Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $50,527 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,997 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 59% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $15.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,055,164.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 24% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Minnesota State University Moorhead Matters
Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public university in Moorhead, 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
- 3,072
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology
Why students choose Minnesota State University Moorhead
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 59% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,997 a year after grants and scholarships — 5% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $50,527 ten years after enrolling — 24% above the typical college, against $20,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.71 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 3,072 students, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a solid choice for those looking to engage in a diverse range of academic disciplines. The school is particularly strong in programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, and Visual & Performing Arts. The acceptance rate of 59% makes it accessible for many, and students here appreciate the close-knit community that fosters collaboration and support.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $50,527 within a decade. This figure gives a good sense of the return on investment for many graduates. While the mobility data isn’t available, the practical benefits of an affordable education help graduates start their careers on the right foot. With a median debt of $20,000, students can manage their financial commitments while pursuing their aspirations.
In terms of cost, the net price after aid is about $17,997, which is manageable for many families. The 28% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates a commitment to supporting those from lower-income backgrounds. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a balanced approach to academics and community life, making the most of the resources available to them.
Rankings
- #13 Best Communications Colleges in Minnesota
- #16 Best Nursing Colleges in Minnesota
- #16 Best Education Colleges in Minnesota
- #17 Best Online Colleges in Minnesota
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in Minnesota
- #20 Best Biology Colleges in Minnesota
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota
- #21 Best Bachelor's Programs in Minnesota
Can I Get In?
How selective Minnesota State University Moorhead 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 Minnesota State University Moorhead? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Moorhead, Minnesota, Minnesota State University Moorhead offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 59% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 59%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 1090
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- ACT Range
- 18–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 66%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,729
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 3,898
- Admitted
- 2,207
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 Minnesota State University Moorhead? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Minnesota State University Moorhead is $10,428, 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 $17,997. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,129 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,428
- Out-of-State
- $10,428
- Avg Net Price
- $17,997
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 48%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,129
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,547
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,907
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,420
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 Minnesota State University Moorhead — 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 Minnesota State University Moorhead Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $50,527, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,873
- 8 Years
- $47,860
- 10 Years
- $50,527
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (304)
- 34%
- 100% (304)
- 34%
- 100% (304)
- 34%
- 100% (304)
- 34%
How Minnesota 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 Minnesota State University Moorhead Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Minnesota State University Moorhead delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,997/year ($71,988 total). Graduates earn $50,527 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,127,152 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,055,164 (15.7× your investment). The median debt is $20,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $71,988
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,127,152
- Net Return
- $1,055,164
- ROI Multiple
- 15.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,997
- Median Debt
- $20,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $10,000
Top Programs
The fields Minnesota State University Moorhead 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.
- Health Professions 20% $77,072 early-career
- Business & Marketing 18% $77,072 early-career
- Education 13% $46,521 early-career
- Psychology 6% $35,487 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $37,114 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $43,889 early-career
- Communications 4% $45,495 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $54,063 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 Minnesota State University Moorhead'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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Minnesota State University Moorhead? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Moorhead, Minnesota, Minnesota State University Moorhead offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 59% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Minnesota State University Moorhead? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Minnesota State University Moorhead is $10,428, 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 $17,997. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,129 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.
Is Minnesota State University Moorhead Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $50,527, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Minnesota State University Moorhead? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Minnesota State University Moorhead.
- Bemidji State UniversityBemidji, MN · Close peer51% grad $53,755 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Brigham Young University-HawaiiLaie, HI · Close peer54% grad $52,064 earn 47% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- 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 selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN · Close peer45% grad $51,342 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · same state
- Xavier University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Close peer49% grad $52,184 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Minnesota State University Moorhead? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note