Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Alexandria Technical & Community College

That first-year median of $18,730 is genuinely concerning—it places Alexandria Tech's liberal arts program in the bottom 10% both nationally and across Minnesota, where similar programs typically deliver $32,000 in initial earnings. Even accounting for the small sample size (under 30 graduates), that's nearly half what students at Winona State or Inver Hills earn with comparable degrees. The $8,250 debt load is relatively modest, but it still represents almost half a year's starting income, which stretches already-tight budgets.

The dramatic earnings jump to $37,100 by year four tells a more complex story. That 98% growth suggests graduates eventually find their footing, catching up to Minnesota's median and even surpassing some peer schools. But three years of sub-$20,000 earnings creates real financial hardship that could derail students who can't access family support or additional aid during that period.

Given the small sample size, these numbers might not represent a typical graduate's experience—a few outliers could skew the data significantly either direction. If your child is considering this path, understand they'd likely be signing up for several lean years before seeing meaningful income, with no guarantee they'll match that four-year median. For students who need to be financially independent quickly after graduation, programs at Century or Riverland show stronger initial outcomes in the same field.