University of Minnesota-Crookston
Crookston, Minnesota · Public · 87.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Minnesota Crookston has 1,729 students and a flat tuition rate of $13,288 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The ROI score of 75 (Strong Value) reflects genuine financial strengths: an 8.2-year payback period, average six-year earnings of $42,500 rising to a median $58,056 at ten years, and a repayment rate of 85.5% three years out. Low-income students pay as little as $5,758 net - an extraordinary value at a University of Minnesota-branded institution. The primary weakness is the 49.8% completion rate, meaning about half of students do not finish. Program breadth tilts heavily toward business and agriculture, reflecting the institution's regional land-grant heritage. Students seeking a University of Minnesota credential, particularly in agriculture, agribusiness, or business, will find UMN Crookston's financial profile hard to beat.
University of Minnesota-Crookston scores in the top 19% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Minnesota-Crookston
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,288/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $13,288/yr |
| Average net price | $12,212/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $48,848 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,056 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,729 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $13,288/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $12,212/year, or roughly $48,848 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $5,758/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,289/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,500) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $5,758 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,368 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,587 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,542 |
| $110,001+ | $19,289 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (under $30,000 family income) pay an average net price of just $5,758 per year at UMN Crookston. Over four years, total net cost is roughly $23,000 against average earnings of $42,500 at six years. This represents an exceptional financial opportunity, particularly for first-generation students from rural Minnesota and neighboring states who qualify for robust state and federal grant aid.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students in the $48,001 - $75,000 bracket pay around $7,587 per year net, totaling approximately $30,000 over four years. Earnings of $42,500 at six years and a median $58,056 at ten years produce a payback period well under the institutional average of 8.2 years for this group. The value proposition is strong relative to private competitors charging ten times the net price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,001-plus) pay closer to the full net price of $19,289 per year - about $77,000 over four years. The campus's remote location and limited amenities may not suit every family.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Minnesota-Crookston with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $93,969 | C+ |
| Accounting | $65,921 | C |
| Marketing | $63,579 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $75,308 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,916 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $69,866 | C+ |
| Plant Sciences | $59,240 | B |
| Business, General | $101,828 | B |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $52,651 | - |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $53,776 | 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, General
Business General graduates report the highest early earnings among Crookston's reported programs, at $82,115 one year out and $101,828 four years out, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.354 (grade B). This is an outstanding result for a public institution at this price point. The cohort of 14 graduates is small, which introduces some statistical noise, but the earnings trajectory is consistent with regional employer demand for business-skilled workers in agriculture and logistics industries.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program by graduates (72), providing a reliable sample. One-year median earnings of $58,805 grow to $93,969 at four years - strong long-run growth - with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.467 (grade C+). The earnings growth curve suggests employers value UMN Crookston business graduates for advancement over time. Combined with the low net price, this program represents solid value for students willing to invest in a rural campus experience.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health administration graduates earn $61,965 at one year and $75,308 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.555 earns a C, partly due to higher median debt of $34,393 - above the institutional average. The program is well-aligned with the growing demand for health-care administrators in rural and regional health systems. Students should compare debt loads carefully and seek graduate assistantship or employer tuition-assistance opportunities.
Plant Sciences
Plant Sciences reflects the campus's land-grant roots. Graduates earn $57,915 at one year with modest debt of $23,793 (ratio 0.411, grade B). Four-year earnings of $59,240 show limited income growth, suggesting early career placement in production agriculture or research assistant roles. For students committed to agronomy or crop science careers in the Red River Valley, this program pairs well with regional employer networks.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates earn $32,429 at one year - the lowest in the portfolio - with median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.833 (grade D). At four years earnings rise to $53,190, but the delayed payoff and high initial debt-to-earnings ratio make this the weakest ROI program on campus. Students considering kinesiology should plan for graduate school in physical therapy or athletic training to access higher earning potential.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Minnesota-Crookston’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 87.9% |
| Enrollment | 1,729 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,241 |
UMN Crookston admits about 88% of applicants with no reported SAT or ACT ranges, indicating it operates as a largely open-access institution. Admission itself is not a hurdle; persistence is. Students who arrive with a declared major in a career-focused program and connect early with advising show markedly better outcomes, as reflected in the strong earnings data for business and agriculture graduates.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota-Crookston (this school) | 75 | $12,212 | $58,056 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | 75 | $18,202 | $66,125 |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online | 72 | $10,864 | $66,479 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | 62 | $19,139 | $56,922 |
| Bemidji State University | 60 | $15,261 | $53,755 |
Who Thrives Here
UMN Crookston fits students who want a University of Minnesota credential and career-oriented programs - especially in agriculture, business, or health administration - at a low price point. The flat in-/out-of-state tuition makes it equally attractive to regional students from North Dakota and other bordering states. Students who need a vibrant campus social scene or a wide range of academic departments may find the small-campus rural setting limiting. The 50% completion rate suggests that students should have a concrete major and career path before enrolling.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Minnesota-Crookston pays off. You'd pay about $12,212 a year after aid ($48,848 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $58,056 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 8.2 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: its 49.8% graduation rate.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Minnesota-Crookston: Common Questions
Is University of Minnesota-Crookston worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Minnesota-Crookston pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $12,212 a year after aid ($48,848 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $58,056 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 8.2 years to earn back.
How much does University of Minnesota-Crookston cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,212 a year, or roughly $48,848 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Minnesota-Crookston graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,056 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,256 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Minnesota-Crookston?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.2 years for University of Minnesota-Crookston. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Minnesota-Crookston graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Minnesota-Crookston?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.