Est. Earnings (1yr)
$49,785
Est. from ND median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,192
Est. from national median (246 programs)

Analysis

A finance degree that carries $22,000 in estimated debt and leads to mid-$50,000s earnings by year four represents a manageable financial path, though the early numbers here rely entirely on estimates from comparable North Dakota programs. Minot State's graduates appear to track closely with the state's finance sector normsβ€”similar programs across North Dakota produce first-year earnings around $50,000, placing this squarely in the middle of what's typical for the state but below the $53,600 national median for finance degrees.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 suggests graduates could reasonably pay off loans within five years if they commit aggressively to repayment, and the relatively modest debt load compared to many finance programs nationwide (which median at $23,332) keeps the downside risk limited. What's less clear is whether Minot State's specific outcomes match these peer program estimatesβ€”the growth from an estimated $49,785 in year one to a reported $55,600 by year four shows solid progression, but without actual first-year data from this program, you're betting on the state average holding true.

For parents, the calculation comes down to whether this level of financial certainty is acceptable. The numbers suggest a workable investment if your student plans to stay in the regional market, but the lack of program-specific data means you're essentially backing North Dakota's finance job market rather than Minot State's particular track record in placing graduates.

Where Minot State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Minot State Universityβ€”$55,600β€”
University of Pennsylvania$122,698$206,646+68%
Rasmussen University-North Dakota$47,744$63,775+34%
North Dakota State University-Main Campus$53,163$62,889+18%
University of North Dakota$49,785$56,582+14%

Compare to Similar Programs in North Dakota

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Dakota (7 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Minot State UniversityMinot$8,634$49,785*$55,600$22,192*β€”
North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo$10,857$53,163*$62,889$25,542*0.48
University of North DakotaGrand Forks$10,951$49,785*$56,582$24,093*0.48
Rasmussen University-North DakotaFargo$12,715$47,744*$63,775$31,000*0.65
National Medianβ€”$53,590*β€”$23,332*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Minot State University, approximately 24% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in ND. Actual outcomes may vary.