Head-to-head comparison
University of Minnesota-Duluth vs St Olaf College: which has better ROI?
Option A Duluth, MN
University of Minnesota-Duluth
- Net price / year
- $18,743
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,616
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Option B Northfield, MN
St Olaf College
- Net price / year
- $23,874
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,543
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
University of Minnesota-Duluth has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,972 in 5.3 years versus 5.6 years at St Olaf College, on median earnings of $62,616 vs $65,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Minnesota-Duluth | St Olaf College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,743 | $23,874 |
| Total net cost | $74,972 | $95,496 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,616 | $65,543 |
| Median debt | $22,024 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $210,148 | $248,164 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Minnesota-Duluth or St Olaf College?
University of Minnesota-Duluth, at $18,743 a year after aid versus $23,874 — a gap of $5,131 a year, or $20,524 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 University of Minnesota-Duluth or St Olaf College graduates earn more?
St Olaf College graduates report a median $65,543 ten years after entry, $2,927 more than the $62,616 at University of Minnesota-Duluth. 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, University of Minnesota-Duluth or St Olaf College?
University of Minnesota-Duluth: its completers carry a median $22,024 in federal loans versus $26,000 at St Olaf College, a difference of $3,976. 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?
84% of students finish at St Olaf College, against 65% at University of Minnesota-Duluth. 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.