At $23,875/yr net price, Augsburg University graduates earn $58,829/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $24,829/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $23,875 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $95,500 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,829/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$24,829/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 52.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,347 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,376/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,901/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,478/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,741/yr |
| $110,001+ | $30,427/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $111,435 | $121,214 |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor | $74,157 | $23,851 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $72,602 | $41,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $67,660 | $11,967 |
| Social Work. | Master | $54,768 | $39,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $51,530 | $47,833 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $49,084 | $26,617 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $47,729 | $27,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $45,696 | $27,000 |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor | $44,384 |
The Risk Factor
52.4% of students at Augsburg University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Augsburg University runs a mixed financial picture. You'll pay a private-college net price to end up with median earnings under $59,000 ten years out, and a 52% graduation rate means roughly half of you won't finish in a way that pays off at all. The median debt of about $25,000 is manageable against those earnings, but only if you actually graduate and land in the right field.
Your major decides everything here. Management Information Systems pays about $74,000 and Nursing pays roughly $68,000, and Nursing does it with the lowest debt on the list, near $12,000. That combination makes Nursing the clear best-value degree at Augsburg, and Minneapolis is a strong regional market for both healthcare and IT work. The business side is weaker. Accounting, Finance, and Economics all land in the mid-$40,000s while carrying $27,000 in debt, so you'd borrow more than the Nursing grads and earn $20,000 less. That's a poor trade.
The specific risk here is completion. With a 70% retention rate, three in ten of you leave after year one, and debt without a degree is the worst outcome Augsburg can hand you. Pick a low-earning business major and stall out, and the math turns against you fast.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $75,000, you'll pay around $21,000, and the price actually drops slightly as income rises within that band. Above $110,000, the price jumps to over $30,000 with no aid cushion, so full-pay families should weigh cheaper Minnesota public options unless a high-earning major is the plan.
Augsburg fits you if you're targeting Nursing or MIS and qualify for need-based pricing. If you're a full-pay family eyeing a general business degree, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Augsburg University worth the cost for the education you get?
Augsburg's ROI depends heavily on your major. Allied health programs show strong returns with $111,435 median earnings, but the overall graduate earnings of $58,829 are modest given the $23,875 annual net price and 52% graduation rate.
What are the best paying majors at Augsburg University?
Allied health diagnostic and treatment programs lead with $111,435 median earnings, followed by management information systems at $74,157. Social work graduates earn significantly less at $54,768, making program choice critical for ROI.
How much debt do Augsburg University students typically graduate with?
The median debt is $25,347, which is manageable if you pursue high-earning programs like allied health or MIS. However, this debt burden becomes problematic for lower-paying fields like social work.
Does Augsburg University have good job placement after graduation?
With a 52% graduation rate, nearly half of students don't complete their degrees, which raises concerns about academic support and student outcomes. The school's 76% acceptance rate suggests less selective admissions standards.