Minnesota State University-Mankato is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Mankato, Minnesota. It enrolls 11,703 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.
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 Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value60
Affordability38
Selectivity32
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 88.4%, Minnesota State University-Mankato is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
88.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Minnesota State University-Mankato is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
28.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Minnesota State University-Mankato 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 $19,139 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,139
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
40%
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 (in-state)
$9,572
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,942
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,420
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,420
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,656
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,656
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,995
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,339
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,750
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,137
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,921
Over $110,000
$22,798
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,106Medianpercentile
$25,25075%percentile
$31,00090%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 $15,219
↓ $5,887
No Pell $13,000
↓ $8,106
Dependent students $14,228
↓ $6,878
Independent students $12,500
↓ $8,606
Female students $14,250
↓ $6,856
Male students $13,750
↓ $7,356
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($21,106), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at Minnesota State University-Mankato graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Minnesota State University-Mankato earn a median of $56,922 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,922
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$42,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,000, about 23% 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 ↑
14.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Minnesota State University-Mankato is home to 11,703 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
11,703
Part-Time
14%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 70.8%8,285
International 9.1%1,061
Black 6.2%730
Hispanic 6.2%721
Other 4.0%473
Asian 3.2%370
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Minnesota State University-Mankato. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityMankato, Minnesota
Housing
Partly residential2,889 beds available
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Minnesota State University-Mankato offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
145 distinct programs across
28 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Minnesota State University-Mankato is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,925
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$71M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$96,779
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
490 instructional faculty across 4 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
Full Professors
202
41%
$110,600
Associate Professors
144
29%
$93,629
Assistant Professors
134
27%
$81,910
Instructors
10
2%
$62,205
Pros & Cons of Minnesota State University-Mankato
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Minnesota State University-Mankato tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Minnesota State University-Mankato is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Minnesota State University-Mankato
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato hard to get into?
Minnesota State University-Mankato has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 88.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Minnesota State University-Mankato?
Minnesota State University-Mankato has an acceptance rate of 88.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Minnesota State University-Mankato?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Minnesota State University-Mankato scored between 21 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Minnesota State University-Mankato cost?
The average net price after aid at Minnesota State University-Mankato is $19,139 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,922 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,139 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Minnesota State University-Mankato known for?
Minnesota State University-Mankato is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Minnesota State University-Mankato are $56,922, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato accredited?
Yes. Minnesota State University-Mankato is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Minnesota State University-Mankato?
Minnesota State University-Mankato enrolls 11,703 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Minnesota State University-Mankato?
Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato a public or private college?
Minnesota State University-Mankato is a Public institution.
Where is Minnesota State University-Mankato located?
Minnesota State University-Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota.
What programs does Minnesota State University-Mankato offer?
Minnesota State University-Mankato offers 145 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Minnesota State University-Mankato?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Minnesota State University-Mankato is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Minnesota
Other colleges in Minnesota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Nursing
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