Location: Saint Paul, MN•In-State Tuition: $49,758•Admission Rate: 94%•Avg SAT: 1190
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$49,439
Est. from MN median (17 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,000
Est. from MN median (7 programs)

Analysis

The estimated $25,000 debt load for St. Catherine's marketing program aligns with typical borrowing across Minnesota schools, though the projected first-year earnings of around $49,400 tell only part of the story. This debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 sits in manageable territory—lower debt means graduates could theoretically pay off loans within a few years if they prioritize it. However, the earnings figure comes from averaging 17 marketing programs across Minnesota, and the actual outcomes for St. Catherine graduates could vary significantly depending on the strength of their career services, alumni network, and local employer relationships.

What's harder to assess is competitive positioning. Top marketing programs in the state—Minnesota-Twin Cities, Capella, Saint Mary's—report actual earnings $6,000 to $10,000 higher in the first year. St. Catherine's 94% admission rate and mid-range SAT scores suggest it serves a different student population than Minnesota's flagship, but whether that translates to meaningfully different career outcomes isn't clear from these estimates alone.

The numbers suggest manageable risk rather than red flags, but parents should press the school for concrete placement data: where recent marketing graduates actually work, starting salary ranges they've seen, and which employers recruit on campus. Without program-specific outcomes, you're betting that St. Catherine's version of this degree performs at least as well as the Minnesota average—a reasonable assumption, but one worth validating before committing.

Where St Catherine University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all marketing bachelors's programs nationally

St Catherine University (estimated ±10%)Other marketing programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Marketing bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul$49,758$49,439*—$25,000*—
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis$16,488$59,609*$76,482$22,750*0.38
Capella UniversityMinneapolis$14,436$55,495*—$45,406*0.82
Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona$43,160$55,158*$59,070$18,735*0.34
University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth$14,318$53,800*$63,722$25,000*0.46
The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluth$40,454$52,732*$52,354$25,000*0.47
National Median—$44,728*—$24,267*0.54
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with marketing graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marketing Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/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:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master'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 St Catherine University, approximately 36% 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 median of 17 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.