Is Minnesota North College worth it?

The numbers behind the score

At Minnesota North, a typical graduate carries about $9,744 in student debt and earns roughly $49,714 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $111 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.

How earnings compare to a high school diploma

Graduates earn $14,919 more than the typical working high school graduate in Minnesota ($34,795) ten years after entering this school. A federal rule finalized in July 2026 ties each undergraduate program's federal loan eligibility to a comparison like this one, with the first calculations expected in 2027.

The national figure is $31,269. The Department of Education uses it instead of the state figure when fewer than half of a school's students come from its state.

69% of former students here earned more than the typical high school graduate ten years after entry, by College Scorecard's own measure.

Context, not a federal determination. The benchmarks are the Department of Education's published thresholds (2024 notice, based on 2022 Census data); thresholds under the 2026 rule have not been released yet. The official test looks at each program's graduates four years after completion; our figure is College Scorecard's median for the whole school, ten years after entry. How this works

Program earnings vs. the federal benchmark

Median earnings of working graduates four years after finishing each undergraduate program, next to the benchmark the federal earnings test uses: the typical working high school graduate aged 25–34 in Minnesota ($34,795).

• Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

  Certificate · 20 working graduates counted

  $39,508

  $4,713 above the benchmark

• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

  Associate degree · 208 working graduates counted

  $41,646

  $6,851 above the benchmark

• Criminal Justice and Corrections

  Associate degree · 20 working graduates counted

  $54,578

  $19,783 above the benchmark

• Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

  Certificate · 31 working graduates counted

  $55,856

  $21,061 above the benchmark

• Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy

  Certificate · 25 working graduates counted

  $63,891

  $29,096 above the benchmark

• Precision Metal Working

  Certificate · 16 working graduates counted

  $65,172

  $30,377 above the benchmark

• Criminal Justice and Corrections

  Certificate · 32 working graduates counted

  $70,584

  $35,789 above the benchmark

• Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians

  Certificate · 39 working graduates counted

  $76,148

  $41,353 above the benchmark

• Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

  Associate degree · 80 working graduates counted

  $76,648

  $41,853 above the benchmark

• Electrical and Power Transmission Installers

  Certificate · 25 working graduates counted

  $83,788

  $48,993 above the benchmark

65 other undergraduate programs here have no four-year earnings figure, usually because too few graduates were counted to publish one. That says nothing about how those programs do. See every program on College Scorecard

An estimate, not an official determination. Under a federal rule taking effect July 1, 2027, programs below this benchmark in official results may face limits on federal student loans; Pell Grants are not affected. The official test uses finer program categories, different graduating classes and the Department's own records; its first results are expected in 2027. Programs that train for tipped jobs, such as cosmetology and massage, won't be rated on 2025 earnings, and the Department decides which programs qualify. Earnings: College Scorecard field-of-study data (released Oct 15, 2026). Benchmark: Department of Education published thresholds (2024 notice).

Represent Minnesota North College and think a figure here is wrong? Request a correction and we'll check it against the latest College Scorecard release.

What this means for your family

Minnesota North is a two year school in Hibbing, MN. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.

Common questions about Minnesota North

Looking at community colleges options in Minnesota? See the most affordable community colleges in Minnesota →

The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →