Walden University
Minneapolis, MN 55401
About Walden University
Walden University is a private for-profit university in Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving roughly 9,136 students. Walden University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $12,762 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $42,810 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Walden University charges 23% below the national private for-profit median tuition ($12,762).
- Versus the Minnesota median, sticker tuition is 31% above.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,810.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Walden University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 216% 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
Walden University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 60 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University | $12,762 | $33,817 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| Minnesota (state median) | $9,706 | $13,322 | 92 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| 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 Walden University really?
Key findings
- Walden University charges 23% below the national private for-profit median tuition ($12,762).
- Versus the Minnesota median, sticker tuition is 31% above.
Walden University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $12,762
Finding Walden University charges 23% below the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $12,762. That is 23% below the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the Minnesota median ($9,706), sticker tuition is 31% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 7% above.
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 private for-profit 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 Walden University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Walden University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Walden University is $33,817.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $33,817 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $20,495 above the Minnesota median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $13,764 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 Walden University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Walden University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Walden University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Median earnings should be read with net price, debt, and completion—not as a standalone quality score.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$12,762
Avg. net price
$33,817
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $32,652 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $34,983 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $51,048. 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 Walden University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse4,132
- Social Work1,611
- Business Administration and Management, General1,026
- Education, General994
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor880
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Walden University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Walden University is a good school for those looking for strong graduate earnings outcomes in College Scorecard data.
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 Walden University.
Campus
Location
Minneapolis, MN
City / state
- ZIP
- 55401
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 69% above the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Doctoral/Professional Universities
Size
Enrollment
9,136
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 17,024
- Graduate
- 40,297
- Full-time share
- 26%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,834
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 55.18%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Walden University.
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 Walden University 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 Walden University 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 | $11,460 | $11,460 | — |
| 2014 | $12,240 | $12,240 | $27,851 |
| 2015 | $12,075 | $12,075 | $29,141 |
| 2016 | $12,075 | $12,075 | — |
| 2017 | $12,465 | $12,465 | — |
| 2018 | $12,120 | $12,120 | $21,276 |
| 2019 | $12,150 | $12,150 | — |
| 2020 | $12,180 | $12,180 | — |
| 2021 | $12,180 | $12,180 | $18,325 |
| 2022 | $12,483 | $12,483 | — |
| 2023 | $12,498 | $12,498 | — |
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
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Walden University reported total enrollment of about 9,136 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 14% male and 86% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (42.4%), White (39.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.6%). About 55.18% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
25.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Walden University in 2024 is 9,136 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 17,024 students. Graduate enrollment is about 40,297 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
0.0%
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
0.00% 100% Completion Time
0.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Walden University 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
- Social Work: 11% male / 89% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 35% male / 65% 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.
Walden University graduates earn a median of $42,810 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Walden University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $42,810. Median federal loan debt: $20,834. Average net price used in cost models: $33,817.
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 Walden University graduates report median earnings of $42,810 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 Walden University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (60 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Walden University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Walden University graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Walden University—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 11.0%
- Minnesota median 41.6 pp below median (52.6%)
- Plains median 53.7 pp below median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 47.0 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,406
- Minnesota median 0.81× the median ($9,138)
- Plains median near the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,101
- Minnesota median 0.35× the median ($8,795)
- Plains median 0.38× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 0.43× 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.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Walden University at a glance
Walden University
Walden University is a private for-profit institution in Minneapolis, MN, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseSocial WorkBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American42.4%White or Caucasian39.1%Hispanic or Latino9.6%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Walden University
Other campuses in Minneapolis, MN when available, plus nearby institutions in Minnesota.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within Minnesota, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Walden University located?
Walden University is located in Minneapolis, MN.
What is Walden University's tuition?
Walden University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $12,762 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $33,817 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Walden University cost?
Reported tuition is $12,762 and average net price is $33,817 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,820 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Walden University?
Walden University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 17,024 students, Black or African American (42.4%), White (39.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Walden University?
About 50.8% of students at Walden University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Walden University earn?
Median earnings are $50,657 six years after entry and $42,810 ten years after entry.
How much debt do Walden University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,834.
Is Walden University public or private?
Walden University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, MN.
Is Walden University an HBCU?
No. Walden University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Walden University a tribal college?
No. Walden University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Walden University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Walden University does not meet that proxy (reported share 9.6%).
Is Walden University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Walden University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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
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.