Mankato, Minnesota Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Mankato, Minnesota: median public in-state tuition $11,490 (+108.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $51,516 (-5.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 93.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,106 (+59.0% vs U.S.) 12,372 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Mankato serve students across Minnesota with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 12,372 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $11,490. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Mankato, Minnesota and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Mankato vs Minnesota & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, Minnesota | $11,490 | $19,644 | $21,106 | 54.4% | 12,372 |
| Minnesota (state median) | $6,249 | $13,322 | $14,750 | 58.0% | 228,926 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Mankato, Minnesota vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, Minnesota | $51,516 | 93.6% | 76.1% | 3.7% | — | 83.6% | 0.43 |
| Minnesota (state median) | $58,680 | 93.4% | 79.5% | 3.5% | — | 82.1% | 0.38 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Minnesota (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, Minnesota | $11,490 | $19,644 | $21,106 | 54.4% | 12,372 | $51,516 | 93.6% |
| Minneapolis | $17,214 | $21,109 | $19,500 | 66.1% | 71,164 | $43,937 | 89.4% |
| Saint Paul | $44,226 | $20,744 | $21,500 | 64.7% | 28,385 | $62,435 | 92.4% |
| Duluth | $14,610 | $18,743 | $20,000 | 67.6% | 11,572 | $64,275 | 95.0% |
| Duluth | $14,610 | $18,743 | $20,000 | 67.6% | 11,572 | $64,275 | 95.0% |
| Saint Cloud | $8,184 | $10,946 | $12,000 | 40.3% | 8,400 | $55,813 | 93.8% |
| Winona | $10,576 | $16,140 | $21,500 | 61.5% | 7,605 | $58,351 | 95.2% |
| Bloomington | $11,490 | $29,093 | $12,000 | 36.0% | 7,580 | N/A | N/A |
| Bloomington | $11,490 | $29,093 | $12,000 | 36.0% | 7,580 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 54.9%, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 53.9%, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 95.0%, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 92.3%, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 most selective colleges in Mankato, Minnesota (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 39.0%, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 88.4%, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $75,682, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $44,462, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $103,858, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $53,811, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $50,098, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,652, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,926, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $44,246, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,922, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,110, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $172,687, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $117,895, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Mankato, Minnesota (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $19,139, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, Net Price, $20,148, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
Top 2 colleges in Mankato, Minnesota by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 80.2%, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 72.0%, Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College
In-state tuition: Mankato, Minnesota vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Mankato, Minnesota median in-state tuition is $11,490, +108.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Mankato, Minnesota vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Mankato, Minnesota is $21,106 (+59.0% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Mankato, Minnesota vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Mankato, Minnesota center around $51,516 (-5.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Mankato, Minnesota vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 93.6% at the median Mankato, Minnesota campus (+5.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Mankato, Minnesota median public in-state tuition is $11,490, about +108.5% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +84.6%.
Median graduate debt is $21,106 (+59.0% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Mankato, Minnesota are $51,516, about -5.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 93.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+5.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 76.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 83.6% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Minnesota State University-Mankato (95.0%), Bethany Lutheran College (92.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Mankato, Minnesota is 54.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Mankato?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Mankato, Minnesota with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Mankato?
Median in-state tuition in Mankato is $11,490 and median net price is $19,644. For Minnesota overall, medians are $6,249 and $13,322; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Mankato?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Mankato is $51,516 vs $58,680 for Minnesota and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Mankato colleges?
Median completer debt in Mankato is $21,106 vs $14,750 for Minnesota and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Mankato?
Top campuses on this page include Bethany Lutheran College (graduation) and Minnesota State University-Mankato (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Mankato?
Among 3 campuses in Mankato, Minnesota, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Other (none of the above) (1).
Sources & related
- Minnesota college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON