Median Earnings (1yr)
$60,323
77th percentile
60th percentile in Minnesota
Median Debt
$24,600
8% above national median

Analysis

At $60,323 out of the gate, St. Thomas economics graduates earn about $4,000 more than the Minnesota median and roughly $9,000 above the national benchmarkβ€”solid performance for a school with an 85% acceptance rate. They're also entering the workforce with debt right at the state median, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. Within Minnesota's competitive landscape, this program sits comfortably in the middle tier, behind prestigious liberal arts colleges like Carleton and Macalester but delivering comparable outcomes to the University of Minnesota's much larger program.

The earnings trajectory shows healthy growth, with graduates reaching nearly $69,000 by year four. That 14% bump suggests these graduates are advancing in their careers, not just treading water. For families paying private school tuition, it's worth noting you're getting outcomes that justify the premiumβ€”these aren't just Minnesota-average results with a higher price tag.

The straightforward takeaway: This is a reliably strong economics program that delivers above-average earnings without burying students in debt. Parents should feel confident their investment will pay off, particularly if their child values the smaller class sizes and networking opportunities that come with St. Thomas's private school environment over the scale of a flagship state university.

Where University of St Thomas Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How University of St Thomas graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of St Thomas$60,323$68,704+14%
Macalester College$59,752$83,794+40%
Carleton College$66,567$83,775+26%
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$56,902$76,116+34%
Saint Johns University$54,752$73,009+33%

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (23 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of St ThomasSaint Paul$52,284$60,323$68,704$24,6000.41
Carleton CollegeNorthfield$65,457$66,567$83,775$19,5000.29
St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul$49,758$64,916β€”$30,2150.47
Macalester CollegeSaint Paul$64,908$59,752$83,794$24,0000.40
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis$16,488$56,902$76,116$21,5000.38
St Olaf CollegeNorthfield$56,970$56,238$69,672$27,0000.48
National Medianβ€”$51,722β€”$22,8160.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master'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 St Thomas, approximately 20% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 43 graduates with reported earnings and 50 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.