NDSU vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester

Should I go to North Dakota State University Main Campus or University of Minnesota Rochester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NDSU or University of Minnesota-Rochester is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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North Dakota State University Main Campus vs. University of Minnesota Rochester comparison
North Dakota State University Main Campus University of Minnesota Rochester College 3 College 4
North Dakota State University Main Campus
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Overview

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
Location Fargo, ND Rochester, MN
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 12,242 630
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #568
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ndsu.edu umn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
Tuition (In State) $9,309 $12,808
Tuition (Out of State) $13,963 $12,808
Room & Board $9,300 $12,882
Avg Net Price $15,962 $12,613
Avg Grant Aid $5,732 $11,833
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 67%

Admission

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,535 1,198
Admitted 8,166 859
Acceptance Rate 95.7% 71.7%
Enrolled % 30.8% 22.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 20/26
SAT Range 968/1216 1058/1331
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Jul 31, 2025

Academics

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Agriculture (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
Graduation Rate 54% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,600 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,300 $20,185
Median Loan Payment $240 $208

Diversity

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
% Men 49% 20%
% Women 51% 80%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 79%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
% In-State 35% 78%
% Out-of-State 65% 21%

Campus

NDSU University of Minnesota-Rochester
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Dakota State University Main Campus is larger than than University of Minnesota-Rochester based on total student enrollment (12,242 students vs. 630 students)

NDSU vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NDSU or University of Minnesota-Rochester?

  • University of Minnesota Rochester is 37.6% more expensive to attend than NDSU for in-state tuition ($12,808.00 vs. $9,309.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9% higher at NDSU than University of Minnesota Rochester ($13,963.00 vs. $12,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Minnesota Rochester than NDSU ($12,613 vs. $15,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 38.5% lower than costs at University of Minnesota Rochester ($9,300 vs. $12,882)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Dakota State University Main Campus than University of Minnesota Rochester (77% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Rochester students is 106.4% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($11,833 vs. $5,732)

NDSU vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NDSU or University of Minnesota-Rochester? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Minnesota-Rochester or NDSU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Minnesota Rochester (1110) is 19 points higher than at NDSU (1091)
  • Incoming NDSU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at University of Minnesota-Rochester (24)
  • NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than University of Minnesota-Rochester (71.7%)

NDSU vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NDSU or University of Minnesota-Rochester? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of Minnesota-Rochester and NDSU.

  • Graduates from University of Minnesota Rochester earn on average $4,600 more per year than NDSU graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $53,600)
  • University of Minnesota Rochester students graduate with a $3,115 lower median federal student loan debt than NDSU graduates. ($20,185 vs. $23,300)
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than NDSU graduates. ($208 vs. $240)
  • More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Minnesota-Rochester students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/