Business, Management, Marketing, at University of Minnesota-Crookston

The $82,000+ first-year salary for business graduates at UMN-Crookston looks impressive at first glance—it sits in the 95th percentile nationally for business programs. However, the picture becomes murkier when you dig deeper. Minnesota only has two schools in this dataset for business programs, and this program's small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing dramatically from year to year. With that caveat in mind, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 suggests graduates can manage their $29,000 in typical debt comfortably, paying it off in roughly one-third of their first year's salary.

What's puzzling is the disconnect between the stellar national ranking and the more modest 60th percentile within Minnesota. This suggests that either Minnesota business programs generally produce high earners, or this particular cohort had unusually strong outcomes that might not reflect the typical graduate experience. The relatively low admission rate of 58% for a regional campus indicates some selectivity, but the small graduating class raises questions about program stability and job placement networks.

For anxious parents, the small sample size is the key issue here. These numbers might represent a few exceptional graduates rather than a reliable pattern. If your child is considering this program, talk directly with the career services office about typical placement outcomes and whether recent graduates' paths align with your expectations—don't rely solely on these volatile statistics.