by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Minnesota, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **52** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 52 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.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
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.
Out of the 52 colleges in Minnesota in this year's ranking, Mayo Medical School landed the #2 spot. 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.
Out of the 52 colleges in Minnesota in this year's ranking, University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #3 spot. 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.
Carleton College came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Minnesota. 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.
The strong outcomes at St Olaf College earned it the #5 place 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 Marys University Of Minnesota landed the #6 spot in Minnesota this year. 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 ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. 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.
Saint Johns University did well this year, earning the #8 position. 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.
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 did well this year, earning the #10 position. 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.
Bethel University Minnesota did well this year, earning the #11 position. 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 #12 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 came in at #13 in this year's ranking. 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.
Macalester College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. 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.
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 College At Moorhead did well this year, earning the #16 position. 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.
The College Of Saint Scholastica landed the #17 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 University Saint Paul did well this year, earning the #18 position. 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 did well this year, earning the #19 position. 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.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #20 spot in Minnesota this year. 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.
Martin Luther College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. 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.
Dunwoody College Of Technology placed #22 among the best colleges in Minnesota. 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.
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #23 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.
Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #24 spot in Minnesota this year. 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.
University Of Minnesota Morris came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Morris, MN. University Of Minnesota Morris posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,710. Median early-career earnings reach $44,479. University Of Minnesota Morris students take on a median of $21,080 in debt.
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), 2026 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.