Business/Commerce at Riverland Community College

A debt load of nearly $15,000 for an associate's degree in business raises immediate questions, especially when similar programs in Minnesota suggest earnings around $40,000—about $3,600 more than what comparable programs nationally produce. The debt sits right at the national average for this credential, but Minnesota business programs typically carry even higher debt burdens (closer to $20,000), making Riverland's figure relatively manageable by state standards.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 suggests graduates from peer programs can typically handle repayment, assuming those national earnings estimates hold true locally. However, two-year business degrees face a fundamental challenge: they open doors to entry-level positions that don't always command salaries high enough to justify debt approaching $15,000. Programs at Century and Anoka-Ramsey—both showing earnings around $40,000—demonstrate what's possible in Minnesota's job market, though without Riverland's actual outcomes, you're making an educated guess about whether their graduates achieve similar results.

The bottom line: This investment makes sense if your student plans to stay in Minnesota's stronger business job market and can limit borrowing below the $15,000 mark. If they're taking out more than that, or if local employment opportunities in Austin are limited, you're betting on outcomes that peer programs suggest are achievable but aren't guaranteed for this specific school.