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First, some facts. Of the Apparel Merchandising graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 50 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 61%, Apparel Merchandising graduates have a lower likelihood (-6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 16% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Apparel Merchandising graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 77% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2016 from Baylor University with a Bachelors Degree in Apparel Merchandising. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONVisual Merchandising EDP Macy's Jun 2016 - Apr 2017 Visual Manager LOA Replacement Macy's Apr 2017 - Jun 2017 Assistant Visual Manager Macy's Jun 2017 - Jan 2018 Assistant Visual Manager Macy's Jan 2019 - Oct 2020 Corporate Gifting Buyer and Manager  Northwestern Mutual Nov 2021 - Present ABOUTAfter years working in Visual Merchandising I am now continuing my career in creative retail but in a new lane as a Corporate Gifting Buyer/Manager. My goal is to provide seamless and friction free client gifting so that your clients can feel and see (in a tangible way) how appreciated they are by you! I'm here to brainstorm and execute creative gifts to ensure individuals feel special. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When digging through these LinkedIn profiles, it's super interesting to see the variety of jobs held by people who graduated with a degree in Apparel Merchandising. A lot of them have ended up in roles that are pretty closely related to what they studied! Positions like Assistant Buyer, Visual Merchandiser, and various Merchandiser roles pop up pretty frequently. These jobs leverage their understanding of fashion trends, product selection, and retail strategies, essentially putting their degree to good use. For example, being an Assistant Buyer for brands like Burlington Stores means they're making decisions that directly reflect the skills they learned in school.
However, not all paths taken by these graduates are directly linked to their degree in Apparel Merchandising. There are quite a few roles that seem to stray far from the core concepts of the field. For instance, some have taken up jobs in customer service, general marketing, or even unrelated fields like healthcare and education. These less relevant positions indicate that while some graduates find their niche in the fashion and retail sectors, others may find themselves exploring opportunities that don’t exactly align with their major. Ultimately, while there's a solid representation of relevant jobs, the range of career paths demonstrates that a degree in Apparel Merchandising can lead to a mixed bag of outcomes in terms of industry alignment."
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Apparel Merchandising graduates:
When you look at the career paths of graduates in Apparel Merchandising, it quickly becomes clear that many of them start in roles that are quite relevant to the field right after graduation. For many graduates, entry-level roles such as Assistant Buyer, Visual Merchandiser, or Sourcing Coordinator are common first jobs. This makes sense, as these positions allow graduates to dive into the merchandising process, helping them build a solid foundation of skills specific to their degree. As we look further down the line—five to ten years post-graduation—the pattern continues. Many individuals move into managerial or specialized roles within retail and merchandising, such as Senior Production Planner or Merchandise Manager. It's great to see that many people are still rooted in the industry, suggesting that their degrees are holding up well in the job market.
However, not all graduates found themselves in strictly Apparel Merchandising roles or industries directly related to their studies. There are also individuals who've veered significantly off the merchandising track, ending up in completely different sectors such as academia or other unrelated fields. For instance, some have taken on roles in event management or even healthcare, which might feel disconnected from what they studied. While it’s encouraging that some graduates are flourishing in relevant careers, there's a notable number who transitioned into positions that don’t directly align with their degree. This mixture of outcomes could suggest a flexible job market, but it also highlights the potential challenges some graduates may face in securing roles that fully utilize their Apparel Merchandising education. Ultimately, a degree in this field can indeed lead to helpful and promising career paths, but it seems there's a bit of unpredictability in how that degree translates into the job market for different individuals.
A Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Merchandising can be a mixed bag in terms of difficulty, but I’d say it’s generally on the easier side, especially compared to more technical degrees like engineering or physics. You’ll be diving into fashion trends, marketing strategies, and consumer behavior, which can be really fun if you’re passionate about clothes and style. Sure, there are some tough parts like designing, managing supply chains, and understanding business principles, but a lot of the coursework can feel more like a creative project than a brain-buster. If you love fashion and are willing to put in a bit of effort, you might find it pretty manageable overall!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Apparel Merchandising.
Looking at the job trajectories of these Apparel Merchandising graduates, it seems like some are doing pretty well, while others might not be hitting those high salary marks just yet. For instance, the graduate from Indiana University who’s moved up to an Associate Manager role at ANN INC already shows a promising climb in their career, which likely comes with a decent salary. On the other hand, those who have taken on roles like Visual Merchandiser or even assistant-level positions often start off on the lower end of the pay scale, which can be tough, especially in a competitive field like fashion.
Overall, it’s a mixed bag. Some graduates are climbing the corporate ladder rapidly and could be looking at solid salaries or even six figures down the line. However, others seem to be in more entry-level or transitional roles, which might not provide the financial stability they’d ideally want. It’s important to remember that many of these positions can serve as stepping stones, and with experience, they can pave the way for better-paying opportunities down the line.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Apparel Merchandising. This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Apparel Merchandising (ordered by the average relevance score of their Apparel Merchandising graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
| College | Score | Count |
|---|---|---|
 Indiana University Bloomington
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68 | 13 |