Why This Matters

  • 44 COLLEGES IN MINNESOTA

    According to College Navigator, there are 12 public universities, seven private non-profit colleges, and 12 private for-profit institutions.

  • $11,940 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    College Board indicates that the average undergraduate student in Minnesota paid $11,940 in tuition and school fees at public colleges during the 2020-21 school year.

  • $14,940 IN FINANCIAL AID FOR THE AVERAGE U.S. STUDENT

    During the 2019-20 school year, full-time undergraduate students earned an average of $14,940 in financial aid.

Our Research

When creating this list of the best colleges in Minnesota, we included schools of all sizes and with a variety of program options. We’ve featured large research universities, midsize colleges, and smaller liberal arts colleges, as well as schools that offer a range of learning options, including in-classroom and online education.

The schools on this list are all accredited, which means they comply with regional and national standards for higher education. In most cases, these schools are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which ensures that schools throughout the state are operating in accordance with federal education requirements.

We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 70 hours to write this article
  • 153 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 344 education programs we compared

The Top 32 Colleges in Minnesota

Best Colleges In Minnesota
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What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Minnesota

When determining the right state to attend college, you should also consider your options for pursuing a career in the same location. As of October 2020, the top industries for employment in Minnesota were transportation and warehousing, financial activities, professional and business services, and education and health services.

A fast-growing career might be just as important to you as finding work in your field. As of 2016, the fastest-growing careers in Minnesota were wind turbine service technicians, statisticians, personal care aides, home health aides, and physician assistants.

In Minnesota, healthcare is among the top professions, but there are plenty of other options in the state for those with the right education. This is clear to see when reviewing the list of the top five largest employers in the state, which includes Mayo Clinic, 3M Co., Thomson Reuters Legal Sltns, Mayo Clinic Hospital – St. Mary’s, and Ameriprise Financial Inc.

What’s Next?

Many students across the United States require financial aid. When searching for the right college in Minnesota, it’s important to understand what resources are available to you to help pay for your education. Below, we’ve listed some of the grants, scholarships, and financial aid programs that are available for undergraduate students in Minnesota.

  • Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education provides students with comprehensive details about financial aid, including how to apply and eligibility terms, as well as links to grants and scholarships that are available throughout the state.
  • Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA provides students across the United States with grants, scholarships, student loans, and work-study opportunities. The FAFSA4caster includes detailed eligibility requirements, and if you qualify, you can complete your online application.
  • CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. It gives you the opportunity to look up a large list of grants, scholarships, and loans while filtering your search by degree level and state.