Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 79/100

Minerva University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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San Francisco, California

About Minerva University

Thinking about Minerva University, a college in California where more students graduate in Interdisciplinary Studies than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Minerva University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Francisco, California. It enrolls 637 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
3%
Graduation
—
Net Price
—
Median Earnings (10yr)
—
Enrollment
637
Student : Faculty
12:1

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
79/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 97
Value —
Affordability 0
Selectivity 100

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Minerva University admits 3% of applicants, which makes it a reach for almost everyone, so treat it as one option among several.

Acceptance Rate
3%
Highly Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Minerva University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

1%20211%20223.6%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. Minerva University has not reported one, so ask the financial aid office for a written estimate before comparing it against anywhere else.

Average Net Price
—
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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
$23,630
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,750
Room & Board (off-campus)
$2,500
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,000
What this means: Only 0% of students at Minerva University receive Pell grants. Most enrolled families don't qualify for need-based federal aid.

Graduation Rate & Retention

97% come back after first year. Students who arrive tend to stay, which is usually a good sign. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
97%
Returning for their second year
What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 637 students, a small, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled
637
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
International 20.9% 133
White 4.4% 28
Asian 1.7% 11
Other 0.5% 3
Hispanic 0.3% 2
International: 20.9% (133 students)White: 4.4% (28 students)Asian: 1.7% (11 students)Other: 0.5% (3 students)Hispanic: 0.3% (2 students)Total637

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Minerva University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City San Francisco, California
Housing
Strongly residential 615 beds for 637 students
Adult Learners
1% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Business graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Minerva University offers a focused set of programs: 7 distinct programs across 4 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.

2 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 12 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$25M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$123,558
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

49 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 26 53% $130,875
Associate Professors 6 12% $109,416
Assistant Professors 17 35% $117,358

Pros & Cons of Minerva University

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Minerva University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Highly selective, strong peer cohort
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Strong first-year retention
CONS
  • Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
  • Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for: Based on the data, Minerva University is a fit for students seeking a highly selective peer group; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Minerva University

The questions families ask most about Minerva University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Minerva University hard to get into?
Yes. Minerva University is among the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 3%. Successful applicants typically have top-decile test scores and strong academic, extracurricular, and recommendation profiles.
What is the acceptance rate at Minerva University?
3% of applicants are admitted. Roughly one applicant in ten gets in, so apply only alongside options you are more likely to win. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Minerva University known for?
Mostly Mathematics and Computer Science, Social Sciences, Business Administration. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How many students attend Minerva University?
637 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Minerva University a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Minerva University located?
Minerva University is located in San Francisco, California.
What programs does Minerva University offer?
7 different programs, most commonly Mathematics and Computer Science, Social Sciences, Business Administration. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Minerva University?
12 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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