Purpose

To increase transparency for students by requiring colleges and universities that receive state student aid to provide clear information about career opportunities for each four-year degree program. The bill ties these disclosures to eligibility for state student aid and updates Minnesota law to require this information.

Main Provisions

• Institutions eligible for state student aid must develop information about career opportunities for every curriculum or major leading to a four-year degree that they offer.
• The information must include:
  • The potential job market in Minnesota for graduates of the major.
  • The median income or income range for jobs in that major within Minnesota.
  • Whether an advanced degree is required to obtain employment in that field.
• The information must be posted on the institution’s website.
• A link to this information, along with a brief description of what is available, must be posted on the websites of all eligible institutions that offer four-year degrees.
• School catalogs are not required to publish the information, but catalogs must prominently include:
  • The website address for the information.
  • A brief description of the type of information available.
  • A link and description to access the information on the institution’s website.
• The bill makes changes to Minnesota Statutes by codifying these disclosures in Chapter 136A, specifically affecting sections 136A.104 (Required Disclosures) and 136A.103 (State student aid eligibility).

How It Changes Existing Law

• Adds a new mandatory disclosure requirement for eligible institutions regarding career outcomes and earnings by major.
• Integrates these disclosures into the criteria for receiving state student aid, linking program-level information to eligibility.
• Shifts some information access from traditional printed catalogs to online postings, while still requiring catalogs to point students to the online information.

Who Is Affected

• Colleges and universities that are eligible for state student aid and offer four-year degree programs.
• The institutions’ websites and catalogs, and ultimately current and prospective students and families seeking degree and career information.

Practical Implications

• Students and families gain clearer, Minnesota-focused data on job prospects, earnings, and education requirements for each major.
• Schools may need to collect, update, and present labor market data and wage information on an ongoing basis.
• The reliability and sources of data (e.g., state job market data, wage surveys) will influence how helpful the disclosures are.

Potential Considerations

• How "median income" or income ranges are determined and updated.
• How the data reflect part-time vs. full-time work and regional differences within Minnesota.
• The resources required for institutions to maintain current, accurate disclosures.
• Consistency across institutions to help students compare programs.

Relevant Terms

state student aid; eligible institution; Minnesota; four-year degree; curriculum; major field of study; potential job market; job market in this state (Minnesota); median income; income range; advanced degree; employment requirements; posted on the institution’s website; link; prominent location; school catalogs; Minnesota Statutes chapter 136A; section 136A.103; section 136A.104; disclosures.