The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMN) is Minnesota's flagship public research university, spread across campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul on the Mississippi River. It is one of the largest universities in the United States, with about 50,000 students, and it is known for engineering, business (Carlson School of Management), health sciences and the natural sciences. Its Global Excellence Scholarship is one of the more generous merit awards available to international undergraduates in the US public system.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota, USA |
| Type | Public land-grant research university |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Students | About 50,000 (Twin Cities) |
| Acceptance rate | About 70% (reported) |
Fees and cost of attendance (2026-27)
The university charges a flat tuition rate — the cost does not increase if you take 13 credits or more per semester. For 2026-27, international undergraduate tuition and fees are US$44,743. The full cost of attendance is US$67,085 for nine months and US$73,002 for twelve months — the twelve-month figure is the one you must show for your I-20. Students in the Carlson School, the College of Science and Engineering and some College of Liberal Arts majors pay an extra surcharge each semester on top of this.
Graduate tuition is charged per credit for most programmes: the 2026-27 non-resident graduate rate is US$17,364 per full-time semester (6–14 credits). The Carlson full-time MBA costs US$64,460 a year for non-residents. The 2027-28 tuition will be finalised in July 2027 by the Board of Regents, so your first year may cost a little more than the table above.
Scholarships: the main award is the Global Excellence Scholarship (GES), a competitive merit award for international freshmen and transfer students on F-1 or another non-immigrant visa. It is a non-resident tuition waiver that applies to tuition only, not to housing or fees, and is worth US$5,000 to US$20,000 a year (reported). The university states that it does not offer a full tuition waiver or full scholarship to international students, and F-1 students cannot receive US federal or Minnesota state aid. Graduate assistantships, which carry a tuition waiver plus a stipend of US$24,000+, are available for many master's and PhD students.
Popular programmes
UMN's strongest programmes are Computer Science, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, the Carlson School of Management (especially its full-time MBA), Chemical Engineering, Economics, Psychology, and the health sciences — the university's medical school and public health programmes are nationally ranked. Its location in the Twin Cities, home to 17 Fortune 500 headquarters, gives students unusually strong internship access for a public university.
Admissions and deadlines
For Fall 2027 entry, the Common Application opened on 1 August 2026. Early Action 1 closed on 1 November 2026, Early Action 2 closes on 1 December 2026, and Regular Decision closes on 1 January 2027. The application fee is US$55. Graduate windows close between 15 December 2026 and 15 January 2027 depending on the programme. International applicants need TOEFL (79+) or IELTS (6.5+) unless waived; a four-year bachelor's degree at roughly a 3.0 GPA (around 65%) is the usual graduate minimum.
Life at Minnesota
Minneapolis–St. Paul is a major metropolitan area with a strong economy, a famous arts scene and more lakes than you can count. Winters are genuinely cold — temperatures below -20°C are normal in January — but the campus is connected by skyways and tunnels, and the city is built for it. The university's size means hundreds of clubs, Big Ten athletics and a large international community.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Minnesota cost for international students? Budget US$67,085 for nine months or US$73,002 for twelve months in 2026-27, before any Global Excellence Scholarship. With the scholarship, net tuition can fall to US$16,760–US$31,760 a year (reported).
Is the Global Excellence Scholarship automatic? No — it is competitive, and you must apply for admission by the scholarship deadline. Strong grades and test scores matter most.
Can I work while studying? Yes — on-campus work is available, and F-1 students may work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Off-campus work needs authorisation (CPT or OPT).
What is the 2027-28 tuition? To be confirmed — finalised by the Board of Regents in July 2027.
Related guides on Pakunii
FAFSA 2027-28 Guide · Digital SAT 2027 Guide · IELTS Academic Guide · Fully Funded Scholarships 2027
Sources and verification: University of Minnesota international cost page 2026-27 (tuition and fees US$44,743; total US$67,085 for 9 months, US$73,002 for 12 months for I-20); Global Excellence Scholarship US$5,000–US$20,000/year (reported); Fall 2027 Early Action 1 on 1 Nov 2026, Early Action 2 on 1 Dec 2026, Regular Decision 1 Jan 2027; application fee US$55. Confirm current figures on umn.edu.