Economics at Bemidji State University

Minnesota's economics programs cluster tightly in the mid-$50Ks to low-$60Ks range for first-year earnings, and based on peer programs across the state, Bemidji State appears to land squarely in the middle of this pack at an estimated $56,570. That figure sits comfortably above the national benchmark of $51,722 and matches the state median exactly. The estimated debt load of $21,500 looks manageable—yielding a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio that suggests graduates could feasibly pay down loans within four years if they prioritized it.

The limitation here is that we're working entirely with estimates derived from similar Minnesota programs, since Bemidji State's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. We don't know whether Bemidji's economics students specifically achieve these earnings or carry this debt. What the broader Minnesota data tells us is that economics degrees from state schools typically produce solid entry-level salaries without crushing debt burdens, and there's no immediate red flag suggesting Bemidji would be an outlier.

If your child is considering this program, the key question is whether the estimated $56K starting salary aligns with their career goals and post-graduation location. Economics graduates in Minnesota seem to do reasonably well regardless of institution prestige, though the state's top programs do show a $5K-10K advantage. The debt picture makes this a financially sensible bet if those estimated figures hold true.