by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Minnesota, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **31** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 31 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is University Of St Thomas Minnesota, our #1 college in Minnesota. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. University Of St Thomas Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Median early-career earnings reach $65,183. The median student debt is $23,923.
Winona State University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Minnesota. Set in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,109. Graduates carry a median of $24,551 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Dunwoody College Of Technology, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Minneapolis, MN, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Dunwoody College Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $27,477. Median early-career earnings reach $53,751. The median student debt is $18,973.
The strong outcomes at Northwestern College Minnesota earned it the #4 place in Minnesota. Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Northwestern College Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $37,920 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $44,857. Typical student debt is $23,505.
The strong outcomes at Bethel University Minnesota earned it the #5 place in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,226. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,465. Typical student debt is $25,639.
Bemidji State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Bemidji, MN, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Bemidji State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,237. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,984 early in their careers. Bemidji State University students take on a median of $25,819 in debt.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,245. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,625 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,076.
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #8 spot in Minnesota this year. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public school based in Alexandria, MN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,236. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,368. Typical student debt is $14,054.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,088. The median student debt is $25,260.
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #10 among the best colleges in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,835. The median student debt is $29,026.
St Catherine University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,428. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,427. Graduates carry a median of $29,883 in student loans.
Dakota County Technical College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Dakota County Technical College is a public school based in Rosemount, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,429. Dakota County Technical College students take on a median of $13,474 in debt.
Northwestern Health Sciences University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Bloomington, MN, Northwestern Health Sciences University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,015. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,391. Northwestern Health Sciences University students take on a median of $19,500 in debt.
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Rochester, MN, Rochester Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,389. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,439. The median student debt is $20,291.
Century College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in White Bear Lake, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,502 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,332.
Ridgewater College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Willmar, MN, Ridgewater College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,121. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,178. Ridgewater College students take on a median of $15,556 in debt.
Hennepin Technical College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Brooklyn Park, MN, Hennepin Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,940. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,059. Graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans.
Normandale Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Bloomington, MN, Normandale Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,329. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,871. Students borrow a median of $20,162 to complete a degree here.
Rasmussen College Minnesota came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit school based in St. Cloud, MN. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,956 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,723 to complete a degree here.
Anoka Technical College landed the #20 spot in Minnesota this year. Based in Anoka, MN, Anoka Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,267. Anoka Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,529. Typical student debt is $18,408.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in Fergus Falls, MN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,908. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,972. Minnesota State Community And Technical College students take on a median of $18,197 in debt.
St Cloud Technical And Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set 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. St Cloud Technical And Community College students take on a median of $16,734 in debt.
Southwest Minnesota State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Marshall, MN, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. Southwest Minnesota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Students from in state pay about $10,361 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $47,898. Typical student debt is $27,016.
Anoka Ramsey Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Anoka Ramsey Community College is a public school based in Coon Rapids, MN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,682. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,293. Typical student debt is $22,593.
Central Lakes College Brainerd landed the #25 spot in Minnesota this year. This public school is set in Brainerd, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,249. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,264. Students borrow a median of $14,479 to complete a degree here.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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.