Marketing at Concordia University-Saint Paul

Concordia University-Saint Paul's marketing program charges below-average debt ($26,500 versus $25,000 state median) but delivers below-median Minnesota outcomes. While first-year earnings of $48,007 beat the national average by nearly $3,300, they trail the Minnesota median by $1,400—a meaningful gap when you're competing for jobs in the same market as University of Minnesota graduates who start at $59,609.

The 40th percentile ranking among Minnesota programs tells the real story here. Your child would earn roughly $10,000 less annually than marketing graduates from UMN-Twin Cities or even regional options like Saint Scholastica. That gap compounds quickly: over a decade, it could mean $100,000 in lost earnings. The solid 19% earnings growth to year four shows graduates do progress, but they're starting from behind and may struggle to catch up to peers from stronger programs.

The debt load is reasonable and the national comparison looks decent, but those statistics matter less than the local reality. Minnesota employers know the state's marketing programs well, and Concordia ranks in the bottom half. For families choosing between in-state options, the numbers suggest looking at schools where graduates command higher starting salaries—the modest debt savings here don't compensate for the earnings disadvantage in Minnesota's job market.