Management Information Systems and Services at University of Mary

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 would be manageable for a tech-adjacent field like Management Information Systems, but the catch here is uncertainty. With too few graduates to report actual outcomes, we're relying on national benchmarks to estimate both earnings ($59,490) and debt ($26,581). That's a significant gap between what we can know and what we need to know. For context, North Dakota State's MIS program—with enough graduates to report real data—shows median earnings of $64,181, suggesting the state's small tech sector can support these graduates. However, University of Mary's much smaller program scale makes it harder to predict whether graduates will land those jobs or face a tougher search.

The estimated figures suggest this program could work financially—roughly half a year's salary in debt isn't prohibitive for a field where IT professionals typically see steady demand. But that's based on how similar programs perform nationally, not on how Mary's specific graduates fare. In a state with only five MIS programs and limited tech infrastructure outside Fargo, outcomes likely depend heavily on individual hustle and willingness to relocate.

The practical issue: you're betting on a program with no track record you can verify. If your child is set on staying local in Bismarck and has tech aptitude, it might work. But if they have the grades for NDSU, that program offers both confirmed outcomes and better career placement infrastructure.