The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) has been designated as an Opportunity College and University, recognizing UMD as an institution that models how campuses can foster student success. Additionally, the University of Minnesota’s Duluth and Rochester campuses are the only two public baccalaureate institutions designated as providing both High Access and High Earnings in Minnesota.
The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification examines whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area. Of the 1,400 baccalaureate and above institutions in the country that were classified by Carnegie, less than 15% of schools achieved the designation.
As an “Opportunity College and University,” UMD was recognized for both:
- Enrolling more underrepresented students than the geographic average; AND
- Graduating undergraduate students who earn at least 50% above the median earnings compared to a similar population in their area with a high school diploma or higher credential.
“Student success is central to all the work that we do here at the University of Minnesota Duluth," said UMD Chancellor Charles Nies. "Our student scholars come to UMD with goals and aspirations and it is our job to support them in that. As a first-generation college graduate myself, I understand the power that higher education can have in propelling someone forward in the pursuit of those dreams, and the impact that it can have on your life. This classification from Carnegie further reinforces and recognizes the fact that UMD is uniquely placed to offer both access to students and incredible opportunities in their futures.”
In the past three years, the Carnegie classifications have undergone significant updates. This is one of the first publications under the new rubrics, which include classifications for student access and student earnings.
The new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings from the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings. To measure access, the classification evaluates whether institutions are enrolling a student population that is representative of the communities they serve. To measure economic outcomes, the classification compares median post-attendance earnings to earnings of people in their area ages 22-40 who hold a high school diploma or higher.
Key Takeaways for the University of Minnesota Duluth:
- UMD and the University of Minnesota Rochester are the only two public baccalaureate institutions designated as providing both High Access and High Earnings in the state of Minnesota.
- UMD is the only public research university in Minnesota with this distinction.
- UMD ranks 3rd in Minnesota for graduate earnings, and 1st among public universities in the state.
See the full results of the 2025 Institutional Classification. For more information, including the specific classification methodology, visit Carnegie's website.