Head-to-head comparison
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities vs Minneapolis Community and Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Net price / year
- $16,778
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,020
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Option B Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
- Net price / year
- $13,812
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,086
- Payback
- No payback
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $67,112 in 3.2 years versus not at all at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, on median earnings of $69,020 vs $40,086 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis Community and Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,778 | $13,812 |
| Total net cost | $67,112 | $55,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,020 | $40,086 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $17,954 |
| Payback | 3.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $346,088 | -$220,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities or Minneapolis Community and Technical College?
Minneapolis Community and Technical College, at $13,812 a year after aid versus $16,778 — a gap of $2,966 a year, or $11,864 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-Twin Cities or Minneapolis Community and Technical College graduates earn more?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates report a median $69,020 ten years after entry, $28,934 more than the $40,086 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. 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-Twin Cities or Minneapolis Community and Technical College?
Minneapolis Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $17,954 in federal loans versus $19,500 at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a difference of $1,546. 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?
85% of students finish at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, against 20% at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. 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.