Business/Commerce at The College of Saint Scholastica

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 suggests graduates would need to allocate roughly half their first-year salary to eliminate student loans—a manageable but not ideal starting point. The $27,000 estimated debt sits slightly above Minnesota's typical $24,438 for business programs, while the projected $49,881 in earnings matches the state median exactly. What's worth noting is the variation among Minnesota business programs: Saint Cloud State graduates report earning nearly $10,000 more in their first year, which over a career makes a significant difference.

These figures come from similar business programs rather than Saint Scholastica's actual graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about what your child would actually earn. The school's 94% admission rate and modest test scores suggest it's accessible rather than selective, which sometimes correlates with different career networking and employer recruitment than you'd find at more competitive institutions. For a business degree where internships and employer connections often matter as much as coursework, understanding the school's specific corporate partnerships would be essential.

The practical reality: at these estimated numbers, loan payments would be roughly $300 monthly on a standard plan—tight but workable on a $50,000 salary. Before committing, push the school for concrete placement data: which companies hire their business graduates, what percentage secure jobs in their field within six months, and whether those actual outcomes align with these state-based projections.