Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
About Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato is a public research university in Mankato, Minnesota, with about 11,703 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 88.44% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $56,922 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Minnesota State University-Mankato charges 74% above the national public median tuition ($9,572).
- Versus the Minnesota median, sticker tuition is 1% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 53.95%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $56,922.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Minnesota State University-Mankato is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 644% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Minnesota State University-Mankato awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 143 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | $9,572 | $19,139 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Minnesota (state median) | $9,706 | $13,322 | 92 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Minnesota State University-Mankato really?
Key findings
- Minnesota State University-Mankato charges 74% above the national public median tuition ($9,572).
- Versus the Minnesota median, sticker tuition is 1% below.
Minnesota State University-Mankato tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $9,572
Finding Minnesota State University-Mankato charges 74% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $9,572. That is 74% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Minnesota median ($9,706), sticker tuition is 1% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 20% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Minnesota State University-Mankato versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Minnesota State University-Mankato versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Minnesota State University-Mankato is $19,139.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $19,139 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $5,817 above the Minnesota median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,168 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Minnesota State University-Mankato, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Minnesota State University-Mankato: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Minnesota State University-Mankato—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$9,572
Out-of-state tuition
$18,942
Avg. net price
$19,139
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,339 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,750 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,137 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,921 |
| $110,001+ | $22,798 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $38,288. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Minnesota State University-Mankato is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse383
- Business Administration and Management, General214
- Elementary Education and Teaching145
- Psychology, General140
- Accounting120
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 29% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1150
- Midpoint ACT: 22
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Minnesota State University-Mankato is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Campus
Location
Mankato, MN
City / state
- ZIP
- 56001
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 28% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
11,703
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 16,611
- Graduate
- 1,838
- Full-time share
- 86%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,106
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 20.96%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Minnesota State University-Mankato was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Minnesota State University-Mankato in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,557 | $15,036 | $14,161 |
| 2014 | $7,574 | $15,053 | $13,898 |
| 2015 | $7,836 | $15,580 | $15,178 |
| 2016 | $7,858 | $15,602 | $15,455 |
| 2017 | $8,164 | $16,216 | $15,615 |
| 2018 | $8,184 | $16,235 | $16,035 |
| 2019 | $8,438 | $16,730 | $16,221 |
| 2020 | $8,566 | $16,984 | $17,159 |
| 2021 | $9,146 | $18,200 | $17,488 |
| 2022 | $9,444 | $18,814 | $17,812 |
| 2023 | $9,490 | $18,860 | $18,609 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1150 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 22 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Minnesota State University-Mankato reported total enrollment of about 11,703 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (70.8%), Non-Resident Alien (9.1%), and Black or African American (6.2%). About 20.96% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Minnesota State University-Mankato in 2024 is 11,703 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 16,611 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,838 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
80.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
35.18% 100% Completion Time
53.95% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 35.18% of students graduating from Minnesota State University-Mankato completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 14% male / 86% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 55% male / 45% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 12% male / 88% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates earn a median of $56,922 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,922. Median federal loan debt: $21,106. Average net price used in cost models: $19,139.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates report median earnings of $56,922 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (143 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Minnesota State University-Mankato—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$70.9M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Minnesota median 5.0× the median ($14.3M)
- Plains median 2.9× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 2.7× the median ($26.4M)
- Minnesota median 0.64× the median ($8,738)
- Plains median 0.37× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 0.46× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 72.4%
- Minnesota median 19.8 pp above median (52.6%)
- Plains median 7.7 pp above median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 14.5 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,257
- Minnesota median 1.2× the median ($9,138)
- Plains median 1.6× the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,227
- Minnesota median near the median ($8,795)
- Plains median 1.1× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 1.3× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Minnesota State University-Mankato at a glance
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato is a public institution in Mankato, MN, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralElementary Education and Teaching
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian70.8%Non-Resident Alien9.1%Black or African American6.2%
Schools near Minnesota State University-Mankato
Other campuses in Mankato, MN when available, plus nearby institutions in Minnesota.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Minnesota, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Minnesota State University-Mankato located?
Minnesota State University-Mankato is located in Mankato, MN.
What is Minnesota State University-Mankato's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Minnesota State University-Mankato is 88.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 8,974 applicants and 8,196 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Minnesota State University-Mankato's tuition?
Minnesota State University-Mankato tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $9,572 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $19,139 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Minnesota State University-Mankato cost?
Reported tuition is $9,572 and average net price is $19,139 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,420 annually.
What explains Minnesota State University-Mankato's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($19,139), completion (53.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($56,922). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Minnesota State University-Mankato?
Minnesota State University-Mankato reports undergraduate enrollment of about 16,611 students, White (70.8%), Non-Resident Alien (9.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Minnesota State University-Mankato?
About 24.2% of students at Minnesota State University-Mankato are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Minnesota State University-Mankato?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Minnesota State University-Mankato reports midpoint SAT about 1150 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of Minnesota State University-Mankato earn?
Median earnings are $50,098 six years after entry and $56,922 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Minnesota State University-Mankato?
The 150%-time completion rate is 53.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Minnesota State University-Mankato students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,106.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato public or private?
Minnesota State University-Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, MN.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Minnesota college profile
- Minnesota college costs
- Minnesota colleges by ROI
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities vs Minnesota State University-Mankato vs Capella University
- Mankato, Minnesota city profile
- Plains regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Minnesota
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.