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2026 Best General Education Schools in Minnesota

5 Colleges in the United States
1,451 General Education Degrees Awarded
$53,278 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general education programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General Education in Minnesota

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Education

1

Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general education. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 121 general education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $59,959. Typical student debt for the program is $27,081. See the full general education program report for Saint Marys University Of Minnesota

2

A rank of #2 makes Gustavus Adolphus College one of the top schools for general education. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Gustavus Adolphus College awarded about 24 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $44,396 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,197. See the full general education program report for Gustavus Adolphus College

3

Martin Luther College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Located in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. Martin Luther College graduates 72% of students within six years. About 12 general education degrees were awarded at Martin Luther College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $31,016 in their early career. Martin Luther College graduates carry a median of $20,224 in student loans. Get the full general education details for Martin Luther College

4

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 17 general education degrees were awarded at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Bethel University Minnesota earn around $57,694 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Bethel University Minnesota

5
Hamline University crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN

A rank of #5 makes Hamline University one of the top schools for general education. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 46 general education degrees were awarded at Hamline University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $52,452 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at Hamline University

6

Bemidji State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Bemidji State University awarded about 10 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Bemidji State University earn around $48,984 in the first couple years of their career. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans. More information about a degree in general education from Bemidji State University

7

Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #7 position for general education this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 general education students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $51,118 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Minnesota State University Mankato

8

Winona State University placed #8 among the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Winona State University awarded about 21 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $52,019. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for Winona State University

9
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN

Walden University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Walden University awarded about 994 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Walden University earn around $70,272 in the first couple years of their career. Walden University graduates carry a median of $49,361 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Walden University

10
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN

Capella University landed the #10 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. There were roughly 52 general education students who graduated with this degree at Capella University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $74,309. Typical student debt for the program is $35,998. See the full general education program report for Capella University

11

University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 14 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $50,147 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,624. Get the full general education details for University Of Minnesota Duluth

12

Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College awarded about 10 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $44,387 early in their careers. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $17,029 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College

13

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 116 general education students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Minnesota State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $55,867 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,016 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Southwest Minnesota State University

View All General Education Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 30 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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