Est. Earnings (1yr)
$59,490
Est. from national median (153 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,185
Est. from national median (112 programs)

Analysis

A Management Information Systems degree from Saint Cloud State presents a reasonable financial picture based on what peer programs typically deliver. First-year earnings around $59,500—the national median for MIS bachelor's programs—combine with estimated debt of $23,185 to produce a manageable 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's better than many business-adjacent degrees, and the jump to $73,371 by year four suggests steady career progression in a field where demand for tech-savvy business professionals remains strong.

What's worth noting is that similar MIS programs in Minnesota typically see slightly higher first-year earnings (around $62,000), and nearby schools like Winona State are placing graduates at $64,600+. Saint Cloud's accessible admissions (95% acceptance rate) may partly explain this gap, though the difference isn't dramatic. The real test will be whether this specific program's curriculum and employer connections deliver outcomes closer to Minnesota's competitive upper tier or fall below the national baseline.

For families comfortable with moderate uncertainty—since these figures are drawn from comparable programs rather than Saint Cloud's actual graduate outcomes—the fundamentals look solid. MIS sits at the intersection of business and technology, and even at the conservative national median, you're looking at debt that's less than 40% of first-year earnings. That's manageable for most borrowers, assuming the real-world results align with these peer-based estimates.

Where Saint Cloud State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all management information systems and services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Saint Cloud State University—$73,371—
Georgetown University$83,756$113,090+35%
University of Notre Dame$78,507$109,779+40%
Howard University$78,544$103,418+32%
Bellevue University$67,262$101,717+51%

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Management Information Systems and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (11 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud$10,117$59,490*$73,371$23,185*—
Winona State UniversityWinona$10,498$64,613*—$27,000*0.42
Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis$43,942$59,722*—$24,737*0.41
National Median—$59,490*—$24,000*0.40
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with management information systems and services graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
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 Saint Cloud State University, approximately 20% 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 national median of 153 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.