by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of St Thomas Minnesota ranks #1 of 46 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Minnesota ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 59% six-year graduation rate and $58,990 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Minnesota, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **46** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 46 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota leads the 46 ranked colleges in Minnesota, followed by Winona State University (#2) and Northwestern College Minnesota (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Minnesota. Based in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes Winona State University one of the top colleges in Minnesota. Located in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. Winona State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,109. Graduates carry a median of $24,551 in student loans.
Northwestern College Minnesota came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,920. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,857. The median student debt is $23,505.
Out of the 46 colleges in Minnesota in this year's ranking, Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Mankato, MN. Minnesota State University Mankato posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Median early-career earnings reach $53,088. Typical student debt is $25,260.
You'll be in good company at Concordia University Saint Paul, which ranked #5 this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $25,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $29,026.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #6 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Bethel University Minnesota graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,465. Bethel University Minnesota students take on a median of $25,639 in debt.
Alexandria Technical And Community College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public school based in Alexandria, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,236. Median early-career earnings reach $45,368. The median student debt is $14,054.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #8 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,625. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete a degree here.
Dunwoody College Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Dunwoody College Of Technology graduates 86% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $27,477 in tuition and fees. Dunwoody College Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,751. Students borrow a median of $18,973 to complete a degree here.
Bemidji State University landed the #10 spot in Minnesota this year. Based in Bemidji, MN, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,237. Median early-career earnings reach $48,984. Students borrow a median of $25,819 to complete a degree here.
Northwestern Health Sciences University placed #11 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Based in Bloomington, MN, Northwestern Health Sciences University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,015. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,391 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete a degree here.
St Catherine University did well this year, earning the #12 position. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Students from in state pay about $38,428 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,427. St Catherine University students take on a median of $29,883 in debt.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Rosemount, MN, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,429. Dakota County Technical College students take on a median of $13,474 in debt.
Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #14 spot in Minnesota this year. This public school is set in Moorhead, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,428. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,892. Graduates carry a median of $24,447 in student loans.
North Central University placed #15 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Minneapolis, MN, North Central University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,220. North Central University graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,190. The median student debt is $25,496.
Rasmussen College Minnesota came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set in St. Cloud, MN, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,199. Median early-career earnings reach $45,956. Rasmussen College Minnesota students take on a median of $28,723 in debt.
Century College landed the #17 spot in Minnesota this year. Set in White Bear Lake, MN, Century College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,214. Median early-career earnings reach $47,502. Century College students take on a median of $21,332 in debt.
Ridgewater College landed the #18 spot in Minnesota this year. Ridgewater College is a public school based in Willmar, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,178. The median student debt is $15,556.
Hennepin Technical College placed #19 among the best colleges in Minnesota. This public school is set in Brooklyn Park, MN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Hennepin Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,059. Hennepin Technical College students take on a median of $17,887 in debt.
Normandale Community College landed the #20 spot in Minnesota this year. Based in Bloomington, MN, Normandale Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,329. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,871. Graduates carry a median of $20,162 in student loans.
Rochester Community And Technical College placed #21 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Rochester, MN, Rochester Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,389. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,439 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,291.
Southwest Minnesota State University did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Marshall, MN. Southwest Minnesota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,361. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,898. Typical student debt is $27,016.
Anoka Technical College placed #23 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Based in Anoka, MN, Anoka Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,267. Median early-career earnings reach $44,529. Graduates carry a median of $18,408 in student loans.
St Cloud Technical And Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public school based in Saint Cloud, MN. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124. St Cloud Technical And Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,652. Typical student debt is $16,734.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #25 spot in Minnesota this year. Based in Fergus Falls, MN, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,908. Median early-career earnings reach $42,972. Graduates carry a median of $18,197 in student loans.
These 21 colleges rank #26 through #46 of 46 in Minnesota. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.