Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at University of Minnesota-Crookston

Looking at peer entrepreneurship programs nationally, graduates typically earn around $45,265 in their first year—a modest return for a bachelor's degree. With estimated debt of $23,350 for this program, that translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, meaning just over half a year's salary would go toward paying off loans. This sits right at the threshold where the investment starts feeling substantial but remains manageable with disciplined budgeting.

Minnesota's entrepreneurship programs cluster tightly around these national figures, with the state median at $45,464 and debt at $21,500. University of St. Thomas graduates report earning $48,600, while North Central University sits at $42,327. These actual outcomes from comparable programs suggest the estimated figures for Crookston are reasonable benchmarks, placing this program in the middle of the pack for the state.

The challenge here is that entrepreneurship degrees often serve as launching pads for business ownership rather than traditional employment, which means first-year W-2 earnings may not capture the full picture. If your child plans to start a business immediately after graduation, these salary projections become less relevant—and potentially misleading. But if they're entering the job market in operations or management roles, these numbers suggest a solid but unremarkable start with debt levels that won't derail their twenties.