Bachelor Degrees With Highest, Lowest Salaries In MN: List

MINNEAPOLIS — Completing a postsecondary certificate or degree program will generally raise your lifetime earning power considerably.

Graduates from certificate programs employed in Minnesota seven years later earned a median annual wage of $50,588, associate degree holders earned about $5,000 more per year, and earners of bachelor's degrees had an annual median of $66,312, according to state data.

However, the actual salary of a college graduate depends greatly on what major or program their degree is in.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently shared statistics showing annual median wages seven years after graduation (2015). The data is divided up by degree level and program.

For a bachelor's degree, here are the programs with the highest earning power over seven years:

1. Management Sciences and Quant Methods — $126,000
2. Computer Systems Analysis — $121,000
3. Building/Construction Finishing, Management, Inspection — $118,000
4. Architectural Engineering — $108,000
5. Computer Engineering — $106,000

These majors that pay the lowest amount over seven years, according to state data, are these five:

1. Dance — $27,000
2. Religious Studies — $38,000
3. Film/Video — $39,000
4. Drama/Theater — $39,000
5. Diversity Studies — $43,000

The cost of living in Minnesota is $31,000, according to DEED. The cost of living for a household of two adults and one child is about $61,000.

See data on all types of degree programs on the DEED website.