Head-to-head comparison
Minnesota State University-Mankato vs Bemidji State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Mankato, MN
Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Net price / year
- $19,139
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,922
- Payback
- 8.9 yrs
Option B Bemidji, MN
Bemidji State University
- Net price / year
- $15,261
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,755
- Payback
- 11.3 yrs
Minnesota State University-Mankato has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,556 in 8.9 years versus 11.3 years at Bemidji State University, on median earnings of $56,922 vs $53,755 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Minnesota State University-Mankato | Bemidji State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,139 | $15,261 |
| Total net cost | $76,556 | $61,044 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,922 | $53,755 |
| Median debt | $21,106 | $19,750 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 11.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $94,684 | $46,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Minnesota State University-Mankato or Bemidji State University?
Bemidji State University, at $15,261 a year after aid versus $19,139 — a gap of $3,878 a year, or $15,512 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato or Bemidji State University graduates earn more?
Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates report a median $56,922 ten years after entry, $3,167 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, Minnesota State University-Mankato or Bemidji State University?
Bemidji State University: its completers carry a median $19,750 in federal loans versus $21,106 at Minnesota State University-Mankato, a difference of $1,356. 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?
54% of students finish at Minnesota State University-Mankato, 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.