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University of Minnesota-Duluth

#3 Best Engineering Colleges in Minnesota
Public Duluth, MN · Urban · Plains · 100% data
A- Earnings B- Value C+ Graduation
Graduation Rate
65% C+
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$62,616 A-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$18,743 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
89% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +54% vs avg
Graduation +13% vs avg
Net Price 9% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.5 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Engineering Colleges in Minnesota.

20.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $20.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,464,936.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduates earn 54% more than the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $20.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of Minnesota-Duluth Matters

University of Minnesota-Duluth is a public university in Duluth, 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
7,336
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose University of Minnesota-Duluth

Elite STEM ecosystem
Engineering, computing, and the sciences dominate its programs
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 44% overall
A-
Earnings
$62,616 median
B-
Value
3.3× net price
C-
Affordability
$18,743/yr net
C+
Graduation
65% graduate
D+
Selectivity
89% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.30 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 7,336 students and an acceptance rate of 89%, the University of Minnesota-Duluth is a solid choice for those seeking a welcoming community and diverse academic offerings. Students here can dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, and Computer Science & IT. This variety allows individuals to explore different interests and find the right fit for their career aspirations.

After graduation, students can expect a median earnings figure of $62,616 within ten years. That’s a promising starting point for many, especially considering that a significant portion of the student body is supported by Pell Grants, which can help offset costs for those with demonstrated financial need. While the graduation rate is at 65%, it’s essential to keep in mind that many who graduate tend to find stable employment and can move up in their careers.

When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price after aid sits at $18,743, which makes it relatively affordable for many families. The median debt of $22,024 suggests that while students may take on some loans, it’s manageable in the context of their future earnings. Those who thrive here often appreciate the supportive environment and the practical education that prepares them for real-world challenges.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Minnesota-Duluth is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Minnesota-Duluth? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Duluth, Minnesota, University of Minnesota-Duluth admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,251. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.

Acceptance Rate
89%
Retention Rate
81%
SAT Average
1251
ACT Midpoint
25
SAT Range
1180–1350
ACT Range
23–28
Full-Time Faculty
85%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,267
Student–Faculty Ratio
16:1
Diversity Index
0.30
First-Gen Students
18%
Applicants
9,512
Admitted
7,676

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 University of Minnesota-Duluth? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Minnesota-Duluth is $20,130, 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 $18,743. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,256 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,024 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$14,610
Out-of-State
$20,130
Avg Net Price
$18,743
Median Debt
$22,024
Pell Grant Rate
19%
Federal Loan Rate
44%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$7,256
Family Income $30K–$48K
$8,145
Family Income $48K–$75K
$11,965
Family Income $110K+
$24,453

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 University of Minnesota-Duluth — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is University of Minnesota-Duluth Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Minnesota-Duluth earn a median of $62,616, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$52,840
8 Years
$57,662
10 Years
$62,616
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
75%

Earnings Trajectory

$52,840 6yr $57,662 8yr $62,616 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (938)
43%
100% (938)
43%
100% (938)
43%
100% (938)
43%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation65%Earnings 10yr$63KNet Price$19KRetention81%Median Debt$22KPell Grant Rate19%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$7K$0-30K$8K$30-48K$12K$48-75K$24K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Minnesota-Duluth Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, University of Minnesota-Duluth delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,743/year ($74,972 total). Graduates earn $62,616 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,539,908 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,464,936 (20.5× your investment). The median debt is $22,024, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 65% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$74,972
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,539,908
Net Return
$1,464,936
ROI Multiple
20.5×
Cost Per Year
$18,743
Median Debt
$22,024
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
65%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Minnesota-Duluth? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Minnesota-Duluth. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, 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.

Economic Connectedness
1.75
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.6%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$7,998,524
Investment Income
$-286,953

Top Programs

The fields University of Minnesota-Duluth 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Minnesota-Duluth? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Duluth, Minnesota, University of Minnesota-Duluth admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,251. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Minnesota-Duluth? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Minnesota-Duluth is $20,130, 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 $18,743. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,256 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,024 in federal student loans.

Is University of Minnesota-Duluth Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Minnesota-Duluth earn a median of $62,616, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is University of Minnesota-Duluth? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Minnesota-Duluth. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, 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.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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