2027 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Minnesota
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for social sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
Leading the list is Bemidji State University, our #1 best value for social sciences in Minnesota. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,237. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $25,819. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $48,984. Set against $25,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for social sciences. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,573 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $47,870 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,573 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Cloud State University earned it the #3 place for social sciences. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $22,734. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $28,991. Set against $22,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,840. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $41,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Students looking for strong value in social sciences will find it at Winona State University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $24,241. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $37,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Capella University earned the #6 position for value in social sciences this year. 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. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Capella University earn a median of $53,838 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #7 among the best values for social sciences. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $23,147. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Set against $23,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #8 for value in social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $24,027. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $34,671. Set against $24,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,916 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $43,869 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Hamline University landed the #10 spot for social sciences value this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $24,910. Social Sciences graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $33,926 early in their careers. Set against $24,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #11 among the best values for social sciences. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $25,509. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $48,106. Set against $25,509 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Augsburg College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,452 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,403 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $38,940. Set against $24,403 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Augsburg College admits about 82% of applicants.
St Olaf College landed the #13 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,760. Students borrow a median of $25,853 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $50,589 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Olaf College admits about 48% of applicants.
Carleton College earned the #14 position for value in social sciences this year. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. In-state tuition and fees average $68,892. Students borrow a median of $19,295 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $66,567. That is a strong return on a $19,295 median debt. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia College At Moorhead came in at #15 for value in social sciences this year. Concordia College At Moorhead is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moorhead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,170. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $27,466 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Concordia College At Moorhead admits about 63% of applicants.
Saint Johns University earned the #16 position for value in social sciences this year. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Collegeville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,816. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $44,945. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #17 among the best values for social sciences. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $23,893. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $51,925. That is a strong return on a $23,893 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,104. Students borrow a median of $23,096 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $51,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
