Great Value at the University of Minnesota
If you want an extraordinary college experience for a great value, the University of Minnesota is a great fit for you.
What do you mean by great value?
Each day University of Minnesota students experience greatness. They have discovered their college home at the intersection of great academics, great opportunities, and great location--all adding up to great value.
We invite you to be a part of something great, too. As a University of Minnesota student, you will step into a thriving academic community with some of the world's most renowned researchers. In fact, you'll often find that your professors wrote the textbooks that educate students across the nation. You will have incredible opportunities--including study abroad, honors, and undergraduate research--at your fingertips. You will have one of the nation's most vibrant and exciting metropolitan areas at your doorstep.
With direct access to these amazing resources, you will get a fantastic education and a prestigious degree (guaranteed in four years), all for a great value!
What is the cost of attending the U of M?
When planning for college expenses, you will want to consider tuition and fees, room and board, and incidental costs (ranging from textbooks to travel to toothpaste).
| 2009-10 tuition and fees for new students (based on two semesters of full-time enrollment) |
| Minnesota residents - $11,542 |
| North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba, Wisconsin residents - $11,542 |
| Nonresidents - $15,542 |
Room and Board (annual) - $7,280
Based on double occupancy in University residence hall and 14 meals per week
The tuition and fee figures above include a $696 student service fee, $1,200 University fee, $410 combined technology/course fee (may vary based on your college), and $115 in miscellaneous fees.
13 credit tuition incentive
Each semester, every credit after 13 is free of charge, keeping costs down for families and helping students achieve graduation in four years. (Students typically take 15-16 credits each semester, or 120 credits over four years)
See more information about costs, financial aid, scholarships, and residency and reciprocity.
How am I going to pay for it?
At the University of Minnesota, we are committed to helping you discover and understand all of the resources available to cover the costs of college.
We strongly encourage every family to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), even if they think they may not be eligible for aid. Regardless of your income level, the best resources for financial aid (University, state and federal aid) are only available through the FAFSA.
At the U of M, we work hard to give you the best financial aid options available to you. When we receive your FAFSA information, we will customize a financial aid package based on your eligibility and needs. A financial aid package might include grants, loans, scholarships, and/or work study.
Plus, if you are a Minnesota resident who qualifies for a federal Pell grant, your University of Minnesota tuition and fees are FREE through the Founders Free Tuition Program.
Financial aid is awarded with this formula:
| Cost of Attendance - Family Contribution = Financial Need |
| Financial Need = Your Financial Aid Package |
We offer many great resources to help you finance your education. You may be eligible for need-based options such as grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study. We also offer non-need-based support, including academic scholarships or student employment.
Apply for financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For students entering the U of M in the fall, the priority deadline for the FAFSA is March 1, the spring before enrollment. For more information about the FAFSA, visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
To learn more about financial aid at the U of M, contact our One Stop counselors in the Office of Student Finance at 612-624-1111 or 1-800-400-8636 or go to http://www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/financialaid.html.
Scholarships
Each year, incoming freshmen receive over $9 million in academic scholarships to be used over the course of their college careers. These scholarships recognize students' outstanding academic achievements or other significant accomplishments.
Some of our scholarship awards have a financial need component. To be considered for those awards, you must fill out the FAFSA.
Some University of Minnesota scholarships last one or two years, and range from $1,000-$3,000 each year. Other awards last four years, and range from $1,000-$12,000 each year. Our national scholarship program for non-resident freshmen ranges up to $11,000 per year for four years. View a complete listing of freshman scholarship awards.
Transfer students may be eligible for scholarships awarded directly by U of M colleges or academic departments. These scholarships recognize a wide variety of academic accomplishments. Please contact your college or department of interest for more information.
The University of Minnesota works with many generous donors to secure private scholarship support. Last year, thousands of undergraduates received scholarships from private donations. The number of students receiving private support is constantly increasing as the University continues its major scholarship fundraising drive.
Freshman Job Guarantee
We have over 6,000 student jobs on or near campus, and the University of Minnesota Job Center makes it easy and convenient to find a job you will like. We even offer a job guarantee to the first 500 incoming freshmen who respond to our Job Guarantee mailing sent each spring.
The minimum pay rate for student jobs on campus is $7.25 per hour, although most jobs pay more.
A student job can bring you more than just cash. You can also gain valuable experiences for your career. At a Big Ten research university, your opportunities for employment are endless--you can work with reference materials in the Math Library, manage a convenience store in a residence hall, work with preschoolers at the University Child Care Center, or work as a research assistant for a professor in the Center for Medieval Studies.
