2027 Best Value General Education Schools in Minnesota
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general education students.
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2027 Best Value General Education Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota tops our 2027 list of the best value general education schools in Minnesota. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of $59,959 early in their careers. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College, which ranked #2. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $44,387. Set against $17,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Bemidji State University one of the best values for general education. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,237. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,819. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $48,984. That is a strong return on a $25,819 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Winona State University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $24,551. General Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $52,019 early in their careers. Set against $24,551 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Minnesota State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,361 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $27,016. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Southwest Minnesota State University generally make around $55,867. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southwest Minnesota State University admits about 62% of applicants.
Capella University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $35,998. Early-career general education graduates make about $74,309. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
Martin Luther College came in at #7 for value in general education this year. Set in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,120. General Education graduates carry a median of $20,224 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $31,016. Set against $20,224 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. General Education graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $51,118 early in their careers. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Hamline University earned the #9 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,000. General Education graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $52,452 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,076 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,197. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $44,396. That is a strong return on a $26,197 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #11 for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $57,694 early in their careers. Set against $25,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Walden University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,067 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $49,361 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $70,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
