Management Information Systems and Services at Winona State University

Winona State's Management Information Systems graduates start at $64,613—above both the national median ($59,490) and Minnesota's median ($62,168). That 60th percentile placement among Minnesota programs matters because in-state students will likely pay significantly less tuition than attending elsewhere, making this a practical option for students who want solid tech earnings without relocating to major metros.

The $27,000 debt load translates to a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio, and that's actually better than most MIS programs nationally (23rd percentile for debt). For context, a typical starting salary in this field covers the debt roughly 2.4 times over, which should allow comfortable repayment on a standard plan. The program performs comparably to Augsburg University while likely coming with lower tuition costs for Minnesota residents.

The catch: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than at larger programs. That said, the fundamentals are sound—reasonable debt, above-average starting salary, and a degree in a field with strong demand. If your child is interested in tech but doesn't want to pursue pure computer science, this represents a sensible middle ground that should pay for itself relatively quickly.