Location: Minneapolis, MN•In-State Tuition: $16,488•Out-of-State Tuition: $36,402•Admission Rate: 77%•Avg SAT: 1359
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$49,881
Est. from MN median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,624
Est. from national median (115 programs)

Analysis

A $23,600 debt load for a business degree that generates nearly $50,000 in first-year earnings—based on comparable programs in Minnesota—represents solid fundamentals. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 suggests graduates could realistically pay off their loans within 5-7 years with disciplined budgeting, though actual outcomes for Minnesota's flagship university may vary from these peer-program estimates.

What's striking is the context: the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities carries the prestige and connections of a major research institution, yet these estimated earnings track right at the state median. Other Minnesota business programs show Saint Cloud State students earning about $60,000 their first year out, while Minnesota-Duluth graduates start closer to $49,000. Whether the Twin Cities location advantage—more Fortune 500 headquarters, more internship pathways—translates into better outcomes for this specific program remains unclear from the estimated figures.

The bottom line: if your student can graduate near this estimated debt level, the numbers suggest manageable risk for a business degree. But given that actual earnings data isn't available for this program, investigate placement rates, recruiting relationships, and where recent graduates actually land jobs. The Twin Cities campus should have stronger employer connections than these peer-program estimates might suggest—confirm that advantage before banking on it.

Where University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce bachelors's programs nationally

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Business/Commerce bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (7 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis$16,488$49,881*—$23,624*—
Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud$10,117$59,378*——*—
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter$54,310$49,881*$59,351$25,625*0.51
University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth$14,318$48,738*—$23,250*0.48
National Median—$47,506*—$26,000*0.55
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, approximately 17% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.