University of Minnesota-Twin Cities demonstrates above average return on educational investment through strong absolute earnings combined with manageable debt levels. The return index ranks at the 71.4th percentile nationally with above average performance, reflecting graduates' $69,020 median earnings at the 85th percentile and debt levels of $19,500 slightly below peer institutions. Graduates earn $8,477 more than the peer median of $60,543, while carrying $500 less debt than typical at similar institutions. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 indicates sustainable repayment conditions, with educational debt representing reasonable percentages of annual income. However, graduates earn $12,600 below expectations relative to student demographics, tempering the otherwise strong return profile. The combination of strong absolute earnings, controlled debt, and favorable peer comparisons creates positive return conditions despite the negative value-added performance, positioning the institution favorably for students seeking research university education with manageable financial commitments.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth over time, with median earnings rising from $57,984 six years after enrollment to $63,477 at eight years and $69,020 at ten years, representing 19.0% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes reflect data from substantial cohorts of 7,979 six-year graduates, 8,545 eight-year graduates, and 9,581 ten-year graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $8,477 more than the peer median, though they earn $12,600 below expectations compared to similar students nationally. The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, with the gap between the 25th percentile ($47,150) and 75th percentile ($97,410) representing a 2.1:1 ratio. Low-income graduates earn $66,300, demonstrating strong outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds and contributing to the institution's excellent mobility performance. Approximately 26.6% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education pathways.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Earnings outcomes at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities reflect significant program diversity and career trajectory differences. The spread between the 25th percentile ($47,150) and 75th percentile ($97,410) demonstrates the impact of field selection, with Computer Systems Analysis graduates earning $95,664 and Computer Science graduates earning $93,994, while Psychology graduates earn $49,126. The 19.0% earnings growth from six to ten years indicates steady career advancement, with substantial cohort sizes of nearly 10,000 graduates in the ten-year data providing reliable outcome measures across the institution's 20 programs with federal earnings data.
Financial justification for the investment.
The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation reflecting program diversity and career path differences. The gap between 25th percentile ($47,150) and 75th percentile ($97,410) creates a 2.1:1 ratio, indicating substantial upside potential for students in high-performing programs. Low-income graduates earn $66,300, demonstrating strong mobility outcomes and supporting the institution's excellent mobility index performance. This distribution reflects the breadth of career outcomes possible across the institution's diverse program offerings.
Approximately 26.6% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study based on program mix analysis, with high confidence in this estimate. This substantial continuation rate indicates strong preparation for advanced study alongside workforce-ready programs, supporting diverse post-graduation pathways for students seeking either immediate career entry or further educational advancement.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
The institution's strongest return outcomes concentrate in technical and professional programs. Computer Systems Analysis leads with $95,664 earnings and #1 national ranking, while Computer Science produces $93,994 for substantial enrollment of 459 graduates. Banking and Financial Support Services generates $87,799, and Mechanical Engineering delivers $84,682 annually. Education, Other achieves exceptional value despite moderate $58,769 earnings through #1 national ranking and perfect value scores. Business programs consistently deliver $75,000+ earnings across specializations. These high-performing programs drive the institution's overall strong return performance, while programs like Psychology ($49,126) and Creative Writing ($51,465) serve different career pathways with moderate but meaningful earnings. The diversity of strong-performing programs across technical, business, and professional fields supports the institution's above average return index ranking.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Upper quartile, 10-year field
The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation reflecting program diversity and career path differences. The gap between 25th percentile ($47,150) and 75th percentile ($97,410) creates a 2.1:1 ratio, indicating substantial upside potential for students in high-performing programs. Low-income graduates earn $66,300, demonstrating strong mobility outcomes and supporting the institution's excellent mobility index performance. This distribution reflects the breadth of career outcomes possible across the institution's diverse program offerings.
