Human Resources Management and Services at Dickinson State University

Dickinson State's HR program produces first-year earnings nearly on par with the national median ($50,122 versus $50,361), but the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—makes it hard to know if these numbers will hold steady year to year. What's more telling is the comparison within North Dakota: this program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, with graduates earning about $3,000 less than the state median. That gap isn't enormous, but it suggests you might find stronger options even within the state, such as Rasmussen's program where grads start above $56,000.

The debt picture offers a silver lining. At $33,519, graduates carry notably less debt than the national median for HR programs ($26,625 is typical), and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 is quite manageable—well below the threshold where repayment becomes burdensome. North Dakota's median HR program debt actually runs higher at $35,876, so Dickinson students are borrowing less than their in-state peers.

For an anxious parent, the core question is whether slightly below-average earnings in a manageable debt package justifies the investment. If your child is committed to staying in North Dakota and values a smaller school environment, this could work—the debt won't be crushing. But if maximizing early career earnings matters, exploring other ND options makes sense, especially since the small cohort size means one bad year could significantly shift these numbers.