Best Colleges in Minnesota

The best colleges in Minnesota are University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and University of Minnesota, Crookston. Minnesota is home to several prestigious colleges and universities that offer extensive educational opportunities and top-notch research facilities. The state is well known for its natural beauty, with countless lakes, forests, and outdoor activities like fishing, boating, hiking, and camping. Don't forget about the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the country!
 

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Studying in Minnesota

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Best Colleges in Minnesota

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20 of 32

#1 in Minnesota | #81 in National Universities
Economic score 2.16

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,318

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $69,020

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Minnesota
Economic score 2.29

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $10,317

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,056

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 58%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Minnesota | #25 in Liberal Arts

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota

Economic score 2.55

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,169

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $76,786

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Minnesota | #39 in Liberal Arts

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

Economic score 3.16

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,996

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,543

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Minnesota | #148 in National Universities

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Economic score 3.19

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $28,233

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $73,739

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 79%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Minnesota | #43 in Liberal Arts

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota

Economic score 3.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $30,838

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $75,525

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Minnesota
Economic score 3.41

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,156

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,616

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 62%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Minnesota

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Economic score 3.49

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,523

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $64,705

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Minnesota

Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Economic score 3.51

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,852

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,511

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 62%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Minnesota | #48 in Liberal Arts

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

Economic score 3.64

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,224

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,607

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 78%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Minnesota
Economic score 3.67

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,925

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,871

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Minnesota | #213 in National Universities
Economic score 3.86

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $23,430

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,934

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Minnesota | #226 in National Universities

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Economic score 4.03

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,611

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,282

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 67%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Minnesota | #232 in National Universities
Economic score 4.07

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,728

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,170

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Minnesota

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Economic score 4.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,699

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,532

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 64%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Minnesota

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Economic score 4.35

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,691

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,106

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Economic score 4.45

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,719

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,813

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 52%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Minnesota | #80 in Liberal Arts
Economic score 4.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $10,541

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,919

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 58%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Minnesota | #84 in Liberal Arts

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, Minnesota

Economic score 4.68

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $27,340

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $63,260

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Minnesota | #86 in Liberal Arts

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Economic score 4.74

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $29,697

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $63,878

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 92%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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Average income based on education level

The following figures are the average salaries in Minnesota for each level of education.

Average Income

The average income of people in this state with a high-school diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, 10 years after enrollment, based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

HS Diploma $39,997
Certificate $53,679
Associate $52,252
Bachelor $57,407
Master $66,651

Cost of attending college in Minnesota

In-state-tuition $26,152

The average in-state tuition, before financial aid, of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Out-of-state-tuition $27,521

The average tuition for out-of-state students, before financial aid of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Most popular degrees in Minnesota

In Minnesota the most popular degrees are Registered Nursing, Business Administration, and General Psychology. To create this list, we complied and analyzed data from IPEDS and College Scorecard. 

They both provide information on how many graduates each program has annually. The list below is both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs. 

Fastest growing careers

Minnesota job growth 5.7%

Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
57.1%
Nurse Practitioners
45.7%
Statisticians
34%
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
33.9%
Epidemiologists
33.3%
Physician Assistants
31.6%
Actuaries
30.9%
Computer and Information Research Scientists
30.4%
Information Security Analysts
29.2%
Medical and Health Services Managers
29.1%

Best bachelor’s degrees in Minnesota

These majors are most likely to pay off economically after graduation.

Best colleges for social mobility in Minnesota

Higher education is supposed to act as an economic elevator that lifts students from low-income households into the middle class. But not all colleges do this: unfortunately, many of the nation’s most “prestigious” schools accept very few students from low-income backgrounds. 

To determine what colleges are doing the best job at lifting students out of poverty, we have devised a Social Mobility Index (SMI).  

The best colleges for social mobility in Minnesota are shown below.

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Propel your career from anywhere.

Take our quiz to find the online degree that’s best for you. Compare hundreds of schools and apply to your dream college today.