Finance and Financial Management Services at University of Minnesota-Crookston

With a small sample size under 30 graduates, we need to be cautious about reading too much into UMN-Crookston's finance program data. That said, the available numbers show first-year earnings of $48,276—about $5,000 below Minnesota's median for finance programs and roughly $10,000 behind the national benchmark. Among Minnesota's 21 finance programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, placing it in the bottom half of state offerings. The state's strongest programs, like University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at $69,094, earn nearly 50% more.

The debt load of $24,808 is roughly average for finance degrees both nationally and statewide, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. So this isn't a case of excessive borrowing—the challenge is that graduates aren't reaching the earning potential typically associated with finance careers. For a field where compensation usually scales with the prestige and network of your program, starting near $48,000 suggests more limited access to corporate finance roles and advancement tracks.

For families considering this program, the key question is cost. If in-state tuition and regional ties make this significantly more affordable than stronger alternatives, it could work for students planning careers in community banking or local financial services. But students with aspirations for corporate finance or investment roles should seriously weigh whether the earnings gap—persistent across all available data—justifies choosing a lower-ranked program.