2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Minnesota
Liberal Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts 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 liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
Our analysis ranked St Olaf College the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at St Olaf College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $40,848. St Olaf College graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at St Olaf College
A rank of #2 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the top schools for liberal arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 72 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $14,747 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $4,500 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
St Catherine University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. St Catherine University awarded about 16 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $60,427 in their early career. St Catherine University graduates carry a median of $29,883 in student loans.
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Northwestern College Minnesota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates 68% of students within six years. Northwestern College Minnesota awarded about 56 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $44,857. Typical student debt for the program is $23,505.
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Winona State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $46,673. Students borrow a median of $13,062 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Winona State University
Saint Cloud State University came in at #6 for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Saint Cloud. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 109 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Saint Cloud State University earn around $51,625 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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Century College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. There were roughly 388 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Century College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Century College generally make around $38,376. Century College graduates carry a median of $14,264 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Century College
Bemidji State University landed the #8 spot for liberal arts this year. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. Bemidji State University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Bemidji State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts 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.
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Minnesota State University Mankato placed #9 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 218 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $27,187 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,250.
See the full liberal arts program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #10 position for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Moorhead. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 11 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $50,892 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,447 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Minnesota State University Moorhead
Lake Superior College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 281 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Lake Superior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Lake Superior College earn around $33,525 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Lake Superior College
Bethel University Minnesota placed #12 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $61,465 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,639.
See the full liberal arts program report for Bethel University Minnesota
Ridgewater College placed #13 among the best liberal arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Willmar. Ridgewater College awarded about 171 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Ridgewater College earn around $29,262 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,389.
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St Cloud Technical And Community College came in at #14 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 238 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at St Cloud Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from St Cloud Technical And Community College earn around $37,802 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,111 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from St Cloud Technical And Community College
Anoka Ramsey Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public institution. Anoka Ramsey Community College awarded about 594 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $32,056 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,943 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Anoka Ramsey Community College
Inver Hills Community College came in at #16 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 255 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Inver Hills Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Inver Hills Community College earn around $41,906 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,575 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Inver Hills Community College
Normandale Community College came in at #17 for liberal arts this year. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Normandale Community College awarded about 641 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Normandale Community College earn around $33,809 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,778.
See the full liberal arts program report for Normandale Community College
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 76 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Alexandria Technical And Community College earn around $18,730 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,250.
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Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public school located in the town of Marshall. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Southwest Minnesota State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Southwest Minnesota State University generally make around $47,898. Typical student debt for the program is $27,016.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Southwest Minnesota State University
North Hennepin Community College came in at #20 for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. About 263 liberal arts degrees were awarded at North Hennepin Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $37,317 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,830 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for North Hennepin Community College
Minnesota State Community And Technical College earned the #21 position for liberal arts this year. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. Minnesota State Community And Technical College awarded about 193 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn around $31,817 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,963 to complete this degree.
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Riverland Community College earned the #22 position for liberal arts this year. Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Austin. Riverland Community College awarded about 235 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $38,856 early in their careers. Riverland Community College graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Riverland Community College
Rochester Community And Technical College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Rochester Community And Technical College awarded about 244 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Rochester Community And Technical College earn around $34,094 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,250.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Rochester Community And Technical College
South Central College came in at #24 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 111 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at South Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from South Central College generally make around $32,719. Typical student debt for the program is $12,239.
Read more about the liberal arts program at South Central College
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #25 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 347 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Lakes College Brainerd in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Central Lakes College Brainerd earn a median of $26,133 early in their careers. Central Lakes College Brainerd graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Central Lakes College Brainerd
Rest of the Top 34 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts this year:
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
- 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.
