Minnesota Colleges and Trade Schools

Are you a resident of Minnesota? Have you previously completed your high school diploma requirements and are now ready to begin working on a post secondary degree program that will help to secure your future? Having a specific career path in mind is certainly half the battle; in addition, you will need to decide on the most appropriate learning institution that will help you achieve your goals. Continue reading below so that you can learn about the employment projections for the state of Minnesota and also become acquainted with the most popular collegiate choices in this state.

Minnesota is one of the top five states in our nation that leads with employment opportunities related to post secondary jobs. In fact, prospective employees can expect more than 71% of the available jobs to require applicants to possess some level of a college degree. It is vital to note that while a two year associate's level degree will likely qualify you for a particular job, your potential rate of pay will be less than that of someone who has completed a four year bachelor's level degree. On the opposite end of the employment spectrum in Minnesota, individuals who have only a high school diploma under their belt can expect a mere 19-27% of jobs in this state to be appropriate for them.

The largest public research university in this state is the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities). With two campuses, St. Paul and Minneapolis, this post secondary institution is ranked as one of the country's best public university options. Current online research shows that this university has approximately 51,000 students enrolled, with about 33,000 of those enrolled working to complete an undergraduate degree program. Although this university has been recognized as having exemplary degree programs in the areas of research, science, and the liberal arts, there are certainly many other great options for students to peruse if the previously mentioned areas are not appealing to you. In fact, the University of Minneapolis has also received high rankings for its programs in engineering and economics.

A great private Catholic university choice for individuals living in Minnesota is the University of St. Thomas. Located in Saint Paul, this learning institution is recognized as the largest private university in Minnesota. Currently, there are about 6,000 undergraduate students enrolled at this facility and about 4,000 graduate level students enrolled. With an impressive average class size of 21, interested students can expect a fifteen to one student to faculty ratio. The University of St. Thomas is a member of a consortium with St. Catherine, Hamline, Macalester, and Augsberg. As an added benefit, prospective students should note that this educational facility has a good record of financial aid received.

Concordia College at Moorhead is a privately operated liberal arts college that is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Although it is possible for students to complete an undergraduate or a graduate level degree program at this educational facility, the vast majority of enrolled students are working to obtain their undergraduate degree. This college currently offers prospective students nearly eighty different major areas to consider and about a dozen pre- professional programs to choose from. Among the offered programs, the areas of health sciences and biological sciences are extremely reputable. As an added benefit, interested students will have the opportunity to be a part of a cross registration program with Minnesota State University and North Dakota State University. Bethel University, located in Saint Paul, is a comprehensive evangelical Christian private university. The benefits offered at this educational facility are practically endless. For instance, interested students will have the opportunity to choose from nearly seventy different major areas.

Despite the fact that this facility has strong degree programs in the areas of nursing and business, there are certainly many other viable options for students to consider. Bethel University is well recognized for a high graduation rate and for having a large majority of their students receiving financial aid to help defray the costs of tuition. As a final perk, this notable university is located just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Macalester College is yet another great option for students to consider. Located in Saint Paul, this college is ranked as one of the country's best liberal arts college. It is important to note that this fairly small college only offers interested students undergraduate level degrees to complete. Despite the fact that there are less than 2,000 students enrolled, this student body is actually quite diverse.

Top 5 Career Training Areas in Minnesota

Computer Technology – One of the hottest sectors in Minnesota and one that employs over 7% of its population is that of the tech industry. Over 70 schools and colleges in the state offer computer training in: Network Systems, Software Programming, Software Development and Computer Science. Last year alone the state graduated around 3000 people that have the potential to be employed within the state in a technology related field. Some of the highest salaries are those of CIS Scientists that can make $127,000, CIS Managers $128,000 and Computer Analysts at $85,000. Some of the top areas for employment are in the Minneapolis St. Paul area, Rochester and Duluth.

Healthcare Sector – No industry is recession proof however the healthcare industry loses fewer jobs when hard times come to the state. Skilled positions such as nursing can earn an employee over $70,000 per year plus healthcare benefits and bonuses. . Other positions that hospitals and medical facilities always seem to be hiring for include: Healthcare Management, Medical Administrative Assistant, Nursing, Medical Billing and Coding and Pharmacy Assisting. The state has over 42,000 healthcare jobs and increased by 11% the following year. The need was met by the state colleges and schools that helped train dental hygienists and other technicians.

Business – Minneapolis is ranked as the 5th best state to run a business. When students go to college they typically have a choice of multiple business degrees in which to enroll in. The top degrees are in Management, Marketing, Accounting and Information Systems. Earning your MBA program would be beneficial sine the state only has 15% of its workforce that have earned an advanced degree like an MBA or PhD.

Multi-Media – Careers as a graphic designer, website developer or multi-media specialists are all hands-on careers that you can earn a living doing. We personally love design jobs as it gives individuals in Minnesota that enjoy design to work for companies throughout the state (even outside the state). Being your own boss and even owning your own consulting firm that provides design is a great way to stay mobile and not be tied down to a particular company. In hard economic times companies fail however your talent can be a big asset to other companies.

Legal – Have you ever considered a career in Criminal Justice? You’ll need to earn a Bachelor’s degree or higher to qualify for many of the jobs the state has. Careers in paralegal however can be found by only having an Associate’s degree.

 

Main Industries in Minnesota

Renewable Energy: Minnesota has 2509 hours of sunlight per year which is great for the industry. The industry employs solar manufactures as well as installers and sales personnel. At least 20% of all energy from the state comes from renewable energy which his law that is required by the state. They also plan to increase that percentage to 30% in the upcoming years.

Healthcare: The healthcare industry in Minnesota is top-ranked in the county and provides its population with first-class services. The state employs over 120,000 people within the hospitals and healthcare system.

Data Centers: Some of the largest companies in the world are building big data centers in Minnesota to take advantages of tax exemptions. Companies enjoy not only a lower utility cost due to the renewable energy push in the state and the calm, cool weather. The state has a 4.6% unemployment rate and benefits from the high level of graduates.

Manufacturing: The state generates $44 billion in GDP through manufacturing. With an average salary of $58,750 per job in the manufacturing industry is a great way to keep the population employed at a livable salary.

 

Minnesota Education Resources

http://mn.gov/deed/
http://education.state.mn.us/mde/index.html
http://www.educationminnesota.org/