Management Information Systems and Services at Valley City State University

MIS graduates from peer programs nationally earn around $59,490 in their first year, which lands this degree squarely in the middle of the pack—solid but not exceptional. What's more interesting is that North Dakota's median for this field runs about $5,000 higher at $64,181, suggesting local market conditions might offer better prospects than the national average. At an estimated $23,185 in debt, the ratio of 0.39 means you'd owe roughly 4-5 months of first-year salary, which qualifies as manageable by most measures.

The question mark here is whether Valley City State can match the stronger North Dakota outcomes or whether graduates will track closer to the national baseline. North Dakota State reports that $64,181 figure, giving you a concrete benchmark for what's achievable in-state. The relatively low debt estimate helps either way—even at the national earnings figure, the financial math works without requiring exceptional income growth. MIS degrees generally lead to stable corporate IT roles, and the field shows consistent demand.

Given the uncertainty around this specific program's outcomes, your best move is treating that $59,490 figure as a floor rather than a guarantee. If Valley City State's alumni network and job placement services can connect students to North Dakota's stronger market, the investment looks reasonable. But you're essentially betting on local advantage without confirmed data to back it up.