University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Minneapolis, Minnesota · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public university in Minneapolis, Minnesota that admits about 77% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $17,139 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Psychology, General and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 85% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 77%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1359 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,139 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What parents should know about University of Minnesota-Twin Cities right now
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public land-grant research university spread across Minneapolis and Saint Paul and the flagship of the University of Minnesota System. With roughly 54,000 students across 19 colleges and schools, Minnesota is a Big Ten member, an Association of American Universities member, and one of the most comprehensive flagship public universities in the country. Distinctive strengths include the Carlson School of Management, the College of Science and Engineering, and the Medical School, which is closely tied to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic for clinical training and research. Parents should know that admission is by college, meaning a student's intended major affects the review process; programs like the Carlson School and computer science within the College of Science and Engineering are notably more selective than the university's overall acceptance rate suggests. Minnesota remains test-optional for most first-year applicants in recent cycles while still using rigor of high school coursework and class rank as central factors. The university's Promise Plus Scholarship and the U Promise programs, expanded in 2024, increased grant aid for qualifying in-state students from families below defined income thresholds, an important development for Minnesota residents weighing public flagship costs. Recent campus news of interest to families includes ongoing investments in the new Bee and Pollinator Research Lab and continued expansion of NIL and athletics resources within the Big Ten's new media-rights era.
What GPA does my child need for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Minnesota-Twin Cities weight in admissions?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Minnesota-Twin Cities typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 685. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1320 |
| 50th percentile | 1400 |
| 75th percentile | 1470 |
| % submitting SAT | 8.2% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | 33.32% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 36.33% |
| Top 25% of class | 69.7% |
| Top 50% of class | 95.56% |
| % submitting class rank | 38.36% |
How much does University of Minnesota-Twin Cities actually cost?
Published tuition is $16,488 for in-state students and $36,402 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,028 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,139 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 17% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,139 |
| Application fee | $55 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
| Regular deadline | January 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Most popular majors at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Psychology, General and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. Across all programs, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities confers roughly 2,979 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer Science program report a median income of about $111,199 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 533 | $111,199 |
| Psychology, General | 523 | $57,656 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 477 | $66,786 |
| Biology, General | 340 | $70,348 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 328 | $102,887 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 287 | $68,815 |
| Economics | 281 | $83,564 |
| Marketing | 210 | $90,462 |
Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities disclosed 201 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 28 violent offenses and 34 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.
What is campus life like at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
About 23% of undergraduates at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Minnesota parents ask about
- University of St Thomas85% acceptance
- Carleton College22% acceptance
- Macalester College28% acceptance
- University of Minnesota Duluth52% acceptance
- University of Minnesota-Morris77% acceptance
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College90% acceptance
- St Olaf College94% acceptance
- Gustavus Adolphus College70% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Minnesota-Twin Cities recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
What GPA do I need for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Minnesota-Twin Cities typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 685. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–31.
How much does University of Minnesota-Twin Cities actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities after grants and scholarships is $17,139 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities accepts about 77% of applicants out of roughly 41,496 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities test-optional?
Yes. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
About 85% of students at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduate within six years, and 75% finish in four years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Minnesota-Twin Cities look for in applicants?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities rates course rigor, class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What are the most popular majors at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities by annual graduates are Computer Science, Psychology, General and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. The school awards about 2,979 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities reported 201 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
At University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 23% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.