Human Resources Management and Services at Concordia University-Saint Paul

Concordia University-Saint Paul's HR management program produces graduates earning $65,730 right out of school—$13,000 above the national median and competitive with much larger Minnesota institutions. With debt of $28,666, that translates to a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would dedicate less than half their first year's salary to debt. That's a strong starting position.

The concern is what happens next. Earnings drop to $57,399 by year four, a 13% decline that's unusual for business programs. This could reflect graduates moving to lower-cost-of-living areas, transitioning to nonprofit HR roles, or simply career path volatility in the dataset. Within Minnesota, this program sits at the 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack—trailing Bethel and Capella but ahead of larger state schools like the University of Minnesota.

For an anxious parent, the question is whether that impressive first-year number represents genuine career momentum or a temporary peak. The debt is reasonable enough that even if your child's earnings trajectory follows the median decline, they won't be financially underwater. But if you're expecting steady salary growth typical of business careers, these numbers suggest tempering those expectations.