Bemidji State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bemidji, Minnesota. It enrolls 3,139 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes37
Value75
Affordability56
Selectivity54
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 56%, Bemidji State University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
56%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bemidji State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bemidji State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,261 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,261
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$10,237
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,462
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,462
Books & Supplies
$890
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,744
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,073
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,207
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,201
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,857
Over $110,000
$19,940
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,77410%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,750Medianpercentile
$23,33675%percentile
$30,48790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,000
↓ $5,750
No Pell $13,000
↓ $6,750
Dependent students $13,300
↓ $6,450
Independent students $14,499
↓ $5,251
Female students $13,018
↓ $6,732
Male students $14,050
↓ $5,700
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,628, less than completers ($19,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of full-time students who enrolled at Bemidji State University graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bemidji State University earn a median of $53,755 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,755
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,100, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bemidji State University is home to 3,139 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,139
Part-Time
27%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.3%2,426
Other 11.1%347
Hispanic 4.4%139
Black 3.5%109
Asian 1.7%54
International 1.6%51
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bemidji State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteBemidji, Minnesota
Housing
Partly residential935 beds available
Adult Learners
28%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Bemidji State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
49 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bemidji State University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,994
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$33M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$87,609
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
153 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
48
31%
$102,446
Associate Professors
56
37%
$85,029
Assistant Professors
49
32%
$76,023
Pros & Cons of Bemidji State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bemidji State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Frequently Asked Questions about Bemidji State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bemidji State University.
Is Bemidji State University hard to get into?
Admissions at Bemidji State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 56%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Bemidji State University?
Bemidji State University has an acceptance rate of 56%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Bemidji State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bemidji State University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bemidji State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Bemidji State University is $15,261 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bemidji State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,755 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,261 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bemidji State University known for?
Bemidji State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bemidji State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bemidji State University are $53,755, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bemidji State University accredited?
Yes. Bemidji State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Bemidji State University?
Bemidji State University enrolls 3,139 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bemidji State University?
Bemidji State University graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bemidji State University a public or private college?
Bemidji State University is a Public institution.
Where is Bemidji State University located?
Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota.
What programs does Bemidji State University offer?
Bemidji State University offers 49 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bemidji State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bemidji State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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