Head-to-head comparison
University of Minnesota-Duluth vs University of St Thomas: 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 Saint Paul, MN
University of St Thomas
- Net price / year
- $29,155
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,739
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
University of St Thomas has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $116,620 in 4.6 years versus 5.3 years at University of Minnesota-Duluth, on median earnings of $73,739 vs $62,616 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Minnesota-Duluth | University of St Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,743 | $29,155 |
| Total net cost | $74,972 | $116,620 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,616 | $73,739 |
| Median debt | $22,024 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $210,148 | $390,960 |
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 University of St Thomas?
University of Minnesota-Duluth, at $18,743 a year after aid versus $29,155 — a gap of $10,412 a year, or $41,648 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 University of St Thomas graduates earn more?
University of St Thomas graduates report a median $73,739 ten years after entry, $11,123 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 University of St Thomas?
University of Minnesota-Duluth: its completers carry a median $22,024 in federal loans versus $23,250 at University of St Thomas, a difference of $1,226. 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?
76% of students finish at University of St Thomas, 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.