Bemidji State University — College Profile

About

Located directly on the scenic shores of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University is best known for its stunning natural setting and its deep commitment to environmental stewardship and Indigenous partnerships. The university excels in high-demand professional fields such as nursing, business, and criminal justice, while also offering premier, specialized programs in aquatic biology, wildlife biology, and Ojibwe language studies. Students enjoy an active, close-knit campus culture centered around outdoor recreation—including kayaking and ice fishing right from the university docks—alongside the electric atmosphere of Division I ice hockey. A truly distinctive feature of BSU is its climate-controlled underground tunnel system, which seamlessly connects almost every campus building to keep students warm and connected during the brisk northern Minnesota winters.

Wikipedia:Bemidji State University (BSU) is a public university in Bemidji, Minnesota, United States. Founded as a preparatory institution for teachers in 1919, it provides higher education to north-central Minnesota. It is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Location

Bemidji, MN, 56601 · Town campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MSP · Minneapolis

196 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$10,237$10,237

Housing & food (on campus)$10,462$10,462

Books & supplies$890$890

Cost of attendance$22,744$28,212

Average net price$15,261Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$10,237

Housing & food (on campus)$10,462

Books & supplies$890

Cost of attendance$28,212

In-state: $22,744

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $15,261

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.bemidjistate.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

Bemidji State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$10,154

Fees$1,316

Housing$7,742

Food$4,860

Books & supplies$890

Personal expenses$3,000

Total published by the school$28,212

Source: www.bemidjistate.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$10,073

$30–48k

$10,207

$48–75k

$12,201

$75–110k

$15,857

$110k+

$19,940

Your family's actual price → Bemidji State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

51%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

33%

Back for yr 2

73%

Transferred

30%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

49% graduated · 32% transferred · 18% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$47,469

10 yrs after entry$53,755

Debt

Median at graduation$19,750

Monthly payment$209

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$23.3k

90th percentile$30,487

Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (small programs): 50% graduate within 6 yrs, $48,772 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

56%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1090

ACT midpoint

Comp 18–24 · E 15–22 · M 17–24

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Essay prompts

If Bemidji State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body

Gender

Men 39%Women 61%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

18 : 1

Pell grant

28%

First-gen

27%

Family income

$57,931

Independent

32%

Age at entry

24.0

Part-time

27%

Race & ethnicity

White

77%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Ice Hockey
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$47,469

After 10 yrs

$53,755

Business Administration, Management and Operations152

Psychology, General93

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing86

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods69

Criminal Justice and Corrections59

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness45

Biology, General44

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas41

Accounting and Related Services41

Social Work34

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management27

Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General27

Design and Applied Arts18

Natural Resources Conservation and Research14

Mathematics14

Communication and Media Studies11

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$40M

Full-time faculty

65%

Faculty salary

$10,427/mo

Teaching spend

$9,867

per student

Federal loans

42%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (small programs)

Undergraduate profile