Students at the University of Minnesota-Crookston achieve earnings that significantly exceed expectations, with graduates earning about $7,346 more than similar students at comparable institutions.
This small public university combines strong financial outcomes with exceptional affordability, particularly benefiting students focused on business and finance careers.
Azimuth ranks the University of Minnesota-Crookston 73rd percentile nationally among public four-year institutions, reflecting strong performance in return on investment and affordability despite more limited access for underserved populations. This small public university in northwestern Minnesota delivers impressive long-term financial outcomes, with graduates earning a median of $58,056 ten years after enrollment and achieving earnings beyond expectations that significantly outpace similar institutions nationwide.
What distinguishes UMN-Crookston is its combination of affordability and strong career preparation, particularly in business and finance fields. Low-income students pay just $3,746 annually, while middle-income families face net costs around $8,362, making it one of the more affordable options in the University of Minnesota system. The institution maintains a focused academic portfolio that emphasizes practical, career-oriented programs leading directly to stable employment in agriculture, business, and technology sectors.
As a small campus with fewer than 2,000 students, UMN-Crookston offers the intimate learning environment of a liberal arts college combined with the resources and reputation of a major public university system. This scale allows for personalized attention and strong faculty-student relationships while maintaining the academic rigor and career services that help graduates achieve above-average earnings in their chosen fields.
The University of Minnesota-Crookston's program portfolio centers on practical, career-oriented fields that connect directly to regional employment opportunities. Business Administration leads both in enrollment and economic impact, graduating 73 students annually who earn around $56,776 ten years out, making it the institution's highest aggregate return program. This major exemplifies UMN-Crookston's approach of combining solid enrollment with strong career outcomes.
Accounting Technology represents the university's largest program by footprint, graduating 56 students who earn approximately $46,869 in their early careers. Banking and Financial Support Services, while smaller with 27 graduates, demonstrates the institution's specialized focus on finance-related fields, with graduates earning around $48,849. These programs reflect UMN-Crookston's strategic emphasis on business and financial services education.
The concentration in business and finance fields helps explain the university's strong overall earnings performance and rapid loan repayment rates. As a small institution, UMN-Crookston can maintain close relationships with regional employers and provide focused career preparation that translates directly into employment opportunities. This targeted approach, while limiting program diversity, creates clear pathways from education to career success in the university's core areas of expertise.
Graduates of the University of Minnesota-Crookston achieve strong long-term financial outcomes that significantly exceed expectations. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $58,056, placing the institution in the 73rd percentile nationally for earnings performance. More importantly, graduates earn approximately $7,346 more than similar students at comparable institutions, demonstrating the university's ability to add substantial value to student outcomes through quality education and career preparation.
The institution's strongest returns come from its business and finance programs, which form the core of its academic portfolio. Business Administration graduates, representing the largest program with 73 students, earn around $56,776 ten years out and generate the highest aggregate return for the institution. Accounting Technology graduates, the second-largest program with 56 students, earn approximately $46,869, while Banking and Financial Support Services majors achieve median earnings of $48,849. These programs reflect UMN-Crookston's focus on practical, career-oriented education that connects directly to regional employment opportunities in agriculture, finance, and business services.
The university's small scale and specialized program mix contribute to its strong earnings performance. With concentrated expertise in business, agriculture, and applied technology fields, UMN-Crookston can provide focused career preparation and maintain strong employer relationships that benefit graduates in the job market. This targeted approach helps explain why graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations despite the institution's modest size and regional focus.
The University of Minnesota-Crookston offers exceptional affordability across all income levels, ranking in the 83rd percentile nationally for affordability performance. Low-income students pay just $3,746 annually in net costs, well below typical public university prices, while middle-income families face manageable annual expenses around $8,362. Even high-income families pay $18,544 per year, a reasonable figure for a quality public university education that delivers strong long-term returns.
Debt levels remain very manageable for most graduates, with typical federal student loan debt of $20,500 and Parent PLUS borrowing averaging $10,823. The institution maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates can successfully manage their debt obligations after graduation. Most borrowers demonstrate strong repayment patterns, with loan balance reduction occurring faster than national averages in the early post-graduation years.
What makes UMN-Crookston particularly sustainable financially is the combination of low upfront costs and solid post-graduation earnings. With median earnings approaching $58,000 ten years out, graduates can comfortably handle standard loan repayment while building financial stability. The university's focus on practical, career-oriented programs means students graduate with skills directly applicable to employment, reducing the risk of underemployment that can make debt repayment challenging at other institutions.
University Of Minnesota-Crookston Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
