2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to University of Minnesota-Morris

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to University of Minnesota-Morris that cost less. 12 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

University of Minnesota-Morris

Morris, Minnesota · Public

$8,837
Net Price
$50,919
Median Earnings (10yr)
74.9%
Acceptance Rate
62.2%
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to University of Minnesota-Morris

University of Minnesota-Morris posts an average net price of $8,837 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with University of Minnesota-Morris across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $9,604, achieved by Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 12 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above University of Minnesota-Morris’s $50,919, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $51,539.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$9,604
Max Savings
12
Better Value Options
72%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Top 5 1. George T Baker Aviation Tech $52k 2. Ohio University-Chillicothe $53k 3. Las Positas College $51k 4. Mission College $51k 5. Saddleback College $51k Compared to University of Minnesota-Morris: $51k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
George T Baker Aviation Technical College
Miami, FL · Public Better Value
$7,489 -$1,348 $52,312 N/A 72%
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public Better Value
$5,755 -$3,082 $52,581 13.2% 63%
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA · Public Better Value
$5,377 -$3,460 $51,088 N/A 60%
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA · Public Better Value
$5,080 -$3,757 $50,936 N/A 60%
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA · Public
$4,152 -$4,685 $50,874 N/A 60%
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public Better Value
$-767 -$9,604 $51,465 N/A 59%
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA · Public Better Value
$8,312 -$525 $51,378 N/A 59%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public Better Value
$1,062 -$7,775 $51,375 N/A 59%
Norco College
Norco, CA · Public Better Value
$5,169 -$3,668 $51,206 N/A 59%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public
$2,624 -$6,213 $50,651 N/A 59%
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public Better Value
$5,650 -$3,187 $52,581 14.1% 58%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public Better Value
$3,423 -$5,414 $51,688 N/A 58%
Montgomery College
Rockville, MD · Public
$8,027 -$810 $50,159 N/A 58%
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA · Public Better Value
$6,483 -$2,354 $52,133 N/A 57%
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Wellesley Hills, MA · Public Better Value
$7,169 -$1,668 $52,654 N/A 55%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, graduate earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than University of Minnesota-Morris are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to University of Minnesota-Morris?
We found 15 schools similar to University of Minnesota-Morris that cost less. The closest match is George T Baker Aviation Technical College with 72% similarity and a net price of $7,489.
What is the ROI of attending University of Minnesota-Morris?
University of Minnesota-Morris has an average net price of $8,837. Graduates earn a median of $50,919 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 5.8x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than University of Minnesota-Morris for less money?
Yes — 12 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. George T Baker Aviation Technical College costs $7,489 (saving $1,348) with median earnings of $52,312.
What is the cheapest alternative to University of Minnesota-Morris?
The most affordable similar school is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at $-767, saving $9,604 compared to University of Minnesota-Morris. It has a 59% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $51,539 compared to University of Minnesota-Morris's $50,919. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary — check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.