The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a public university in Duluth, Minnesota, and part of the University of Minnesota System, with 9,253 students, 8,426 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are University of Minnesota degrees, 81% freshman retention, a campus overlooking Lake Superior and national-champion hockey; its cons are an average net price of $20,128, heavy borrowing and a 47% four-year graduation rate.
Below is each pro and con in detail, followed by cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can decide whether UMD is a good school for you.
University of Minnesota Duluth at a Glance
- Type: 4-year public university in the University of Minnesota System.
- Location: Duluth, Minnesota, on a 244-acre campus overlooking Lake Superior (“City: Small”).
- History: it grew from the State Normal School at Duluth, authorised in 1895, and became part of the University of Minnesota in 1947.
- Academics: 17 bachelor’s degrees in 87 majors, graduate programs in 24 fields, plus a Medical School and College of Pharmacy program.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 9,253 total, 8,426 undergraduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 16 to 1.
- Admission: 89% of applicants were admitted for fall 2024.
Pros: What UMD Does Well
- A University of Minnesota degree at a mid-sized campus. UMD is part of the University of Minnesota System, with a 16 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 8,426 undergraduates.
- Strong science, engineering and business schools. The Swenson College of Science and Engineering and the Labovitz School of Business and Economics anchor the undergraduate program, and UMD is the primary sea-grant university for Minnesota, with research in freshwater and Great Lakes science.
- Good retention. 81% of full-time freshmen who started in fall 2023 returned in fall 2024.
- Help for lower-income families. The average net price for families earning up to $30,000 was $7,256 in 2023-2024, and 95% of full-time beginning students received grants or scholarships.
- A campus built for winter. All UMD buildings are connected by concourses or hallways, which is rare among U.S. universities.
- Championship hockey. The Bulldogs’ men’s ice hockey team won NCAA Division I national titles in 2011, 2018 and 2019, and the women’s team has won five. Most other sports compete in Division II in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and football won Division II national titles in 2008 and 2010.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at UMD
- A rising price. In-state tuition and fees were $14,610 in 2024-2025, and the average net price after grants was $20,128 in 2023-2024, up from $18,031 in 2021-2022.
- Middle- and upper-income families pay much more. The 2023-2024 net price averaged $17,056 for families earning $75,001-$110,000 and $24,453 above $110,000.
- Most freshmen borrow. 59% of full-time beginning students took out student loans in 2023-2024, averaging $9,490.
- Fewer than half finish in four years. Of the fall 2018 cohort, 47% earned a bachelor’s degree in four years and 65% in six, and 25% transferred out.
- A far-north location. Duluth is a long drive from the Twin Cities job market, and 87% of first-time undergraduates are Minnesota residents.
What UMD Costs: Tuition, Housing and Net Price
| Item (2024-2025 unless noted) | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $14,610 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $20,130 |
| On-campus food and housing | $11,110 |
| Total in-state cost, living on campus | $28,920 |
| Total out-of-state cost, living on campus | $34,440 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $20,128 |
Grants for full-time beginning students averaged $7,186 in 2023-2024. Use UMD’s net price calculator, and if you live in a reciprocity state, check whether a reduced non-resident rate applies to you.
Is the University of Minnesota Duluth a Good School? What the Numbers Say
Yes, for the right student. UMD combines a University of Minnesota degree with a mid-sized campus, 81% freshman retention and a 65% overall graduation rate for the fall 2018 cohort. Enrolled freshmen had a median ACT composite of 26, so classmates are academically solid.
The main drawback is cost. A net price of $20,128 and a 59% borrowing rate mean families should compare UMD’s offer carefully with other Minnesota public universities.
Who Accredits UMD?
UMD is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with accreditation dating from 1968, and College Navigator lists its next review for 2028. Programs such as speech-language pathology, engineering and pharmacy hold separate programmatic accreditation.
Who UMD Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: students who want a University of Minnesota degree in science, engineering, business or pre-health without the size of the Twin Cities campus, outdoor-minded students drawn to Lake Superior, and hockey fans.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you need the lowest possible net price, want to live near a large metro job market, or dislike long northern winters.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is UMD part of the University of Minnesota? Yes. It is a campus of the University of Minnesota System.
- Is UMD hard to get into? It admitted 89% of applicants for fall 2024.
- What division is UMD? Division II in most sports (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference), with Division I ice hockey.
- Does UMD have a medical school? Yes. UMD hosts a Medical School program and a College of Pharmacy program.