Private For-Profit Graduate Average 39/100

Walden University

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

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Minneapolis, Minnesota

About Walden University

Walden University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It enrolls 9,136 students (a large 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.

Acceptance
Graduation
34.6%
Net Price
$33,817
Median Earnings (10yr)
$42,810
Enrollment
9,136
Student : Faculty
30:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

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 Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Average
39/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 4
Value 11
Affordability 40
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Walden University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Walden 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 $33,817 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$33,817
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
55%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
69%
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
$12,762
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,820
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,040
Total Cost of Attendance
$35,358

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.

$3,166
10% percentile
$4,424
25% percentile
$20,834
Median percentile
$27,250
75% percentile
$41,750
90% 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 $12,501 ↓ $8,333
No Pell $9,375 ↓ $11,459
Dependent students $7,167 ↓ $13,667
Independent students $12,000 ↓ $8,834
Female students $11,366 ↓ $9,468
Male students $11,975 ↓ $8,859
Pell recipients: 19.4% (4,045 students)No Pell: 14.6% (3,034 students)Dependent students: 11.1% (2,319 students)Independent students: 18.6% (3,883 students)Female students: 17.7% (3,678 students)Male students: 18.6% (3,875 students)Overall Median$20,834
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,200, less than completers ($20,834), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

35% of full-time students who enrolled at Walden University graduate within six years, and 13% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
35%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
13%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Walden University earn a median of $42,810 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,810
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$42,000$44,000$47,000$49,000$52,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$52,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$81,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$38,800

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$58,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$82,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $28,700, about 35% 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 23.2 pts across 6 years
43.5%1yr48.6%3yr60%5yr66.7%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Walden University is home to 9,136 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 74% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
9,136
Part-Time
74%
First-Generation
51%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
Black 42.4% 3,872
White 39.1% 3,576
Hispanic 9.6% 875
Other 3.0% 271
Asian 1.6% 147
International 0.1% 13
Black: 42.4% (3,872 students)White: 39.1% (3,576 students)Hispanic: 9.6% (875 students)Other: 3.0% (271 students)Asian: 1.6% (147 students)International: 0.1% (13 students)Total9,136

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Large City Minneapolis, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campus Online-only, no physical campus
Adult Learners
90% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarter scheduling structure
Designation
Online-only institution

What You Can Study

Walden University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 91 distinct programs across 11 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.

17 Programs
12 Programs
14 Programs
7 Programs
3 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Walden University is 30:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty
30:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,797
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

242 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank 242 100% $67,797

Pros & Cons of Walden University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Walden University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Most students take on federal loans
Best for: Based on the data, Walden University is a fit for working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Walden University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Walden University.

How much does Walden University cost?
The average net price after aid at Walden University is $33,817 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Walden University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,810 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $33,817 per year. That's roughly 1.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Walden University known for?
Walden University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Social Work, Mental Health Services. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Walden University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Walden University are $42,810, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Walden University accredited?
Yes. Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Walden University?
Walden University enrolls 9,136 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Walden University?
Walden University graduates 35% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Walden University a public or private college?
Walden University is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Walden University located?
Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What programs does Walden University offer?
Walden University offers 91 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Social Work, Mental Health Services.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Walden University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Walden University is 30:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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