by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranks #1 of 41 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’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 65% six-year graduation rate and $67,046 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 **41** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 41 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.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities leads the 41 ranked colleges in Minnesota, followed by University Of St Thomas Minnesota (#2) and Carleton College (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in Minnesota. Located in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,395. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities students take on a median of $21,577 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned it the #2 place in Minnesota. Set in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Thomas Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 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.
Out of the 41 colleges in Minnesota in this year's ranking, Carleton College landed the #3 spot. Based in Northfield, MN, Carleton College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,892. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,096. The median student debt is $17,566.
A rank of #4 makes St Olaf College one of the top colleges in Minnesota. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. St Olaf College graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $59,760 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,848. The median student debt is $24,507.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Johns University one of the top colleges in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Collegeville, MN. Saint Johns University graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $55,816. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,238. Students borrow a median of $26,646 to complete a degree here.
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public school based in Duluth, MN. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Median early-career earnings reach $46,572. University Of Minnesota Duluth students take on a median of $24,624 in debt.
University Of Minnesota Rochester did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Rochester, MN, University Of Minnesota Rochester is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Rochester graduates 57% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,016. Median early-career earnings reach $53,988. University Of Minnesota Rochester students take on a median of $22,115 in debt.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Saint Peter, MN, Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates 77% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Median early-career earnings reach $44,396. Gustavus Adolphus College students take on a median of $26,197 in debt.
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Median early-career earnings reach $61,465. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete a degree here.
Winona State University landed the #10 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Median early-career earnings reach $53,109. The median student debt is $24,551.
Macalester College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Macalester College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,517. Typical student debt is $22,147.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #12 spot in Minnesota this year. This public school is set in Mankato, MN. Minnesota State University Mankato posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $53,088. The median student debt is $25,260.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Winona, MN, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,785. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete a degree here.
College Of Saint Benedict came in at #14 in this year's ranking. College Of Saint Benedict is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Joseph, MN. College Of Saint Benedict posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,756. Median early-career earnings reach $47,105. Typical student debt is $26,619.
Hamline University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $50,004. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,679. Hamline University students take on a median of $25,530 in debt.
Concordia College At Moorhead landed the #16 spot in Minnesota this year. Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit school based in Moorhead, MN. About 61% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,170. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,611. Students borrow a median of $26,637 to complete a degree here.
The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Duluth, MN, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a private not-for-profit institution. The College Of Saint Scholastica posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Students from in state pay about $41,778 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,431. The median student debt is $26,755.
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Saint Paul posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,835. Concordia University Saint Paul students take on a median of $29,026 in debt.
Martin Luther College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit school based in New Ulm, MN. Martin Luther College posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,120. Martin Luther College graduates report median early-career earnings of $31,016. Students borrow a median of $20,224 to complete a degree here.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. 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 average $10,245. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,625 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans.
Bemidji State University placed #21 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Based in Bemidji, MN, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Bemidji State University graduates 46% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,237. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,984. Bemidji State University students take on a median of $25,819 in debt.
Northwestern College Minnesota did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Saint Paul, MN, Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,920. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,857 early in their careers. Northwestern College Minnesota students take on a median of $23,505 in debt.
Augsburg College placed #23 among the best colleges in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Minneapolis, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 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. Augsburg College students take on a median of $26,319 in debt.
University Of Minnesota Morris came in at #24 in this year's ranking. University Of Minnesota Morris is a public school based in Morris, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,710. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,479 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,080.
Capella University placed #25 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Minneapolis, MN, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. Capella University posts a six-year graduation rate of 20%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,400. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $72,053. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete a degree here.
These 16 colleges rank #26 through #41 of 41 in Minnesota. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.