Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #542 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #559 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #542 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong graduate outcomes relative to cost paid. These outcomes span graduates entering academic careers as well as those pursuing high-earning sectors.
Azimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #542 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Duluth, Minnesota, University of Minnesota-Duluth enrolls roughly 7,336 undergraduates. Retention is 81.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.7%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where University of Minnesota-Duluth performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #559 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,163 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Minnesota-Duluth in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the university's strength in business and applied fields that connect directly to regional labor-market demand, where employers actively recruit graduates. Access and affordability round out the composite. University of Minnesota-Duluth sits in the 28.5 percentile for access and the 61.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 18.8% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 18.3% identifying as first-generation college students. Mobility outcomes sit in the 79.8 percentile, reflecting how well low-income and first-generation graduates convert their degrees into stable career pathways. For students seeking a public university with clear career alignment, manageable costs, and strong long-term financial outcomes in a smaller-city setting, University of Minnesota-Duluth offers a reliable path to economic mobility.
University of Minnesota-Duluth's published cost of attendance is $27,680. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $7,256, mid-low-income families pay around $8,145, middle-income families pay about $11,965, mid-high-income families pay approximately $17,056, and higher-income families pay around $24,453. Azimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #552 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public regional university, University of Minnesota-Duluth structures aid primarily through need-based grants and federal loans. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on the FAFSA and institutional aid policies, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,024, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,127; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $66,056, median federal debt of $22,024 projects to a monthly payment of about $249 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Minnesota-Duluth is a strong fit for students interested in business and applied fields who want a public research university experience in Duluth, MN. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $66,056, placing University of Minnesota-Duluth in the 70.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,163 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 63.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 18.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 18.3% are first-generation. The published cost of attendance is $24,453, with need-based aid available to help close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 88.8% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix is concentrated in Business (19% of degrees). Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to MN's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $35,273.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the University Of Minnesota-Duluth hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Minnesota-Duluth's published cost of attendance is $27,680. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $7,256, mid-low-income families pay around $8,145, middle-income families pay about $11,965, mid-high-income families pay approximately $17,056, and higher-income families pay around $24,453.
Azimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #552 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public regional university, University of Minnesota-Duluth structures aid primarily through need-based grants and federal loans.
The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on the FAFSA and institutional aid policies, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,024, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,127; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $66,056, median federal debt of $22,024 projects to a monthly payment of about $249 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Minnesota-Duluth earn median 4-year earnings of $66,056, placing the institution in the 70.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $1,163 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Minnesota-Duluth in the 63.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Minnesota-Duluth #559 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects University of Minnesota-Duluth's concentration in health and human services fields. Psychology, General is the largest program with 162 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,891, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field.
The Biology, General program graduates 146 students earning $63,317, while Digital Marketing with 122 graduates reaches $74,079. Finance and Mechanical Engineering round out the top five, with 117 and 106 graduates respectively earning $73,979 and $88,965.
The Business focus — representing the institution's primary degree concentration — aligns with Colorado's regional workforce demand in healthcare, education, and human services, where employer recruitment remains steady and career pathways offer predictable advancement.
Industrial Engineering
13 graduates
Computer Science
78 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
106 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
41 graduates
Chemical Engineering
57 graduates
University of Minnesota-Duluth's program mix is anchored in health professions and education — a portfolio aligned with the institution's regional mission and workforce demand in Colorado. Psychology, General is the largest program with 162 graduates annually, followed by Biology, General, Digital Marketing, Finance, and Mechanical Engineering.
Across 59 total programs serving roughly 2,216 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs cluster in health and applied fields where regional demand remains steady.
Computer Science leads with median earnings of $91,911 four years after enrollment, followed by Mechanical Engineering at $88,965, Chemical Engineering at $85,667, and Accounting at $74,360. These programs reflect University of Minnesota-Duluth's strength in Business professions and related applied disciplines, where graduates enter the workforce directly into stable, in-demand roles.
The concentration of earnings strength in health-adjacent fields aligns with Colorado's demographic trends and employer recruitment patterns in the Front Range region. Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly and earnings reflect workforce outcomes.
Digital Marketing and related health-science programs support both early-career earnings and long-term career stability in fields with consistent hiring demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how University of Minnesota-Duluth's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suny College At Geneseo Similar quality tier (#15528 ranked) | NY | 66% | $67,316 | #15528 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Stout Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15531 ranked) | WI | 88% | $58,084 | #15531 | Compare |
Youngstown State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15501 ranked) | OH | 84% | $41,544 | #15501 | Compare |
Framingham State University Similar quality tier (#15537 ranked) | MA | 84% | $52,349 | #15537 | Compare |
University Of Southern Maine Similar quality tier (#15546 ranked) | ME | 79% | $49,958 | #15546 | Compare |
