Economics at Saint Cloud State University

The estimated debt of $21,500 for this economics degree sits comfortably below both state and national medians, suggesting Saint Cloud State delivers relatively affordable preparation in a traditionally lucrative field. Based on comparable Minnesota programs, first-year earnings around $56,570 would match the state median for economics majors—a solid starting point that exceeds the national benchmark by nearly $5,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 indicates graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than five months of gross income, a favorable position by any measure.

What's less clear is the earnings trajectory. Fourth-year earnings of $54,410 actually fall below the estimated first-year figure, which is unusual for economics degrees and may reflect the uncertainty inherent in working with small graduate samples. Whether this represents an actual plateau or simply statistical noise from limited data is impossible to determine. The program also trails Minnesota's top economics programs by $10,000 or more in starting earnings, though those comparisons include highly selective private colleges.

For families prioritizing manageable debt in a versatile major, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. Economics degrees typically open doors in business, finance, and analytics regardless of the institution's prestige. Just understand you're making this decision with limited visibility into this specific program's actual graduate outcomes—the financial picture looks workable based on peer institutions, but isn't confirmed by this school's own track record.