Compare 16 Political Economy. programs in Minnesota. Average earnings: $46,275.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Political Economy tells a different story. Across 16 programs, earnings range from $27,295 to $57,939—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Saint Johns University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $57,939, well above the $46,275 average. The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities follows at $55,667 with a much larger cohort of 254 students, while University of St Thomas rounds out the top three at $55,426—proving regional programs compete effectively with private institutions.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates borrow $19,500 and face just an 8.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. Saint Johns leads in earnings but carries a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can pay off student loans with about six months of salary.
Highest program earnings: $57,939
Strong outcomes with 90% acceptance
8.1% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
20.3% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Saint Johns UniversityPrivate | $57,939 | 19 | $27,000 | Good | $32,000 | Challenging |
| #2 | $55,667 | 254 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #3 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | $55,426 | 25 | $23,250 | Good | $24,467 | Challenging |
| #4 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | $54,855 | 56 | $26,000 | Good | $40,568 | High |
| #5 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | $52,827 | 27 | $26,774 | Manageable | $34,265 | High |
| #6 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | $48,858 | 22 | $23,770 | Manageable | $22,739 | High |
| #7 | Macalester CollegePrivate | $47,677 | 36 | $23,000 | Manageable | $36,129 | High |
| #8 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $47,656 | 20 | $21,500 | Good | $19,316 | Challenging |
| #9 | $46,843 | 13 | $21,106 | Good | $13,695 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $45,494 | 43 | $22,024 | Manageable | $22,127 | High | |
| #11 | $45,327 | 14 | $26,847 | Manageable | $29,471 | High | |
| #12 | $44,544 | 39 | $21,058 | Manageable | $11,598 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $41,193 | 13 | $18,995 | Manageable | $11,398 | Challenging | |
| #14 | Augsburg UniversityPrivate | $37,807 | 17 | $25,347 | Challenging | $17,901 | High |
| #15 | $30,984 | 20 | $20,000 | High | $10,000 | High | |
| #16 | College Of Saint BenedictPrivate | $27,295 | 12 | $26,944 | High | $15,778 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
