International Business at Augsburg University

Minnesota's international business programs typically produce stronger returns than what peer data suggests for Augsburg—with the University of Minnesota reporting $65,000 in first-year earnings, there's a notable gap from the national-benchmark figure of $49,890 used here. That's a $15,000 difference that compounds significantly over time. The debt estimate of $25,000 looks manageable on paper with a 0.50 ratio, though it's worth noting that Minnesota programs typically graduate students with less debt than this national benchmark.

What complicates the picture is Augsburg's student body: 52% receive Pell grants, indicating many families are stretching financially to afford this education. If actual outcomes fall closer to the state pattern, this could work well—international business skills paired with Augsburg's urban Minneapolis location might open doors with global companies headquartered in the Twin Cities. But if outcomes track closer to the national median figures shown here, families face a tougher value proposition when competing programs in Minnesota appear to deliver substantially higher returns.

The bottom line: push Augsburg for specific placement data and alumni outcomes in international business. The wide gap between Minnesota's typical earnings and the national benchmarks used here makes it essential to understand where this specific program actually lands—that difference represents tens of thousands of dollars in the first year alone.