2026 Best Value Value Schools in Minnesota
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/geography-and-environmental-studies/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Duluth, our #1 best value for value in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Value graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Macalester College earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Macalester College earn a median of $42,517 early in their careers. Set against $22,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 28%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
