University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at a Glance
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the flagship institution of the University of Minnesota System and is organized into 19 colleges, schools, and other major academic units.
1851
175 years old
$6.5B
$6.45 billion (system-wide, 2025)
57,879
32,632 undergrad · 11,210 grad
4,923
2,730 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Official admissions pageMarch 31
January 31 (Early Action I)
$55
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Worth It?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $16,778/year net price and $69,020 median earnings, graduates earn 4.1× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 85% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Bottom line: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Minnesota-Twin Cities compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #5 of 20 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #3 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #4 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #5 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 87 | $16,778 | $69,020 |
| #6 | University of Delaware | 82 | $17,799 | $72,950 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The highest-earning program at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is Computer Engineering at $71,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Music at $17,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities earns $71,000, while a Music graduate earns $17,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $20,836 in median debt vs. $20,500 for Music.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $16,778/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $71,000 | $71,000 | $20,836 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $69,200 | $69,200 | $20,250 |
| Computer Science | $69,200 | $69,200 | $20,092 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $67,800 | $67,800 | $20,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $67,200 | $67,200 | $23,250 |
| Industrial Engineering | $66,900 | $66,900 | $20,341 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,700 | $66,700 | $20,975 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $66,100 | $66,100 | $18,857 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $65,000 | $65,000 | N/A |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $62,300 | $62,300 | $21,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $60,700 | $60,700 | $20,500 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $60,600 | $60,600 | $24,987 |
| Materials Engineering | $59,800 | $59,800 | $24,294 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $59,700 | $59,700 | $22,000 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $59,300 | $59,300 | $19,312 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $59,100 | $59,100 | $24,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,100 | $58,100 | $22,875 |
| Civil Engineering | $57,000 | $57,000 | $22,525 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $56,500 | $56,500 | $20,500 |
| Marketing | $54,800 | $54,800 | $19,971 |
| Mathematics | $54,100 | $54,100 | $22,464 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $50,000 | $50,000 | $18,250 |
| Economics | $49,700 | $49,700 | $19,500 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $49,700 | $49,700 | $20,854 |
| Statistics | $48,300 | $48,300 | $23,337 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $45,900 | $45,900 | $19,375 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $45,300 | $45,300 | $14,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $44,400 | $44,400 | $22,746 |
| Food Science and Technology | $42,500 | $42,500 | $22,000 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $42,100 | $42,100 | $16,355 |
| Forestry | $41,900 | $41,900 | $15,787 |
| Education, Other | $40,900 | $40,900 | $19,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $40,200 | $40,200 | $22,375 |
| Architecture | $40,100 | $40,100 | $23,000 |
| Chemistry | $38,800 | $38,800 | $21,500 |
| Physics | $38,600 | $38,600 | $21,300 |
| Journalism | $38,200 | $38,200 | $19,873 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $37,400 | $37,400 | $21,577 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $36,800 | $36,800 | $19,012 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $36,700 | $36,700 | $18,750 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $36,400 | $36,400 | $21,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,000 | $36,000 | $19,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $35,400 | $35,400 | $20,804 |
| Animal Sciences | $35,000 | $35,000 | $18,500 |
| Criminology | $34,900 | $34,900 | $21,000 |
| Biology, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $21,399 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $34,100 | $34,100 | $22,186 |
| Psychology, General | $34,000 | $34,000 | $19,909 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,800 | $33,800 | $21,500 |
| Geography and Cartography | $33,800 | $33,800 | $18,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $33,600 | $33,600 | $21,876 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $33,500 | $33,500 | $18,000 |
| Sociology | $33,500 | $33,500 | $18,000 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $33,400 | $33,400 | $18,170 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $33,200 | $33,200 | $25,500 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $31,500 | $31,500 | $22,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $31,500 | $31,500 | $21,153 |
| Anthropology | $31,200 | $31,200 | $21,500 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $30,900 | $30,900 | $20,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $30,800 | $30,800 | $16,893 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $29,900 | $29,900 | $22,250 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $28,600 | $28,600 | $19,496 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,200 | $28,200 | $20,000 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $28,000 | $28,000 | $15,518 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $27,300 | $27,300 | $17,400 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $27,100 | $27,100 | $20,750 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $26,700 | $26,700 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,000 | $26,000 | $19,656 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $25,600 | $25,600 | $20,043 |
| History | $25,200 | $25,200 | $20,500 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $24,600 | $24,600 | $19,449 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $20,600 | $20,600 | $23,969 |
| Plant Sciences | $20,300 | $20,300 | $21,375 |
| Philosophy | $19,900 | $19,900 | $20,936 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $19,400 | $19,400 | $19,750 |
| Music | $17,300 | $17,300 | $20,500 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
- Student Body
- 31,855 students
- Admission Rate
- 80%
- Graduation Rate
- 85%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $16,778
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $69,020
- Median Student Debt
- $19,500