Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Minnesota State Community and Technical College's Liberal Arts program costs students significantly more than most comparable programs—placing in the 22nd percentile nationally for debt—yet delivers middle-of-the-road results within Minnesota. While graduates earn $31,817 in their first year (comfortably above the national median of $27,248), that same income lands them at just the 40th percentile among Minnesota's 39 liberal arts programs. In other words, you're paying premium debt for average in-state performance.

The debt burden here deserves scrutiny. At nearly $14,000, graduates carry about $3,000 more than the typical Minnesota liberal arts student and $3,000 more than the national median. That extra debt becomes harder to justify when you consider that nearby Riverland Community College's graduates earn $7,000 more annually, or that Inver Hills' graduates pull in over $10,000 more. The program does show solid earnings momentum—23% growth by year four—but that's essentially catching up to what other Minnesota programs deliver from day one.

For Minnesota families, this is a questionable value. The debt level is higher than necessary for what you're getting, and the earnings don't justify the premium. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend this specific campus, comparable programs across the state offer better financial outcomes with less borrowing required.