Head-to-head comparison
Bemidji State University vs Augsburg University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bemidji, MN
Bemidji State University
- Net price / year
- $15,261
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,755
- Payback
- 11.3 yrs
Option B Minneapolis, MN
Augsburg University
- Net price / year
- $23,873
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,829
- Payback
- 9.1 yrs
Augsburg University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,492 in 9.1 years versus 11.3 years at Bemidji State University, on median earnings of $58,829 vs $53,755 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bemidji State University | Augsburg University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,261 | $23,873 |
| Total net cost | $61,044 | $95,492 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,755 | $58,829 |
| Median debt | $19,750 | $25,347 |
| Payback | 11.3 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $46,856 | $113,888 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bemidji State University or Augsburg University?
Bemidji State University, at $15,261 a year after aid versus $23,873 — a gap of $8,612 a year, or $34,448 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bemidji State University or Augsburg University graduates earn more?
Augsburg University graduates report a median $58,829 ten years after entry, $5,074 more than the $53,755 at Bemidji State University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bemidji State University or Augsburg University?
Bemidji State University: its completers carry a median $19,750 in federal loans versus $25,347 at Augsburg University, a difference of $5,597. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
52% of students finish at Augsburg University, against 48% at Bemidji State University. 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.