by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranks #1 of 84 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 69% six-year graduation rate and $67,207 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 **84** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 84 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.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities leads the 84 ranked colleges in Minnesota, followed by Mayo Medical School (#2) and University Of St Thomas Minnesota (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 college in Minnesota. Located in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $56,395. The median student debt is $21,577.
You'll be in good company at Mayo Medical School, which ranked #2 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,040. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $90,374. The median student debt is $27,164.
You'll be in good company at University Of St Thomas Minnesota, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $54,398. Median early-career earnings reach $65,183. Typical student debt is $23,923.
You'll be in good company at Carleton College, which ranked #4 this year. Carleton College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. Carleton College graduates 90% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $17,566.
A rank of #5 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. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,760. St Olaf College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,848. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete a degree here.
Saint Johns University placed #6 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Collegeville, MN, Saint Johns University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Johns University posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,816. Median early-career earnings reach $47,238. The median student debt is $26,646.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winona, MN. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,080. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,785. Graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans.
University Of Minnesota Rochester landed the #8 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Rochester, MN, University Of Minnesota Rochester is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,016. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,988 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,115.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #9 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Duluth, MN, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,572. University Of Minnesota Duluth students take on a median of $24,624 in debt.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #10 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Located in Saint Peter, MN, Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution. Gustavus Adolphus College posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. Students from in state pay about $56,076 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,396. The median student debt is $26,197.
Macalester College placed #11 among the best colleges in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. About 87% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $42,517. Graduates carry a median of $22,147 in student loans.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #12 spot in Minnesota this year. 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%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Median early-career earnings reach $61,465. Typical student debt is $25,639.
Winona State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,109. The median student debt is $24,551.
Hamline University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,004. Median early-career earnings reach $48,679. Typical student debt is $25,530.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #15 among the best colleges in Minnesota. This public school is set in Mankato, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,260.
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #16 spot in Minnesota this year. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,835. The median student debt is $29,026.
College Of Saint Benedict landed the #17 spot in Minnesota this year. College Of Saint Benedict is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Joseph, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,756. Median early-career earnings reach $47,105. College Of Saint Benedict students take on a median of $26,619 in debt.
The College Of Saint Scholastica landed the #18 spot in Minnesota this year. Set in Duluth, MN, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,778. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,431 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,755.
Concordia College At Moorhead placed #19 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Located in Moorhead, MN, Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,170. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,611. Graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans.
Martin Luther College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in New Ulm, MN, Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,120. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,016 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,224 to complete a degree here.
Saint Cloud State University placed #21 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Set in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,625. Saint Cloud State University students take on a median of $25,076 in debt.
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Alexandria, MN, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,236. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,368. The median student debt is $14,054.
Adler Graduate School did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Minnetonka, MN, Adler Graduate School is a private not-for-profit institution. Adler Graduate School graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,365.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #24 among the best colleges in Minnesota. Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Dunwoody College Of Technology came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Minneapolis, MN. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,477. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,751. Students borrow a median of $18,973 to complete a degree here.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 84 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.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.