Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Minnesota North College

Minnesota North College graduates start earning just above the national average, but here's the problem: they're making $4,000 less than the typical Minnesota community college graduate in this program. That's a meaningful gap when you're earning $27,000 in your first year. Among Minnesota's 39 schools offering this degree, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable programs in the state produce better outcomes.

The silver lining is genuine earnings growth. Graduates see their income jump 35% by year four to $36,600, which is solid trajectory for an associate's degree. The debt load of $13,250 is reasonable—below both state and national medians—resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.50. With a robust sample size, these numbers are reliable, not flukes.

The real question is opportunity cost. Programs like Inver Hills or Century College deliver earnings $10,000+ higher by year four, and they're also Minnesota community colleges. If your child can access those alternatives—whether through relocation or online options—they'd likely see stronger returns on the same two-year investment. If Minnesota North is the only accessible option, the low debt keeps it viable, but recognize you're accepting below-average Minnesota outcomes for what appears to be a regional convenience trade-off.