
Crookston, MNpubliccrk.umn.edu
Admit rate has ranged 48%–72% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The University of Minnesota-Crookston is a small, public regional college that punches above its weight with a strong emphasis on technology-infused, career-ready programs—particularly in agriculture, business, and health sciences. With an acceptance rate hovering around 58-88%, it’s accessible yet rigorous, offering a surprisingly intimate 17:1 student-faculty ratio and a graduation rate of 52-56%. Its rural Minnesota setting fosters tight-knit campus traditions, while its affordability (with median debt at $20,500) makes it a practical choice for students seeking a University of Minnesota degree without Twin Cities prices.
Test-blind — scores not considered
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
UMN-Crookston is a moderately selective public university with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 58% to 88%, depending on the source and year (reports vary widely). The middle 50% of admitted students typically score between 1030–1190 on the SAT or 18–25 on the ACT, though Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policies may apply. Applications are rolling, with a final deadline of August 24, and a $30 fee. Unlike the Twin Cities campus, Crookston does not have an open-admission policy but emphasizes accessibility, particularly for rural and First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. students.
Crookston offers , all infused with a approach—part of its mission as a polytechnic-leaning campus. Standouts include:
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life here is unapologetically rural and communal, with a slate of quirky traditions like Ag-Arama (agricultural competitions) and Prize-A-Palooza (campus-wide games). The newly renovated dorms and dining facilities cater to a mostly residential student body, though 20% commute. Student activities range from Homecoming to Final Friday Fun Day, and Instagram posts highlight a culture of ‘living, learning, and playing’ in the prairie landscape. There’s no Greek life, but clubs and intramural sports fill the social calendar.
Graduation rates sit at 52-58%, slightly below the national average for 4-year colleges, but outcomes vary sharply by major:
UMN-Crookston is a budget-friendly option within the UMN system, with a Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator estimating $12,212 annually (well below the $20,077 national midpoint for 4-year schools). Key details:
Crookston’s niche is its paradox: a small, rural campus that delivers a University of Minnesota degree with polytechnic practicality. Its agriculture and health sciences programs outperform peers, and its tech-infused curriculum (even in humanities) ensures grads leave with hard skills. The vibe is unpretentious and communal—think tractor pulls and tight-knit dorms—but the outcomes (like $70K starting salaries for accountants) rival urban schools. For students seeking affordability, hands-on learning, and the UMN brand without the Twin Cities bustle, it’s a shrewd pick.