Minnesota · Ground Transportation

Best colleges for Ground Transportation in Minnesota

Ranked by graduate earnings

Central Lakes College - Brainerd, Alexandria Technical & Community College and Minnesota State College Southeast are the top Ground Transportation programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Central Lakes College - Brainerd leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,164, College Scorecard. Central Lakes College - Brainerd, Alexandria Technical & Community College and Riverland Community College award the most Ground Transportation degrees and certificates in Minnesota: 55, 30 and 26 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 Minnesota colleges offer Ground Transportation and award 131 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Ground Transportation program focuses on the essential skills and knowledge required for the effective movement of people and goods using land-based routes. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers in…

Institutions
4
offering CIP 49.02
States offered
44
with a program page
Degrees / yr
131
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$47,171
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
53%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
$53,210
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Central Lakes College - Brainerd
Brainerd Public · Certificate
$64,1645553%—$10,846
2Alexandria Technical & Community College
Alexandria Public · Certificate
$48,5873060%——
3Minnesota State College Southeast
Winona Public · Certificate
$47,1712047%——
4Riverland Community College
Austin Public · Certificate
$45,6192652%—$4,750

Colleges awarding the most Ground Transportation degrees in Minnesota

Top 4 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Central Lakes College - Brainerd
Brainerd Public
55$64,164
2Alexandria Technical & Community College
Alexandria Public
30$48,587
3Riverland Community College
Austin Public
26$45,619
4Minnesota State College Southeast
Winona Public
20$47,171

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (SOC 53-3052).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.3%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~20,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$57,440
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn in Minnesota

Jobs in Minnesota
2,610
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$53,210
median $50,200
Best-paying metro
$55,180
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Related careers

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
$63,630 avg · 38,770 jobs
Light Truck Drivers
$52,860 avg · 17,360 jobs
Bus Drivers, School
$49,310 avg · 13,110 jobs
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
$79,070 avg · 8,590 jobs
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
$53,070 avg · 7,110 jobs
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
$42,140 avg · 6,500 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Ground Transportation programs in Minnesota.

Which Minnesota colleges award the most Ground Transportation degrees?+

Central Lakes College - Brainerd (55 graduates a year), Alexandria Technical & Community College (30 graduates a year) and Riverland Community College (26 graduates a year) award the most Ground Transportation degrees and certificates in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 Minnesota colleges offer Ground Transportation.

What is the best college for Ground Transportation in Minnesota?+

By graduate earnings, Central Lakes College - Brainerd leads among Ground Transportation programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,164, College Scorecard. Alexandria Technical & Community College and Minnesota State College Southeast follow. By degrees awarded, Central Lakes College - Brainerd is the largest, with 55 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Ground Transportation program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Central Lakes College - Brainerd tops the list at $64,164. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn in Minnesota?+

The average annual wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Minnesota is $53,210 (median $50,200), across about 2,610 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Ground Transportation program?+

The Ground Transportation program focuses on the essential skills and knowledge required for the effective movement of people and goods using land-based routes. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity?+

The national job outlook is about +4.3% growth with around 20,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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