University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is the public land-grant flagship of the state's university system, spread across Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul along the Mississippi River. One of the largest universities in the country, it enrolls roughly 42,600 undergraduates and admits about 79% of the more than 43,000 students who apply, making it far more accessible than its research reputation might suggest. The Twin Cities campus is known for breadth — biology, business, computer science, engineering, and the social sciences are all among its most popular degree areas — and it stayed test-optional for its most recent class, with the middle 50% of score-submitters earning 1310–1460 on the SAT and 26–32 on the ACT.
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Minnesota admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Action
Minnesota offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Minnesota is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Minnesota's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 39.87% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Minnesota does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Minnesota weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Minnesota's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $22,886 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Minnesota admissions
Is it hard to get into the University of Minnesota?＋
No — Minnesota is one of the more accessible flagships, admitting about 78.9% of applicants in the most recent cycle. It offered admission to roughly 34,600 of the nearly 43,900 students who applied and enrolled about 7,180 first-years, so a strong, rigorous transcript puts most applicants in good shape.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of Minnesota?＋
Minnesota no longer publishes an average high school GPA, but academic GPA, class rank, and the rigor of your course load are all weighed as very important factors. Among the roughly 40% of enrolled first-years who reported a rank, about 97% finished in the top half of their class and 71% in the top quarter — so a challenging, high-performing transcript matters most.
What are my chances of getting into the University of Minnesota from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants actually fare better at Minnesota than in-state residents, which is unusual for a public flagship. In the most recent cycle, Minnesota admitted 85.3% of out-of-state applicants (22,386 of 26,246) compared with 63.6% of Minnesota residents (6,222 of 9,780). International applicants were admitted at 76.4% (6,040 of 7,903). State residency and geographical residence are each listed only as considered factors in the review, which helps explain why the in-state advantage that appears at most public universities is absent here.
Is a 1400 SAT good enough for the University of Minnesota?＋
Yes — a 1400 sits right in the competitive range for Minnesota, between the 50th percentile of 1390 and the 75th of 1460. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years who submitted scores earned 1310–1460 on the SAT and 26–32 on the ACT, with nearly half of submitters scoring 1400 or above.
Does the University of Minnesota require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — Minnesota is test-optional, and most enrolled students did not submit scores. Only about 7% sent an SAT and 34% an ACT; standardized test scores are weighed as a considered factor rather than a required one, so applicants who don't submit still receive full review.
How much does the University of Minnesota cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $18,482 for Minnesota residents and $41,368 for out-of-state students. Roughly 44% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average need-based package near $19,475, and Minnesota meets about 69% of demonstrated need on average.
What are the most popular majors at the University of Minnesota?＋
The biological and life sciences are the single largest degree area at about 12% of bachelor's degrees, followed closely by business, computer science, and engineering — each around 11%. Liberal arts and the social sciences together account for the largest share of enrolled students, reflecting the breadth of a large comprehensive flagship.
Does the application essay matter at the University of Minnesota?＋
Yes, though it sits below academics in the review. Minnesota weighs the rigor of your record, class rank, and GPA as very important, while the application essay, recommendations, and extracurriculars are each a considered factor. With grades carrying the most weight, a clear, specific essay is one of the few places to add context beyond your transcript.
Source: University of Minnesota Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Minnesota. Banner photo by August Schwerdfeger, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).