Central Minnesota is home to ten colleges including private, for-profit, and public colleges and universities. With so many options, understanding how previous graduates have fared in the labor market after successfully completing their higher education is valuable knowledge for potential students.

In a recent survey, 68 percent of high school sophomores who responded indicated that the primary reason they are considering college is to increase earning potential. If that's the case, wouldn't it be nice to know what college programs provide maximum income for graduates?

While there is more to choosing a college program than just understanding the expected earnings, it is a very important factor. Students, parents, and counselors are lucky to have DEED's Graduate Employment Outcomes (GEO) tool in their arsenal when looking at different schools and programs.

Figures 1 and 2 highlight the programs with the highest paid graduates by their 6th year after completion at each college in Central Minnesota. Though most schools have many different programs and majors, the obvious pattern across all award levels is the high wages earned by graduates of nursing programs. The only schools where nursing didn't have the highest median wages was at the Model College of Hair Design and St. John's University.

The top location of employment for recent graduates also provides insight into outcomes. For the top paying certificate and associate degree programs in Figure 1, students were largely employed in Central Minnesota with the exception of Rasmussen College, which has multiple campus locations across the state.

On the other hand, at the bachelor degree level, the top-paying programs saw students more widely disbursed in their location of employment after completion. Only St. Cloud State University had a majority of graduates from their top-paying program become employed in Central Minnesota. Students became employed in certain regions based on a myriad of factors, including regional wage differences, job openings, and where they have connections (typically where their family lives).

While graduates of nursing programs obviously have fantastic outcomes, it isn't the only program that provides skills in demand. With so many schools to choose from, potential students are sure to find a program that fits their needs. DEED's Career and Education Explorer tool provides a useful framework for learning more about the programs and occupations in demand in Minnesota.

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Contact Luke Greiner at 320-308-5378.