (44% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

At a 1.7x debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, loan repayment extends well beyond graduation. Financial aid and income-driven plans become important considerations.

A #16 ranking among 16 General Sales programs places Wade College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $12,995-to-$34,962 earnings arc over five years reflects a 169% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 8 apprenticeship pathways connected to General Sales reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

44 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
39
Low End
44
Score
46
High End
Earnings $12,995/yr (-63% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (56% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$228K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
6.4x
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
$35,384
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
20.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$34,962
169% growth from Year 1

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 Wade College's General Sales program score?
At 44/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring General Sales programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
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 $135,956 in decade earnings vs $228,046 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What's the payoff timeline for General Sales from Wade College?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.7x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
Is Wade College a good choice for General Sales despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Wade College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
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 →