Bemidji State University
#7 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Minnesota- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $53,755 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $15,261 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 56% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.4 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Minnesota.
Every $1 spent returns $20.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,181,446.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 32% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Bemidji State University Matters
Bemidji State University is a public university in Bemidji, MN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,139
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Education
Why students choose Bemidji State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 56% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,261 a year after grants and scholarships — 11% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $53,755 ten years after enrolling — 32% above the typical college, against $19,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.56 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
At Bemidji State University, you'll find a welcoming environment ideal for students interested in practical fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology, and Humanities. With an enrollment of around 3,139, the university strikes a balance between a vibrant campus community and personalized attention. The acceptance rate of 56% reflects a commitment to inclusivity while maintaining academic standards.
When it comes to life after graduation, graduates can expect to earn a median income of $53,755 ten years down the line. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, particularly for those who engage actively with their chosen fields. While the university has a graduation rate of 51%, which suggests that some students may take longer to complete their degrees, the overall earnings indicate that persistence can pay off in a meaningful way.
Financially, the cost of attending Bemidji State University is manageable, with a net price after aid at approximately $15,261. The median debt for graduates stands at $19,750, which is relatively low compared to the potential earnings. Students who thrive here are often those who are motivated and engage deeply with their programs, making the most of the supportive educational environment.
Rankings
- #7 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Minnesota
- #19 Best Psychology Colleges in Minnesota
- #20 Best Business Colleges in Minnesota
- #21 Best Online Colleges in Minnesota
- #21 Best Education Colleges in Minnesota
- #22 Best Bachelor's Programs in Minnesota
- #22 Best Biology Colleges in Minnesota
- #23 Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota
Can I Get In?
How selective Bemidji State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bemidji State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bemidji, Minnesota, Bemidji State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 56%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- SAT Average
- 1090
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- ACT Range
- 18–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 65%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,427
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 27%
- Applicants
- 2,723
- Admitted
- 2,111
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bemidji State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bemidji State University is $10,237, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,261. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,073 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,237
- Out-of-State
- $10,237
- Avg Net Price
- $15,261
- Median Debt
- $19,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,073
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,207
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,201
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,940
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bemidji State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bemidji State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bemidji State University earn a median of $53,755, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,469
- 8 Years
- $52,433
- 10 Years
- $53,755
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (233)
- 30%
- 100% (233)
- 30%
- 100% (233)
- 30%
- 100% (233)
- 30%
How Bemidji Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Bemidji State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bemidji State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,261/year ($61,044 total). Graduates earn $53,755 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,242,490 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,181,446 (20.4× your investment). The median debt is $19,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $61,044
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,242,490
- Net Return
- $1,181,446
- ROI Multiple
- 20.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,261
- Median Debt
- $19,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $98,000
Top Programs
The fields Bemidji State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 22% $54,886 early-career
- Health Professions 16% $74,445 early-career
- Psychology 10% $40,073 early-career
- Education 9% $43,697 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $37,207 early-career
- Humanities 5% $32,603 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $43,893 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $49,653 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bemidji State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bemidji State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bemidji, Minnesota, Bemidji State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bemidji State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bemidji State University is $10,237, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,261. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,073 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,750 in federal student loans.
Is Bemidji State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bemidji State University earn a median of $53,755, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Bemidji State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bemidji State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bemidji State University.
- Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead, MN · Close peer56% grad $50,527 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Brigham Young University-HawaiiLaie, HI · Close peer54% grad $52,064 earn 47% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN · Close peer45% grad $51,342 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL · Close peer61% grad $53,213 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · Close peer56% grad $53,610 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Xavier University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Close peer49% grad $52,184 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bemidji State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bemidji State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note