Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Moorhead, Minnesota. It enrolls 3,072 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
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes45
Value55
Affordability49
Selectivity53
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 58.8%, Minnesota State University Moorhead is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
58.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 25
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 Minnesota State University Moorhead is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
12.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Minnesota State University Moorhead 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 $17,997 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,997
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
48%
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
$10,428
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,994
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,994
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,894
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,894
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,197
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$11,129
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,547
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,907
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,644
Over $110,000
$22,420
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.
$4,00010%percentile
$7,83925%percentile
$20,000Medianpercentile
$26,05575%percentile
$32,06090%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 $16,500
↓ $3,500
No Pell $14,000
↓ $6,000
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $5,000
Independent students $16,342
↓ $3,658
Female students $15,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $14,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($20,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at Minnesota State University Moorhead graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $50,527 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,527
Earning > $25K
81%
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
$38,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,100, about 27% 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 ↑
13.6 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
Minnesota State University Moorhead is home to 3,072 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,072
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.1%2,338
Other 5.8%177
Hispanic 5.5%169
Black 5.5%169
International 4.8%148
Asian 1.6%49
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Minnesota State University Moorhead. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbMoorhead, Minnesota
Housing
Mostly residential1,482 beds on campus
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Minnesota State University Moorhead offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
72 distinct programs across
24 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 Minnesota State University Moorhead is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,112
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$36M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,015
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
168 instructional faculty across 4 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
83
49%
$100,712
Associate Professors
41
24%
$92,071
Assistant Professors
39
23%
$74,062
Instructors
5
3%
$53,629
Pros & Cons of Minnesota State University Moorhead
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Minnesota State University Moorhead tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Frequently Asked Questions about Minnesota State University Moorhead
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Is Minnesota State University Moorhead hard to get into?
Admissions at Minnesota State University Moorhead are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 58.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Minnesota State University Moorhead?
Minnesota State University Moorhead has an acceptance rate of 58.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Minnesota State University Moorhead?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Minnesota State University Moorhead scored between 18 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Minnesota State University Moorhead cost?
The average net price after aid at Minnesota State University Moorhead is $17,997 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Minnesota State University Moorhead worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,527 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,997 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Minnesota State University Moorhead known for?
Minnesota State University Moorhead is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Educational Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Minnesota State University Moorhead are $50,527, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Minnesota State University Moorhead accredited?
Yes. Minnesota State University Moorhead is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Minnesota State University Moorhead?
Minnesota State University Moorhead enrolls 3,072 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Minnesota State University Moorhead?
Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Minnesota State University Moorhead a public or private college?
Minnesota State University Moorhead is a Public institution.
Where is Minnesota State University Moorhead located?
Minnesota State University Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota.
What programs does Minnesota State University Moorhead offer?
Minnesota State University Moorhead offers 72 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Educational Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Minnesota State University Moorhead?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Minnesota State University Moorhead is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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