University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
73%
Acceptance Rate
$15,748
Avg Cost (In-State)
$35,238
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
83%
Graduation Rate
54,117
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$55
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay required through Common App or Coalition App
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$50,098
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$56,922
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
54%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Carleton College Need-Met Aid
100% need met; loans capped
universityAll admitted Carleton students with demonstrated need.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗MN GI Bill Surviving Spouse and Dependents Education Benefits
Up to $10,000 over lifetime
stateMN service member spouses/dependents whose veteran died or was permanently disabled in service.
Deadline: Through MN Dept of Veterans Affairs
Learn more ↗Macalester DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship
Up to $25,000/year
universityTop Macalester incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Minnesota State Grant
Up to $13,400/year
stateMN residents at MN postsecondary institutions; need-based, calculated by living + tuition costs minus expected family contribution.
Deadline: FAFSA + MN State Grant App by April 15
Learn more ↗Minnesota North Star Promise Scholarship
Free tuition at MN public colleges (under $80k family income)
stateMN residents with adjusted gross income under $80,000 attending MN public colleges and universities.
Deadline: FAFSA + MN State Grant App
Learn more ↗Minnesota Indian Scholarship
Up to $4,000/year
stateMN residents who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe.
Deadline: August 15
Learn more ↗Minneapolis Foundation Scholarships
$1,000-$5,000
localMN students with academic merit + community service.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Scholarships
$500-$10,000+
localMN students; many named funds via common app.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Minnesota Private College Council Scholarship
$500-$3,000
stateMN residents at MN private colleges.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
19.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
20.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
64.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
15.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
32.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
93.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
84.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK
73% acceptance
Both admit around 73% of applicants, with 32k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
72.7% acceptance
Both admit around 73% of applicants, with 32k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA
73.3% acceptance
Both admit around 73% of applicants, with 31k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL
69.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (70% vs 73%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $35k.
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
76.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (77% vs 73%) but out-of-state cost runs $16k — meaningfully less than $35k.
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
79.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (80% vs 73%) but out-of-state cost runs $16k — meaningfully less than $35k.
Reaches above this college
University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH
59.7% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but more selective (60% vs 73%) — a stretch target if University of Minnesota is already on your list.
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR
54.6% acceptance
Same u setting in the region, but more selective (55% vs 73%) — a stretch target if University of Minnesota is already on your list.
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
53% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but more selective (53% vs 73%) — a stretch target if University of Minnesota is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
84.5% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (85% vs 73%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH
85.3% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (85% vs 73%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE
87% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (87% vs 73%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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