There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Minnesota ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
After analyzing 32 schools in Minnesota, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Higher Than Average Earnings
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. Recent students who earned a associate degree in Minnesota entered the job market making an average of $39,091 while those in the top 24 schools on our list made an average of $40,335.
Starting Salary ( 34580 to 47465 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree.
When attending a school in Minnesota, associate degree students accumulate an average of $24,039 in student debt before graduation.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best associate degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our analysis found St Catherine University to be the best school for associate degrees in Minnesota in this year’s ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 354 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from St. Kate’s make an average of $53,180 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $37,074. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $182.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hennepin Technical College. The school came in at #2 in Minnesota on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Hennepin Technical College is a small public school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 498 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Hennepin Technical College make an average of $44,413 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,644 after getting their degree.
Out of the 32 associate degree schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Minnesota landed the #3 spot on the list. This small private for-profit school is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,179 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Rasmussen University - Minnesota make an average of $38,538 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $25,719 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $175 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent associate degree programs at North Central University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Minnesota. North Central University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in Minnesota list means Normandale Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Normandale Community College is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,208 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Normandale Community College is $41,929 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,471 in student loans.
Dakota County Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. DCTC is located in Rosemount, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 391 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from DCTC make an average of $46,679 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,261 after getting their degree.
Century College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 1,145 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Century College is $42,292 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $23,193 in student loans.
With a ranking of #8, Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 299 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Dunwoody College of Technology make an average of $49,542 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,197 in student loans.
With a ranking of #9, Anoka-Ramsey Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,071 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus make an average of $43,464 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $23,620 after getting their degree.
St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 743 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from St Cloud Technical and Community College is $40,152 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,199.
Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Rochester, Minnesota. It awarded 670 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,005 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $19,772 in student loans.
Anoka Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #12. Anoka, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 171 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Anoka Technical College is $41,575 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $24,531.
North Hennepin Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #13. North Hennepin Community College is a small public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 621 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from North Hennepin Community College go into careers with an average salary of $40,872 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $24,002 in student loans.
Winona State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 39 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $28,721 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,000 after getting their degree.
Saint Paul College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 663 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Saint Paul College is $33,121 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $23,253 after getting their degree.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 797 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Minneapolis Community and Technical College make an average of $43,117 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $25,645.
Lake Superior College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. LSC is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 654 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from LSC go into careers with an average salary of $41,023 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,716 after getting their degree.
Ridgewater College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in Willmar, Minnesota that handed out 612 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Ridgewater College make an average of $39,553 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $19,474 in student loans.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 766 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from M State go into careers with an average salary of $38,561 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,341 in student loans.
Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Alexandria Technical & Community College is a small public school located in Alexandria, Minnesota that handed out 346 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from ATCC make an average of $39,662 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,435.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. This small public school is located in Brainerd, Minnesota, and it awarded 521 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,407 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,699 after getting their degree.
Inver Hills Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. IHCC is a small public school situated in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. It awarded 494 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from IHCC go into careers with an average salary of $41,023 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $19,450 in student loans.
With a ranking of #23, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Minnesota State Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 63 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Minnesota State Mankato make an average of $20,187 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,000.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #24. Minnesota West Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Granite Falls, Minnesota that handed out 236 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Minnesota West go into careers with an average salary of $37,033 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,838.
Hibbing Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Hibbing, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 182 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Hibbing Community College make an average of $38,979 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,500 after getting their degree.
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%.
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