University of Minnesota Twin Cities
A Big Ten flagship on the Mississippi with engineering, medicine, law, veterinary and agriculture schools on one campus.
- Acceptance rate
- 79%
- First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set, Twin Cities)
- Students
- 57,879
- 42,565 undergraduates
- International
- 7%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 17:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $44,743
- 2026-27
About U of M
The University of Minnesota was founded in 1851 near Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River, and its Twin Cities campus is the flagship of the University of Minnesota system. It enrolled 57,879 students in fall 2025, including 42,565 undergraduates, and the university says it is one of five in the U.S. with engineering, medical, law, veterinary medicine and agricultural schools on a single campus. Freshmen enter one of the undergraduate colleges, such as the College of Science and Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts, the Carlson School of Management or the College of Biological Sciences.
The Twin Cities campus offers more than 300 majors and minors and has about 4,000 faculty. The university counts more than 600,000 living alumni, including a Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former U.S. vice presidents, and ShanghaiRanking places it 52nd in the world.
Admission is holistic: about 79% of first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025, but applications are rising (about 50,000 for fall 2026) and some colleges, such as Nursing, are much more competitive. The application is short, with no essays or recommendations required, and tests are optional through fall 2027. It suits independent students who want a big research university in a major metro area and are comfortable with Minnesota winters.
Commune vinculum omnibus artibus
“A common bond for all the arts” — university motto
Why students choose U of M
The application requires only the Common App, a $55 fee and a self-reported academic record, with no essays or recommendations.
Applicants who meet the November 1, December 1 or January 1 deadlines are automatically considered for the University Honors Program and for more than $50 million a year in freshman academic scholarships.
On-campus housing is guaranteed for admitted freshmen who apply for housing and confirm enrollment by May 1.
International freshmen who apply by the deadline are automatically considered for the merit-based Global Excellence Scholarship.
Admissions
First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set, Twin Cities)
34,648 admitted from 43,929 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Fall 2025 admit rates by residency: 64% for Minnesota residents (6,222 of 9,780), 85% for other U.S. applicants (22,386 of 26,246) and 76% for international applicants (6,040 of 7,903). 7,180 first-years enrolled. Admission is to a specific college, and some, such as the School of Nursing, are far more competitive; the university reports about 50,000 applications for a fall 2026 class of about 7,200.
Typical entry requirements
| High school course requirements | 4 years English, 4 years math (calculus preferred as the fourth year), 3 years science including biological and physical science with lab, 3 years social studies, 2 years of a single second language, 1 year visual or performing arts |
|---|---|
| English language | IELTS 6.5 Minimum for admission: TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall and 4.5 writing on the new 1-6 scale (MyBest scores not accepted); IELTS Academic 6.5 overall and 6.5 writing; PTE Academic 59. Scores effective from the spring 2027 application period. High ACT or SAT scores can exempt applicants. |
Deadlines
- Early Action I Non-binding Next deadline · In 25 daysNovember 1, 2026
Decision no later than January 31, 2027; full consideration for the Honors Program and scholarships.
- Early Action II Non-binding In 55 daysDecember 1, 2026
Decision no later than February 28, 2027.
- Regular Deadline Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 1, 2027
Decision no later than March 31, 2027; later applications are considered on a space- and funds-available basis.
Honors Program admits are notified by March 31. Admitted students confirm by paying a nonrefundable confirmation fee by May 1, 2027; the FAFSA opens in December.
How to apply
Common App with a $55 application fee and the Self-Reported Academic Record; no essays or letters of recommendation are required. International applicants also complete a Certification of Finances and English proficiency requirements.
What admissions looks for
- Academic preparation and performance, with the strongest weight on your high school record and its overall trend.
- Rigor: four years of math and science and continued academic coursework in your senior year.
- Your core academic GPA and class rank, alongside the school-reported GPA for all courses.
- Additional information and context you give in the application, since no single factor decides admission.
Tips for applying to U of M
- 1 List your colleges in order of preference: you are considered for your first choice first, then automatically for other freshman-admitting colleges that fit.
- 2 Apply by November 1 to hear by January 31 and get full Honors and scholarship consideration.
- 3 Because there are no essays, the self-reported academic record carries the application: enter every course and grade exactly as on your transcript.
- 4 Aiming for the College of Science and Engineering or Biological Sciences? Take a year each of chemistry and physics or biology, and calculus if you can.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
The university awards more than $50 million in freshman academic scholarships each year, with automatic consideration for applicants who meet the deadlines; the U Promise Scholarship and Promise Plus Free Tuition Program support Minnesota students with need. International freshmen are automatically considered for the merit-based Global Excellence Scholarship. On average, 69% of need was met for aided full-time undergraduates in 2025-26.
