🎓 University of Minnesota–Twin Cities Scholarships & Aid (2025–2026)
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- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
- Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
- Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~69% (CDS 2024–25)
- Middle 50% ACT: 25–31
- Middle 50% SAT: 1250–1440
- Average HS GPA: 3.8 (unweighted)
Source: University of Minnesota–Twin Cities Common Data Set 2024–25 and Admissions Profile.
University of Minnesota at a Glance
Last verified: October 8, 2025
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a flagship Big Ten school known for value, strong merit aid, and regional reciprocity. For many families in the upper Midwest, it offers near in-state pricing through automatic scholarships or tuition exchange programs.
Merit awards are automatic for high achievers, and reciprocity with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota keeps costs down for neighbors. With strong academics in engineering, health sciences, and business, Minnesota is one of the best cost-to-quality deals in the Big Ten.
FAQ
Does Minnesota offer automatic merit scholarships? Yes — students are automatically considered for Maroon, Gold, and National Scholarships based on GPA and test scores.
What about reciprocity? Minnesota has formal tuition reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota, plus select MSEP states.
Are the awards renewable? Yes — most scholarships renew for four years with good academic standing (3.0+ GPA).
What’s the average net price? Around $17,532 after aid (College Scorecard 2025).
💰 Cost of Attendance at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (2025–2026)
The University of Minnesota offers exceptional value for in-state students—especially with state aid and reciprocity benefits for nearby regions. For nonresidents without reciprocity, the out-of-state tuition can be steep, but strong students often offset it through merit scholarships and need-based aid.
| Category | Minnesota Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $17,508 | $39,276 |
| Housing & Meals | $11,814 | $11,814 |
| Estimated Total (On-Campus) | $29,322 | $51,090 |
Why we only show tuition & housing here: The federal cost of attendance also includes allowances for books, transportation, and personal expenses—but those are estimates, not billed costs. The table above reflects direct, predictable expenses most relevant for residency and scholarship comparisons.
The University of Minnesota does not offer a broad out-of-state waiver, but it participates in reciprocity programs with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Manitoba (Canada).
❓ Reciprocity & Tuition FAQs
Who qualifies for tuition reciprocity?
Students from Wisconsin, North Dakota, or Manitoba can apply to pay in-state tuition rates under reciprocity agreements, cutting the cost of attendance by more than $20,000 per year.
Is reciprocity automatic?
No. Families must apply through their state’s higher education agency (e.g., Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board or North Dakota University System).
Once approved, it typically renews each year as long as your student stays continuously enrolled.
Does U of M participate in WUE?
No — the Twin Cities campus is not part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and does not offer discounted tuition to Western-state residents.
🟦 Automatic Scholarships at the University of Minnesota
All freshman applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the admissions review. Awards are based on a combination of GPA, course rigor, and test scores (if submitted). While U of M doesn’t publish exact cutoff scores, most awards go to students with strong academics and leadership experience.
Yes — the University of Minnesota considers your highest ACT or SAT superscore when evaluating for scholarships. They’ll combine your best section scores from multiple test dates, which can help boost your chances.
The University of Minnesota doesn’t publish exact GPA or test score requirements for its scholarships. The awards are holistic — meaning your full academic profile is considered, not just one number. The ranges below are estimates based on admitted student data and past trends.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility Criteria | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maroon & Gold Scholarship | $2,000–$12,000/year | Usually awarded to students with a 3.9+ GPA and 30+ ACT or 1370+ SAT (superscored) | ❌ | ✅ | Students with top grades and test scores who also took challenging classes in high school |
| National Scholarship | $2,000–$10,000/year | For out-of-state students with a 3.8+ GPA and around a 29+ ACT or 1330+ SAT | ❌ | ✅ | Non-resident students with strong academics who would likely qualify for honors or top admission review |
| University of Minnesota Scholarship | $1,000–$6,000/year | No test scores required; typically awarded to students with a 3.5–3.8 GPA | ❌ | ✅ | Students with good grades and course rigor who don’t quite reach the top bracket |
The University of Minnesota uses a weighted GPA when reviewing students for both admission and scholarships. That means advanced classes like AP, IB, or honors can help boost your GPA in the eyes of U of M — and may improve your scholarship chances.
