by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Minnesota, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **28** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 28 colleges across over 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.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Median early-career earnings reach $56,395. Typical student debt is $21,577.
The strong outcomes at University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned it the #2 place in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $65,183. The median student debt is $23,923.
The strong outcomes at Carleton College earned it the #3 place in Minnesota. Located in Northfield, MN, Carleton College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,892. Median early-career earnings reach $45,096. Carleton College students take on a median of $17,566 in debt.
A rank of #4 makes St Olaf College one of the top colleges in Minnesota. Located in Northfield, MN, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. St Olaf College graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $59,760. Median early-career earnings reach $40,848. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Minnesota Rochester earned it the #5 place in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Rochester is a public school based in Rochester, MN. University Of Minnesota Rochester posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. Students from in state pay about $15,016 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $53,988. Graduates carry a median of $22,115 in student loans.
Saint Johns University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Collegeville, MN, Saint Johns University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Johns University posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $55,816. Saint Johns University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,238. The median student debt is $26,646.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #7 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Duluth, MN, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,572. University Of Minnesota Duluth students take on a median of $24,624 in debt.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #8 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Bethel University Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,226. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $61,465. Typical student debt is $25,639.
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Peter, MN. About 77% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,076. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,396. Typical student debt is $26,197.
Winona State University landed the #10 spot in Minnesota this year. Winona State University is a public school based in Winona, MN. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,109. Typical student debt is $24,551.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winona, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,080. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,785. The median student debt is $27,081.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Median early-career earnings reach $53,088. The median student debt is $25,260.
Macalester College landed the #13 spot in Minnesota this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. Macalester College graduates 87% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Macalester College graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,517. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete a degree here.
Concordia College At Moorhead placed #14 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Moorhead, MN, Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution. Concordia College At Moorhead graduates 61% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $31,170 in tuition and fees. Concordia College At Moorhead graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,611. The median student debt is $26,637.
Hamline University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,679 early in their careers. Hamline University students take on a median of $25,530 in debt.
College Of Saint Benedict ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Saint Joseph, MN, College Of Saint Benedict is a private not-for-profit institution. College Of Saint Benedict posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. In-state tuition and fees average $55,756. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,105 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,619 to complete a degree here.
The College Of Saint Scholastica did well this year, earning the #17 position. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a private not-for-profit school based in Duluth, MN. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,778. Median early-career earnings reach $60,431. The median student debt is $26,755.
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,600. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,835. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete a degree here.
Saint Cloud State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Saint Cloud State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,625. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete a degree here.
Martin Luther College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit school based in New Ulm, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,120. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $31,016. Students borrow a median of $20,224 to complete a degree here.
University Of Minnesota Morris ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Morris, MN, University Of Minnesota Morris is a public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,526, while out-of-state students pay about $16,710. University Of Minnesota Morris graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,479. The median student debt is $21,080.
Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #22 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Saint Paul, MN, Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $37,920. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,857. Typical student debt is $23,505.
Bemidji State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Bemidji, MN, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Bemidji State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $48,984. Typical student debt is $25,819.
Augsburg College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Set in Minneapolis, MN, Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Augsburg College posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. Students from in state pay about $45,452 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,409 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,319 to complete a degree here.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public school based in Moorhead, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,892. Typical student debt is $24,447.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
See our data sources and methodologies.