Engineering at University of Minnesota-Duluth

Minnesota's engineering programs cluster tightly around $68,000 in first-year earnings, and UMN-Duluth appears positioned right in this competitive tier. While both earnings and debt figures here are estimates based on peer programs—the graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes—they suggest this program delivers typical results for the state. An estimated $25,832 in debt translates to manageable monthly payments of roughly $290, consuming about 5% of gross income for someone earning near that $68,000 mark.

The practical math works: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 means your child would graduate owing less than half their first-year salary, well below concerning levels. What's less clear is how UMN-Duluth specifically stacks up within Minnesota's engineering landscape. The school's 82% admission rate and modest SAT averages suggest it may serve a different student population than flagship Twin Cities, yet similar programs across the state—from Northwestern to Mankato to the flagship—all produce graduates earning within a few hundred dollars of each other.

For families comparing options, the estimated figures here align with both state and national norms, pointing to a solid investment if the engineering degree leads to employment. The uncertainty lies in not knowing this campus's actual placement outcomes. If your child thrives in Duluth's smaller, regional setting and completes the degree, the financial fundamentals appear sound based on how comparable Minnesota programs perform.