Business Administration, Management and Operations at Hamline University

Hamline's business program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: while it outperforms most business programs nationally, it trails behind the Minnesota median for this major. That's significant because students choosing Hamline are likely comparing it to other in-state options where they'll pay similar tuition but could earn $6,000-$7,000 more annually from day one.

The debt load of $26,000 matches both state and national medians, which sounds reasonable until you realize it finances below-median Minnesota outcomes. Graduates start at $51,761—respectable compared to the national figure of $45,703, but landing at just the 40th percentile among Minnesota business programs. Even with solid 26% earnings growth by year four, they're still earning less than what University of Minnesota-Twin Cities or Concordia University-Saint Paul grads make right out of school. The school's 90% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest it serves a different population than Minnesota's flagship, but that doesn't fully explain the earnings gap when compared to similarly accessible programs like Concordia.

For Minnesota families, this creates a straightforward calculation: if your student can get into one of the stronger Minnesota business programs, they likely should. If Hamline is the best option due to location, fit, or financial aid packages, the debt level is manageable and earnings do grow—just temper expectations about matching what peers at other Twin Cities schools will earn.