- $38,226 Minnesota resident; $63,762 nonresident; $67,085 international (9 months)
- Total cost 2026-27, living in a residence hall
- More than $50 million awarded each year
- Freshman academic scholarships
- $19,235; 69% of need met on average
- Average need-based aid package (full-time undergraduates, 2025-26 CDS)
- $31,793
- Average debt of 2025 graduates who borrowed
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
College of Science and Engineering
Engineering, physical sciences and computing on the same campus as the medical, law, veterinary and agricultural schools.
Nursing
Established in 1909 as the first continuous nursing school on a university campus in the U.S.; admission is especially competitive.
Carlson School of Management
The business school admits freshmen directly and sets its own English writing subscore minimum.
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
The land-grant agricultural college, part of what makes the Twin Cities campus one of five U.S. campuses with all five major professional schools.
University Honors Program
All freshman applicants are automatically considered; admits are notified by March 31.
Research
- Engineering, medical, law, veterinary medicine and agricultural schools share one campus, which the university says only five U.S. universities have.
- Faculty have won Nobel Prizes, MacArthur Fellowships and Guggenheim Fellowships, and include members of the National Academy of Sciences.
- ARWU 2026 ranks the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 52nd in the world.
Schools & faculties
- College of Science and Engineering
- College of Liberal Arts
- Carlson School of Management
- College of Biological Sciences
- College of Design
- College of Education and Human Development
- College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
- College of Continuing and Professional Studies
- School of Nursing
College Scorecard: median earnings of $69,020 ten years after entry (and $57,984 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
The Twin Cities campus straddles the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, with the East Bank centred on Northrop Mall and a St. Paul campus about three miles away that houses the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Housing is guaranteed for admitted freshmen who apply and confirm by May 1, and the university notes that students who live on campus tend to get better grades and graduate on time. The Golden Gophers compete in the Big Ten, and summer orientation includes an overnight stay in a residence hall before freshman year.
- Minnesota Golden Gophers athletics in the Big Ten Conference.
- Guaranteed on-campus housing for admitted freshmen who apply and confirm enrollment by May 1.
- More than 300 majors and minors across the Twin Cities colleges.
- More than 600,000 living alumni worldwide.
Housing. On-campus housing is guaranteed for all admitted freshmen who apply for housing and confirm enrollment by May 1; residence hall housing and food cost $15,552 in 2026-27.
Location
The campus sits on both banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, with a second campus in neighbouring St. Paul, the state capital; together they form the Twin Cities metro area. Students have a large job market and arts scene close to campus, and the university contributes $11.5 billion a year to Minnesota's economy. Winters are long and cold, so campus buildings and residence halls matter.
Nearest airport: Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Notable alumni
- NB Norman BorlaugNobel Peace Prize-winning agronomist of the Green Revolution; BS in forestry and PhD in plant pathology and genetics
- WM Walter Mondale42nd Vice President of the United States; University of Minnesota graduate
- HH Hubert Humphrey38th Vice President of the United States; attended the University of Minnesota
- BD Bob DylanNobel Prize-winning singer-songwriter; enrolled at the University of Minnesota in 1959
- SC Seymour CraySupercomputer architect and founder of Cray Research; BSc in electrical engineering
- TD Tony DungySuper Bowl-winning NFL head coach; played college football at Minnesota
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Minnesota Twin Cities acceptance rate?
The Twin Cities campus admitted 34,648 of 43,929 first-year applicants for fall 2025, about 79%. Minnesota residents were admitted at 64%, and competitive colleges such as Nursing are much harder to get into.
Does the University of Minnesota require essays or recommendations?
No. The freshman application requires only the Common App, a $55 fee and a self-reported academic record.
Is the University of Minnesota test optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Freshman applicants through fall 2027 are not required to submit an ACT or SAT score; if you choose to report scores, they are considered.
When are the University of Minnesota application deadlines?
For fall 2027: Early Action I on November 1, 2026 (decision by January 31), Early Action II on December 1, 2026 (by February 28) and the regular deadline on January 1, 2027 (by March 31). None are binding.
How much does the University of Minnesota cost for international students?
The 2026-27 international cost of attendance is $67,085 for nine months, including $44,743 in tuition and fees and mandatory health insurance. International freshmen are automatically considered for the Global Excellence Scholarship.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Minnesota IDR: Common Data Set 2025-26, Twin Cities (PDF)
- University of Minnesota IDR: Common Data Set page
- Patch: 2027 U.S. News rankings for Minnesota colleges
- Yahoo News: A dozen Minnesota colleges make 2027 US News rankings
- UMN Admissions: Freshman admission
- UMN Admissions: FAQ about how we determine college admissions (fall 2026 admitted profile)
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Universities ranked close to U of M in the QS World University Rankings 2027.