Briefs explore key areas of the University’s strategic efforts, providing insights and data-driven analysis to inform and guide our institutional practices.
The Equalizer: How Internships Close the Post-Collegiate Earnings Gap for Pell Grant Recipients
Published on December 8, 2025 – New longitudinal research from University Data and Institutional Reporting reveals that while inequities in initial earnings exist for students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds, internships serve as a powerful "equalizer". The study tracked 2,931 UMN-Twin Cities baccalaureate graduates over a decade, linking student data with Minnesota Unemployment Insurance earnings data. Investments in targeted experiential learning work-based programs (e.g., internships) offer a clear path to equitable post collegiate earnings for disadvantaged students.
Navigating Postcollegiate Earnings Data: A Comparison of Key Tools
Published on September 30, 2025 – Navigating the post-graduation landscape can be complex, and understanding the earning potential and career paths of graduates is crucial for students, educators, and policymakers. This guide will help you understand why earnings results may vary across different data sources and how to select the most appropriate tool for your specific analytical needs. It includes a side-by-side comparison of five tools designed to analyze graduate outcomes.
A Degree with Staying Power: University of Minnesota Alumni 15 Years Later
Published on August 6, 2025 – This brief follows the post-baccalaureate outcomes of the University of Minnesota’s 2007 undergraduate alumni over a 15-year period. Using data from the UMN Postcollegiate Outcomes (PCO) project, it tracks employment location, earnings, and further education attainment for 8,448 graduates.
The Value of a University of Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree: the Economic Premium
Published on May 2, 2025 – A University of Minnesota baccalaureate degree provides an economic premium to graduates compared to high school diploma holders in the State of Minnesota. This brief uses data from numerous surveys and state and federal programs in order to highlight the strong difference in median earnings outcomes between UMN graduates and those with a high school diploma as the highest degree earned.
U.S. Census PSEO of UMN Alumni: Geography, Wages, and Industry
Published on March 7, 2025 – The U.S. Census Bureau’s Postsecondary employment outcomes (PSEO) project explores the long-term earnings outcomes of our graduates using national employment and earnings data. This brief provides a high level analysis of these data for our undergraduate alumni who are employed and their earnings by campus, offering valuable insights into the economic impact of a University of Minnesota education.