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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in Minnesota

20 Ranked Colleges
838 Degrees Awarded
$20,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in Minnesota

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Economics is the 18th most popular major in the country with 48,831 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across Minnesota, there were 891 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,580 and $22,420 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 838 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,526 and $26,035 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Economics Schools

The economics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in Minnesota

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 376 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $17,740 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Economics at UMN Twin Cities

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #2 spot on the list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Minnesota State Mankato

#3

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bemidji State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Bemidji State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $15,868 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend Bemidji State University.

Full Bemidji State University Economics Report

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Moorhead, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at MSU Moorhead

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $17,067 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Economics Report

#6

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $17,656 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State Economics Report

University of Minnesota - Morris ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Morris, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Morris Economics Report

#8

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 8 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $14,267 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

Read full report on Economics at St. Cloud State University

#9

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Metro State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $15,225 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

Read full report on Economics at Metro State

#10

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. St. Kate’s is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 11 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s also took the #13 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $19,078 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend St. Kate’s.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at St. Kate’s

#11

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #11. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Bethel University Minnesota also took the #15 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bethel University Minnesota is $25,191 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Economics Report

#12

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Augsburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Augsburg also took the #12 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Augsburg is $24,653 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

Full Augsburg University Economics Report

#13

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 46 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UST MN also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $29,155 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend UST MN.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Economics Report

#14

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #14. Hamline University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students list, Hamline has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $20,866 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend Hamline.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Hamline

#15

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus also took the #7 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus is $19,093 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Economics Report

#16

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota

Saint Johns University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #16. SJU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Collegeville, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Saint Johns University is $24,271 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Saint Johns University

#17

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, Minnesota

With a ranking of #17, College of Saint Benedict did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. Saint Joseph, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

CSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for CSB is $25,785 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full College of Saint Benedict Economics Report

#18

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. St Olaf College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 107 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students list, St. Olaf has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $23,543 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend St Olaf College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Economics at St Olaf College

#19

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Macalester not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Macalester is $28,426 for minnesota bachelor’s degree economics students.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Macalester College

#20

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota

Carleton College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Carleton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton College is $31,133 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Carleton College

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

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