Business Administration, Management and Operations at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the available numbers show a program that lands well below the Minnesota median of $41,100—placing it at the bottom quartile for business associate's programs in the state. Starting at under $29,000 makes those first few years financially tight, though debt stays manageable at $12,800, about $6,000 below the state average. North Hennepin and Dakota County Technical, both in the Twin Cities metro, report outcomes $15,000-$18,000 higher, which is worth considering if your student has those options.

The 51% earnings jump by year four is meaningful—$43,547 puts graduates much closer to competitive ground. For a student planning to work while completing a bachelor's degree or climbing into management roles, this trajectory matters more than the starting point. The question is whether those lean early years, combined with below-average initial placement, create too much strain. With only 30 or so graduates in this cohort, these figures could easily shift year to year.

If your student needs an affordable entry point and plans to keep advancing, this works as a stepping stone. But if they can access one of the higher-performing programs in the state without taking on significantly more debt, those extra earnings from day one add up quickly.