2026 Best Value Value Schools in Minnesota
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/veterinary-animal-health-technology-technician-and-veterinary-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College the best value for a degree in value in Minnesota. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $44,387 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ridgewater College earned it the #2 place for value. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Value graduates carry a median of $14,171 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ridgewater College generally make around $37,141. That is a strong return on a $14,171 median debt.
Dakota County Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $18,255. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $36,866. Set against $18,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,389. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $38,817. Set against $21,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
