Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota · Public · 56.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Bemidji State University posts a Fair Value ROI score of 60 - a respectable but unremarkable showing for a regional public university in northern Minnesota. In-state tuition of $10,237 is competitive, though net price climbs to $15,261 after fees and living costs, totaling $61,044 over four years. Median earnings six years out are $37,000, rising to $53,755 by year ten - modest figures reflecting a service-economy graduate base. Payback period of 10.7 years is reasonable, and the 80.7% three-year repayment rate is the school's strongest signal, indicating most borrowers are managing their debt successfully. The drag on the score is completion: only 47.9% of students finish, scoring just 34 out of 100. Median debt of $19,750 is healthy relative to earnings (debt-to-earnings ratio 0.534), and the program mix shows real strength in technical fields - engineering technology grads earn $85,830 in year one and nursing grads earn $77,639. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Bemidji works well for students who pick a high-return program and finish; the institution's broader completion challenge weighs on the overall number.
Bemidji State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,237/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,237/yr |
| Average net price | $15,261/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,044 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,755 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $209 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,139 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Bemidji State University is $10,237/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $15,261/year, or roughly $61,044 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,073/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,940/year.
The median graduate leaves with $19,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $209 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $53,755 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.53 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,073 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,207 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,201 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,857 |
| $110,001+ | $19,940 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $10,073 net - genuinely affordable, well below the school's $15,261 average and lower than sticker tuition thanks to Pell and state aid. Four-year cost lands near $40,000. Against median earnings of $37,000 six years out, the math works for completers in technical programs. The completion-rate risk is the main concern; Pell-eligible students should pick their major carefully.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $12,201 - still very reasonable and a real public-university bargain. Four-year cost around $49,000. For students pursuing nursing, engineering tech, or accounting, the financial case is strong. For lower-earning majors the math weakens but doesn't break, given the moderate sticker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,001+) pay $19,940 - roughly double the lowest bracket but still below most private alternatives. Four-year cost approaches $80,000. The income brackets here are progressive (no inversions), and the value proposition holds: even at full freight, Bemidji is cheaper than most private-college tuitions, with comparable or better professional-program outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Bemidji State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,086 | C+ |
| Psychology | $49,116 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $84,436 | B |
| Teacher Education | $44,719 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,519 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,357 | D |
| Biology | $50,548 | C |
| Accounting | $72,153 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $47,137 | C+ |
| Social Work | $56,345 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the largest program with 152 graduates annually. First-year earnings of $47,396 grow to $64,086 by year four - solid mid-career trajectory. Median debt of $23,500 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.496 and a C+ ROI grade. Career paths typically include regional commercial banking, operations management, and small-business administration. Not a standout program but a defensible choice with manageable economics.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 93 students annually with weak outcomes - first-year earnings of $33,963 against $26,000 median debt produces a punishing 0.766 debt-to-earnings ratio and D ROI grade. Bachelor's-only psych graduates typically work in social services, case management, or unrelated fields; meaningful earnings usually require graduate school. The combination of high enrollment and poor outcomes makes this the most concerning program at Bemidji from an ROI standpoint.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is one of Bemidji's standout programs: 86 graduates earn $77,639 in year one, climbing to $84,436 by year four. Median debt of $27,990 yields a healthy 0.361 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Strong regional demand for RNs in northern Minnesota and the Twin Cities supports the wages. Among the school's offerings, nursing is one of the clearest financial wins.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 69 students annually with first-year earnings of $42,841 - typical Minnesota public-school starting salary. Earnings grow only modestly to $44,719 by year four, reflecting the flat trajectory of K-12 pay scales. Median debt of $27,757 against these earnings produces a 0.648 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. The program serves a public mission well; the financial reward is modest but stable.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 59 students annually with first-year earnings of $49,617 - above-median for a CJ program, likely reflecting strong rural law-enforcement and corrections demand. Median debt of $23,181 produces a 0.467 ratio and C+ grade. Earnings grow to $58,519 by year four. A reasonable program for students targeting state trooper, sheriff's deputy, or corrections officer roles in Minnesota.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 56.0% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 3,139 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,427 |
Bemidji admits 56.0% of applicants - moderately selective for a regional public. SAT data isn't reported, but ACT mid-range of 18-24 indicates a student body with academic preparation slightly below state-flagship norms but well above open-admission territory. The 48% completion rate is roughly consistent with this profile: prepared students finish at much higher rates than the institution-wide average, so program choice and academic readiness matter.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Bemidji's peers include Minnesota State University-Mankato (in-state peer with stronger urban-market earnings), Metropolitan State University, Miami University-Hamilton (Ohio regional public), University of Arkansas-Grantham, and University of Alaska Fairbanks. Within this regional-public cohort Bemidji's 60 score is mid-pack - Mankato and Miami-Hamilton typically score higher on the strength of larger-metro earnings, while UAF tracks similarly given Alaska's remote-market dynamics. The peer set confirms Bemidji is a representative northern-tier regional public, not an outlier.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bemidji State University (this school) | 60 | $15,261 | $53,755 |
| Metropolitan State University | 72 | $16,863 | $64,705 |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | 69 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | 62 | $19,139 | $56,922 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 62 | $11,286 | $55,076 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
Who Thrives Here
Bemidji fits Minnesota students seeking affordable in-state tuition with a residential campus experience in a small northern city. Enrollment of 3,139 is intimate by public-university standards. Pell rate of 28.3% is moderate - this is not a heavily Pell-dependent institution. The data favors students choosing technical or professional programs: engineering tech (ROI grade B), nursing (B), and accounting (C+) all produce earnings that justify the investment. Students choosing psychology (D), kinesiology (D), or ecology (D) face much weaker outcomes - the major matters enormously here.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Bemidji State University offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $15,261 per year leads to $61,044 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $53,755 a decade out. The payback period of 10.7 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Areas of concern include a 47.9% graduation rate.
Median debt of $19,750 against $53,755 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.