University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota · Public · 88.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 74/100 · Fair Value
University of Minnesota Duluth scores 74 (Fair Value) with $40,900 median 6-year earnings and a 7.8-year payback period at $14,610 in-state tuition. The 64.7% completion rate is below average for a public research university in the Minnesota system. Engineering programs dominate the strongest outcomes: Industrial Engineering hits $77,781 year-one, Electrical Engineering $74,197, and Computer Science $73,224. Business, finance, and marketing produce solid C+ results. The school's ROI is strongest for students in technical fields; social sciences, arts, and humanities show weaker returns that reduce the aggregate.
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,610/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,130/yr |
| Average net price | $18,743/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,972 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,616 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,024 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,336 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Minnesota-Duluth is $14,610/year ($20,130/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,743/year, or roughly $74,972 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $7,256/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,453/year.
The median graduate leaves with $22,024 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $233 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $62,616 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.54 - 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 | $7,256 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,145 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,965 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,056 |
| $110,001+ | $24,453 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $7,256 per year -- one of the lower net price points among Minnesota public universities. At roughly $29,000 over four years against $40,900 median earnings, the financial case for engineering and CS students is strong. Even for students in lower-ROI programs, the low absolute cost limits downside exposure.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $11,965 and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $17,056 per year. Middle-income families in Minnesota get genuine value in technical fields at these prices. The 7.8-year payback period reflects the aggregate mix -- engineering and CS students will have much shorter individual payback periods.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $24,453 per year -- roughly $98,000 over four years. At this price with median earnings of $40,900, the aggregate ROI is fair. Engineering graduates will recover this cost quickly; arts and social science graduates will take longer.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Minnesota-Duluth with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $51,891 | C |
| Biology | $63,317 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,965 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $73,979 | C+ |
| Marketing | $74,079 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $91,911 | B+ |
| Political Science and Government | $59,754 | C |
| Civil Engineering | $79,485 | B |
| Accounting | $74,360 | C+ |
| Education, Other | $46,964 | 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.
Computer Science
Computer Science (69 graduates) earns $73,224 at year one and $91,911 at year four with a B+ grade and 0.319 debt-to-earnings ratio. Strong Twin Cities tech labor market demand benefits UMD CS graduates who are willing to relocate. The B+ grade against $23,375 median debt is one of the cleaner ROI outcomes at the school.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is UMD's highest-volume strong-outcome program at 126 graduates: $67,764 at year one and $88,965 at year four with a B ROI grade and 0.398 debt-to-earnings ratio. Engineering wages in Minnesota's manufacturing and medical device sectors support these outcomes. The in-state cost structure makes this a strong value proposition.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (108 graduates) earns $51,953 at year one and $73,979 at year four with a C+ grade and 0.457 debt-to-earnings ratio. These are solid results for a business school at a regional public university. Finance graduates from UMD compete in the Twin Cities financial services market, and the four-year trajectory to $74,000 is reasonable.
Psychology
Psychology is UMD's largest program at 155 graduates with C-grade returns: $38,543 at year one and $51,891 at year four, 0.629 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings of $38,543 against $24,225 median debt are workable at in-state tuition, but this is a C-grade outcome that students should benchmark against expectations.
Biology
Biology (154 graduates) earns $31,891 at year one and $63,317 at year four with a D ROI grade and 0.774 debt-to-earnings ratio. The large year-one to year-four gap reflects a cohort where many students proceed to medical or graduate school; year-one earnings capture those in low-wage post-graduation jobs or early medical training. Students intending professional school should plan for additional costs beyond the UMD degree.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 88.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-675 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-675 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-28 |
| Enrollment | 7,336 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,267 |
At 88.8% acceptance with ACT mid-range of 23-28, UMD is broadly accessible for qualified Minnesota students. The SAT and ACT mid-ranges suggest a somewhat better-prepared pool than pure open-access schools. UMD is part of the University of Minnesota system; students should compare UMD's program-specific outcomes with Twin Cities (flagship) programs before choosing based on campus preference.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UMD's peer schools include Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Salisbury University, and University of Wisconsin-Platteville. UMD (74, Fair Value) sits above smaller Minnesota state schools like Bemidji State, reflecting its stronger engineering and CS programs. Among Minnesota regional campuses, UMD offers a more complete engineering and business program set. Students comparing UMD with University of Minnesota Twin Cities should factor in the flagship's stronger engineering program rankings and larger alumni network against UMD's smaller class sizes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota-Duluth (this school) | 74 | $18,743 | $62,616 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 75 | $16,032 | $61,760 |
| Salisbury University | 74 | $17,743 | $61,515 |
| The University of Texas at Tyler | 72 | $13,323 | $57,053 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | 62 | $19,139 | $56,922 |
| Bemidji State University | 60 | $15,261 | $53,755 |
Who Thrives Here
UMD admits 88.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 590-675 Math and 590-675 Reading, ACT 23-28 composite. At 7,336 undergraduates with an 18.8% Pell grant rate, the school serves a predominantly middle- and upper-middle-income Minnesota student body. Engineering, computer science, and business students will find programs with B+ to C+ ROI grades at in-state public pricing. Students in biology, music, drama, and fine arts will encounter D-grade and F-grade outcomes relative to the costs, even at in-state tuition.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Minnesota-Duluth offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $18,743 per year leads to $74,972 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $62,616 a decade out. The payback period of 7.8 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,024 against $62,616 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.