❓ Automatic Scholarship FAQ
Are there GPA or test score cutoffs for these scholarships?
Is the GPA weighted or unweighted?
Do I need to apply separately for these scholarships?
🏆 Specialty & Selective Scholarships
The University of Minnesota doesn’t offer general competition-based scholarships beyond its automatic merit awards. However, students may qualify for a handful of selective scholarships based on identity, major, or international status. These awards are limited, and some require a separate application.
These aren’t traditional merit competitions open to all applicants. Instead, they’re specialty awards with selective review — often based on identity (such as American Indian heritage), citizenship, or academic department. We include them here because they’re limited, evaluated, and not guaranteed.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Who’s Eligible | Separate App? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMSC Endowed Scholarship | Up to full tuition/year | American Indian students with financial need | ✅ Yes |
| College‑Specific Awards (e.g. 3M Scholarship) | $2,000–$10,000/year | Varies by department (engineering, agriculture, arts, etc.) | ✅ Yes |
| Global Excellence Scholarship | $10K–$20K/year | New international freshmen (F‑1 visa) | ❌ |
| National Merit / Gold Scholar Award | Up to $40,000 total | National Merit Finalists who list U of M as first choice | ❌ |
❓ Specialty Scholarships FAQ
What makes these “competitive” if they aren’t open to everyone?
What are “college-specific” or “departmental” scholarships?
Can my student apply for these if they’re out-of-state?
What about international students — can they get scholarships?
🎓 University of Minnesota Honors Program (UHP)
The University Honors Program (UHP) is U of M’s selective academic track for high-achieving students. It offers smaller classes, priority registration, access to Honors-only research and seminars, and the option to graduate with Latin Honors. But it’s important to know what it does — and doesn’t — include.
You don’t apply separately for Honors — everyone is automatically considered when they apply for freshman admission. If your student is accepted into Honors, they’ll find out in their admissions letter.
Most Honors admits have a 3.9+ GPA, are in the top 5–10% of their class, and have taken advanced coursework (AP, IB, PSEO, or dual credit). While test scores are optional, ACT scores in the 30–34+ range and SATs above 1400+ are common among those accepted.
Honors students live in a dedicated residential community (Middlebrook Hall) during their first year — a quieter dorm on the west bank of campus that offers built-in study groups and social support. It’s not required, but many Honors students choose to live there.
Honors does not come with an automatic scholarship. But it can connect students to faculty mentors, research grants, and competitive national awards like Truman, Fulbright, or Goldwater — especially through U of M’s National & International Scholarships Office.
If your student isn’t invited to Honors as a freshman, don’t panic — U of M allows students to apply into the Honors Program later (typically after their first year), as long as they maintain a strong GPA and have two or more years remaining.
❓ Honors College FAQ
Is the University Honors Program automatic or do we need to apply?
What kind of GPA or ACT/SAT scores do Honors students usually have?
Does the Honors Program come with a scholarship?
Do Honors students live in special housing?
Can my student apply to Honors later if they don’t get in freshman year?
🎯 What the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Is Known For
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public R1 Research University and one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive institutions. As the state’s flagship, it anchors Minnesota’s innovation economy with nationally ranked programs in health sciences, engineering, agriculture, and business—plus a long tradition of discovery that reaches from medicine to the arts.
Ranked among the Top 20 public medical schools for research and primary care (U.S. News 2025), the University of Minnesota’s Academic Health Center unites medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, and veterinary medicine—making it one of the few U.S. universities where all six health sciences share a single campus.
- College of Science and Engineering — Ranked #4 among Big Ten publics and Top 25 nationally, with standout programs in chemical, mechanical, and biomedical engineering.
- Carlson School of Management — Ranked Top 25 undergraduate business school (U.S. News 2025), known for hands-on enterprise consulting and strong ties to Fortune 500 companies in Minneapolis–St. Paul.
- College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) — Consistently Top 10 nationally in education, counseling psychology, and special education research.
- College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) — National leader in agricultural science, plant genetics, and environmental sustainability, ranked within the Top 15 agriculture programs worldwide.
- College of Liberal Arts — Home to nationally ranked programs in economics, political science, and psychology, and one of the largest language offerings in the Midwest.