University of Minnesota-Duluth vs St Olaf College: which has better ROI?
University of Minnesota-Duluth has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,972 in 5.3 years versus 5.6 years at St Olaf College, on median earnings of $62,616 vs $65,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Minnesota-Duluth | St Olaf College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,743 | $23,874 |
| Total net cost | $74,972 | $95,496 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,616 | $65,543 |
| Median debt | $22,024 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $210,148 | $248,164 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Minnesota-Duluth or St Olaf College?
University of Minnesota-Duluth, at $18,743 a year after aid versus $23,874 — a gap of $5,131 a year, or $20,524 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Minnesota-Duluth or St Olaf College graduates earn more?
St Olaf College graduates report a median $65,543 ten years after entry, $2,927 more than the $62,616 at University of Minnesota-Duluth. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Minnesota-Duluth or St Olaf College?
University of Minnesota-Duluth: its completers carry a median $22,024 in federal loans versus $26,000 at St Olaf College, a difference of $3,976. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at St Olaf College, against 65% at University of Minnesota-Duluth. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.