Cost of college in Minnesota
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Minnesota averages $13,483 a year, or $16,853 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $62,335 and owe about $20,069. The net price pays back in about 3.3 years.
How Minnesota compares to the US
Minnesota ranks #11 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #11 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #12 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Minnesota | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $13,483 | $9,518 | +$3,965 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $24,367 | $23,652 | +$715 |
| Net price after aid | $16,853 | $13,788 | +$3,065 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $62,335 | $56,427 | +$5,908 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,069 | $17,856 | +$2,213 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Minnesota pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Minnesota costs about $67,412 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.3 years from the roughly $20,535-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #12 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Minnesota list about $46,179 in tuition and net out to about $24,851 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Minnesota?
At a public 4-year college in Minnesota, in-state tuition and fees average about $13,483 a year and out-of-state runs about $24,367. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $16,853. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Minnesota earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Minnesota's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $62,335 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,069 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Minnesota?
A public 4-year degree in Minnesota costs about $67,412 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.3 years from the roughly $20,535-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.