Business Administration, Management and Operations at Augsburg University

Augsburg's business program delivers a puzzling result: graduates earn well above the national average but sit right at Minnesota's median—meaning half the state's business programs produce better outcomes. With first-year earnings of $52,466, you're essentially getting middle-of-the-pack performance in a state with strong business programs, while nearby University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates earn $66,000 and even University of Minnesota-Crookston reaches $58,805.

The financial picture isn't dire—$27,000 in debt against $52,000 in earnings is manageable, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. That's actually lower debt than both state and national medians. The problem lies in the modest 5% earnings growth over four years, suggesting this program may help you start reasonably well but doesn't necessarily position you for strong salary progression. For a school serving predominantly working-class students (52% receive Pell grants), this stability matters, but ambitious students should know the ceiling appears lower here.

If your child can secure meaningful scholarships or graduate with even less debt, Augsburg becomes more defensible as a regional option. But at full cost, you're paying for access to Minnesota's competitive business job market without the network advantages of the state's top programs—a trade-off worth weighing carefully against state universities that deliver $6,000-$13,000 more in starting salary.