Median Earnings (1yr)
$58,451
69th percentile
60th percentile in Minnesota
Median Debt
$27,000
16% above national median

Analysis

Saint Mary's finance graduates start at $58,451β€”nearly $5,000 above the national median and $6,000 more than Minnesota's typical finance program. Among the state's 21 finance programs, this places them in the 60th percentile, trailing only the Twin Cities powerhouses (University of Minnesota at $69K, St. Thomas at $66K) and a few select schools. For a university with an 89% admission rate in a small Minnesota town, these outcomes punch above their weight class.

The debt picture strengthens the case considerably. At $27,000, graduates owe just slightly more than average but face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46β€”meaning they'd need less than six months of gross income to cover their loans. That's significantly better than most finance programs nationally (5th percentile for debt burden). The combination of above-average earnings and manageable debt creates a realistic path to financial stability right out of college.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than at larger programs. Still, if your child wants a finance career without the pressure of elite school admissions or crushing debt, Saint Mary's delivers competitive results at a fraction of the financial risk you'd face at comparable programs.

Where Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (21 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona$43,160$58,451β€”$27,0000.46
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis$16,488$69,094$87,799$21,5000.31
University of St ThomasSaint Paul$52,284$66,006$81,390$26,2500.40
Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis$43,942$63,598$64,401$27,0000.42
Concordia College at MoorheadMoorhead$30,020$59,104β€”β€”β€”
The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluth$40,454$52,677β€”$23,0000.44
National Medianβ€”$53,590β€”$23,3320.44

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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, approximately 22% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 20 graduates with reported earnings and 23 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.