Economics at St Catherine University

At $64,916 in first-year earnings, St. Catherine's economics graduates outperform the national median by over $13,000—a substantial 25% premium. The program lands in the 84th percentile nationally, putting it ahead of roughly 650 other economics programs across the country. Within Minnesota, it ranks 60th percentile, trailing only elite schools like Carleton and St. Thomas while beating the state median by nearly $8,500. For a school with a 94% admission rate, these outcomes punch well above their weight class.

The debt picture strengthens the case: $30,215 is manageable against that first-year salary, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. Graduates earning roughly $5,400 per month could realistically pay this off in two to three years with aggressive payments. The debt sits in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of economics programs leave students with more debt—making this one of the more affordable paths to an economics degree.

The critical caveat is sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates, one exceptional cohort or one challenging year could swing these numbers significantly. These figures may not represent what your child would experience. Still, the combination of strong earnings, low debt, and high accessibility makes this program worth serious consideration, particularly for Minnesota residents looking for solid economics preparation without the pressure of highly selective admissions.