Business Administration, Management and Operations at Alexandria Technical & Community College

With a small graduating class that makes these numbers preliminary, Alexandria Tech's business program sits in an interesting position—beating the national median by about $1,200 while trailing Minnesota's typical associate-level business program by roughly $3,000 annually. That gap widens when you look at the state's top performers: North Hennepin and Dakota County grads are pulling in $45,000-$47,000, nearly 25% more than Alexandria Tech's $36,000 starting figure.

The upside here is manageable debt. At $12,375, students borrow about $6,400 less than the Minnesota average for this program, which partially offsets the earnings gap. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 means graduates need roughly four months of gross income to cover their loans—workable by community college standards. Earnings do grow modestly to $38,000 by year four, though that trajectory remains below what competing Minnesota programs deliver right out of the gate.

For families committed to staying in Alexandria, this program offers a low-debt path into business roles, though your child will likely start at a lower salary than classmates who attend technical colleges in the Twin Cities metro area. If mobility is an option, the data suggests looking at programs that combine similar affordability with stronger earning potential.