Bemidji State University (BSU) is a four-year, public university located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The campus is considered mid-sized and is the academic home to 4,000 undergraduate and around 300 graduate students who are seeking diplomas that range from associate’s through master's degrees. Undergraduate students can pursue a course of study in fields as diverse as accounting, pre-podiatric medicine, sustainability studies, biochemistry, and computer information systems. Students can also enrich their studies with study abroad programs and those who need flexibility can study via the school’s online portal.



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Overview of Bemidji State University (BSU)


To help develop students as whole people, the campus supports a range of recreational, social, and leadership opportunities for Bemidji State students. Campus resources support mountain biking, a 30' rock wall, and even the opportunity to join fellow students on a sea kayaking adventure in Mexico. For those who yearn to compete, intramural sports include three-on-three basketball, softball, indoor soccer, and both sand and indoor volleyball are available, among other sports. For those who prefer freelance recreation, the Gillett Wellness Center offers an indoor track, three racquetball courts, a dance studio, and four activity courts that support a variety of sports. There are even group fitness classes and personal trainers available to help students reach individual goals.

General Information


School Type Public
Campus Setting Town: Remote
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 20:1
Graduation Rate 46%
Year Founded 1919

Student Enrollment


Total Students4,897

Undergraduate
4,490
Graduate
407

Undergraduate Student

Male 1,931
1,931
Female 2,559
2,559

Graduate Student

Male 175
175
Female 232
232

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BSU Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONS3,043

Male 1,223
Female 1,820

ACCEPTANCE2,100

Male 868
Female 1,238

Acceptance Rate69%

Male 71%
Female 68%

Enrollment 504

Male 233
Female 271
Admissions
Application Fee $20
High School GPA Required
High School Rank Required
High School Transcripts N/A
College Prep Courses N/A
Recommendations N/A
SAT/ACT Required
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Required
Application Deadline Rolling
Common Application Accepted No

BSU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


Bemidji State University is a Minnesota public educational institution that offers a terrific value to students. Given the school's strong educational statistics, BSU represents one of the most affordable educations in Minnesota. For Minnesota residents, a year of tuition, books, and supplies costs just at $10,000. Naturally, those students need to pay for room, board, and other costs associated with being a student. The school reports that both on-campus and off-campus costs are the same: approximately $12,000. However, off-campus living is subject to market forces. This adds up to total costs of around $22,000 for a terrific education.

However, Bemidji State's financial aid office is able to further cushion the blow to students' wallets. Once their grants, scholarships, and other cost-cutting measures are implemented, the average net cost drops to $15,000. For the lowest income households, a year at BSU only costs $10,000, inclusive of living expenses. The top earning households, which earn over $110,000, pay closer to $20,000. Regardless of income, BSU's costs relative to value are quite affordable.

Average net price 2019-2020
Net Price $14,924
Average Total Aid $4,790
Students Receiving Financial Aid 97%
Room & Board $8,660

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $8,940
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $8,940
  • Books and Supplies - $890
  • Room & Board - $8,660
  • Other - $3,000

Academics


Students seek out Bemidji State in hopes of attaining an education that will launch them into a career or a new phase of life. Educational researchers seek to help them by evaluating the school's educational statistics to thereby determine its academic value. They consider metrics such as retention rates, graduation rates, and more.

Retention rates show the percentage of first-time, full-time students who return to campus for a second year. When students come back, researchers take that into account as evidence that they and their families have found great value in the school's curriculum, faculty, and campus resources. Bemidji State University posts strong retention numbers. Researchers found that BSU's retention rate is a spectacular 72%.

BSU also has strong graduation numbers, which must be assessed along with their transfer numbers. Overall, 46% of BSU students graduate with 34% transferring to more competitive schools or institutions with programs they particularly desire. Thus, researchers acknowledge that the transfer rate can be interpreted as a negative but it's also evidence that BSU prepares students to achieve their dreams. Since most transfer students likely graduate from somewhere, the total graduation number might be as high as 80%. These numbers are quite impressive, especially for a public institution.

Student Population Total


Student Population 4,897

Undergraduate
4,490
Graduate
407
Evening Classes : No
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Business Majors 232 Total Graduates / 24%
Business Administration and Management, General 146 Graduates
Accounting 38 Graduates
E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce 25 Graduates
Project Management 23 Graduates
Health Professions and Related Programs 158 Total Graduates / 17%
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 150 Graduates
Community Health and Preventive Medicine 6 Graduates
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist 2 Graduates
All Education Majors 121 Total Graduates / 13%
Elementary Education and Teaching 88 Graduates
Health Teacher Education 7 Graduates
Social Studies Teacher Education 7 Graduates
English/Language Arts Teacher Education 6 Graduates
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education 6 Graduates
All Psychology Majors 69 Total Graduates / 7%
Psychology, General 69 Graduates
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services 59 Total Graduates / 6%
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 59 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 33%

Outcome & Salary


While education never comes with any guarantees, Bemidji State University students are often interested in how much their diplomas might help them earn. Researchers thus seek out salary information from BSU alumni to help current students form an estimation of what they might expect upon graduation.

Topping the list of highest earning degrees from BSU are the engineering technology students. Their median income is calculated at $63,000, which is a great starting salary for any new graduate. Of the top five top earners, the mathematics majors bring up the rear, with median base salary of $47,000. In the middle are the computer science graduates, whose income is just below the engineers, with a median of $62,000.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $42,100
College Grads Average Salary $62,840
College Grads Mid Career Salary $61,400
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $628,400
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,242,400
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $59,780
10 Year Projected ROI $568,620
20 Year Projected ROI $1,182,620
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

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