Head-to-head comparison
Minnesota State University-Mankato vs Concordia College at Moorhead: 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 Moorhead, MN
Concordia College at Moorhead
- Net price / year
- $24,902
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,317
- Payback
- 9.1 yrs
Minnesota State University-Mankato has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,556 in 8.9 years versus 9.1 years at Concordia College at Moorhead, on median earnings of $56,922 vs $59,317 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Minnesota State University-Mankato | Concordia College at Moorhead |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,139 | $24,902 |
| Total net cost | $76,556 | $99,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,922 | $59,317 |
| Median debt | $21,106 | $26,847 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $94,684 | $119,532 |
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 Concordia College at Moorhead?
Minnesota State University-Mankato, at $19,139 a year after aid versus $24,902 — a gap of $5,763 a year, or $23,052 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 Concordia College at Moorhead graduates earn more?
Concordia College at Moorhead graduates report a median $59,317 ten years after entry, $2,395 more than the $56,922 at Minnesota State University-Mankato. 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 Concordia College at Moorhead?
Minnesota State University-Mankato: its completers carry a median $21,106 in federal loans versus $26,847 at Concordia College at Moorhead, a difference of $5,741. 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?
61% of students finish at Concordia College at Moorhead, against 54% at Minnesota State University-Mankato. 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.