Understanding UMN Graduate Tuition Costs

Navigating the financial landscape of graduate education can be daunting. This article provides a comprehensive overview of graduate tuition costs at the University of Minnesota (UMN), focusing on the factors that determine tuition rates, specific tuition examples, and additional fees to consider. Understanding these elements is crucial for prospective and current graduate students to effectively plan and manage their educational expenses.

Factors Determining Tuition Rate

The University of Minnesota assesses tuition based on several key factors:

Degree or Program: Different graduate programs have varying tuition rates.
Enrollment Level: Tuition can be determined by the number of credits taken or the enrollment level (full-time or part-time). The general graduate tuition rate often includes a credit band (e.g., 6-14 credits) for full-time registration.
Residency Status: Whether you are a Minnesota resident or a non-resident significantly impacts your tuition rate.
Reciprocity Agreements: Residency in a state or province with a reciprocity agreement (Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Manitoba, Canada) may qualify you for lower tuition rates.
Citizenship of Freely Associated States: Effective July 1, citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) are charged the same tuition rate as Minnesota residents.

If there is uncertainty about your residency status, the Residency, Reciprocity, and Tuition Exemption handbook contains the University's official policy and an application for resident evaluation.

Undergraduate Tuition Rates

For undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota, tuition rates are structured differently than graduate programs. If a student is enrolled in undergraduate credits and is not enrolled in a graduate or professional program, their tuition rate is the same as all undergraduates and does not vary by college of enrollment.

Degree-seeking undergraduate students taking 13 or more credits are charged a flat-rate tuition, allowing them to take additional credits without extra charges. Students taking fewer than 13 credits are charged per credit.

Read also: Graduate Fees at CMU

Undergraduate Tuition Rates (2025-2026)

Resident:
- Per credit: \$620.50
- Full-time (13 credits or more): \$8,066.00 per semester
Non-Resident:
- Per credit: \$1,500.70
- Full-time (13 credits or more): \$19,509.00 per semester

Graduate and Professional Tuition

The general graduate tuition rate includes a 6-14 credit band for full-time registration. Any credits above or below the plateau are assessed on a per-credit basis. Tuition rates are the same for summer, fall, and spring terms. Tuition rates are reassessed and approved each summer.

Reciprocity Programs

The University of Minnesota has reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and the province of Manitoba, Canada. If you are a resident of any of these states or province, you may qualify for reciprocity tuition rates, which are lower than non-resident tuition rates and, in some cases, comparable to resident rates. South Dakota ended their reciprocity agreement with Minnesota in 2024, but the University of Minnesota is committed to honoring the reciprocity rates for continuing students and new students starting in fall 2024 and spring 2025. More information is available on the Reciprocity programs page.

Tuition Examples

Specific tuition rates vary by program. For example, Master of Public Health (MPH) tuition is charged per credit, and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) tuition is calculated per credit and by program track. Tuition rates are based on the 2025-2026 academic year.

Additional Fees

In addition to tuition, students may be charged several fees each semester:

Academic Health Center (AHC) Fee: Charged to all Academic Health Center (AHC) students.
Student Health Benefits Fee: Automatically assessed to most students who do not have health plan coverage and are enrolled in a degree program for 6 or more credits per Fall/Spring semester that count toward the assessment of the mandatory student services fee.
Transit Fee: Non-refundable fee to support transit programs on the Twin Cities Campus.
Gopher Athletics Facilities Fee: Provides partial support for Gopher athletic facilities on the Twin Cities campus.

International students may be charged additional fees each semester. Some classes also have specific fees associated with them.

Read also: Understanding UW-Madison Tuition

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The University uses cost of attendance (COA) figures to calculate your financial aid eligibility. Actual costs may differ from the charts below depending on your program, coursework, residency and enrollment status, and personal spending choices. If you do not receive financial aid, you can still use the charts below to estimate your costs.

The total amount of financial aid offered to a student, including all scholarships and grants, cannot exceed the cost of attendance at the University of Minnesota for that aid year. Financial aid offers (e.g., loans, work study, scholarships, or grants) may be reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the cost of attendance. Additional information for scholarships is available. If you are a new incoming student, estimated financial aid offers for 2026-27 will be based on the preliminary figures in the Estimated COA. The Net Price Calculator may also be helpful in determining your eligibility for need-based aid.

Undergraduate COA figures are based on 13-credit enrollment each semester. Actual costs may differ from the charts below depending on your program, coursework, and personal spending choices. Some costs may or may not be billed to your student account.

Carlson School of Management (CSOM) and College of Science & Engineering (CSE) students have additional tuition expenses assessed by the college for undergraduates.

Registration and Fee Summary

Students can view their registration and fee summary for a clear view of classes they are enrolled in for the semester along with charges and payments on their student account. To access this summary:

Read also: Understanding UF Graduate Costs

Log into MyU and select the My Finances tab.
Click on the Registration & Fee Summary link.
Use the drop-down menus to complete all of the fields.
Check the Include Fees box if you want that information to appear on your summary.
Click the view report button. You may need to disable pop-up blockers or open the file when prompted.

Understanding Financial Aid

The University of Minnesota provides financial aid to eligible students to help offset the cost of attendance. The total amount of financial aid offered, including scholarships and grants, cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Students whose total aid exceeds this amount may have their financial aid offers reduced.

New incoming students can estimate their financial aid offers for 2026-27 based on preliminary figures in the Estimated COA. The Net Price Calculator is also a helpful tool for determining eligibility for need-based aid.

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