
Earn Big In Minnesota With These High-Paying Degrees
Looking for a job that pays well, offers great benefits, and still lets you have a life? That’s a tall order these days in Minnesota or anywhere, really. But these degrees could do just that.
There is one proven way to boost your chances of earning a bigger paycheck: go back to school. And, according to the numbers, earning the right degree can lead to some of the highest-paying jobs here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
According to Patch.com, getting a post-secondary degree is something that will generally raise your lifetime earning power considerably, both here in the Bold North and across the country. Patch noted:
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.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) says, though, that those figures depend on just what area of study the degree is in. They recently published the bachelor's degree programs in Minnesota that generated the highest salaries over the past seven years:
- Management Sciences and Quant Methods — $126,000
- Computer Systems Analysis — $121,000
- Building/Construction Finishing, Management, Inspection — $118,000
- Architectural Engineering — $108,000
- Computer Engineering — $106,000
On the other hand, DEED also listed the bachelor's degree programs across Minnesota that generated the lowest salaries over the past seven years, which include:
- Dance — $27,000
- Religious Studies — $38,000
- Film/Video — $39,000
- Drama/Theater — $39,000
- Diversity Studies — $43,000
ALSO INTERESTING: This Is The Best College Town in Minnesota in 2025
So, where do you go if you're interested in earning one of those high-paying degrees? The Minnesota Office of Higher Education says Minnesota's seven state universities offer programs leading to bachelor's or master's degrees. They include:
- Bemidji State University.
- Metropolitan State University.
- Minnesota State University, Mankato.
- Minnesota State University Moorhead.
- Southwest Minnesota State University.
- St. Cloud State University.
- Winona State University.
There's also the University of Minnesota, which has five different four-year campuses:
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- University of Minnesota Crookston
- University of Minnesota Duluth
- University of Minnesota Morris
- University of Minnesota Rochester
Now, if you don't want to go back to school but would still like a job with a decent salary, keep scrolling to check out the Highest-Paying Jobs in Minnesota!

