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2024 Best Grad Schools in Minnesota for Doctorate Degrees

14 Colleges
$78,414 Avg Salary

It's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in Minnesota ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing the Best Grad School for You

We analyzed 14 grad schools across Minnesota to determine which have the best doctorate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad 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

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a doctorate degree from the school. Recent students who earned a doctorate degree in Minnesota entered the job market making an average of $78,414 while those in the top 12 schools on our list made an average of $83,837.

Starting Salary  ( 64006 to 98584 )
$0
$110,503

Taking Out Student Loans

Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their doctorate so we factor that into our rankings as well. The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.

More Ranking Factors That Are Important

We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking. 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.

We go into more detail on these factors on our graduate school ranking methodology page.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
Master's Degrees Ranking Other Graduate Rankings
If you'd rather work on your doctorate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.

Still not sure what graduate degree you wish to pursue? You may want to visit our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.

Top Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota

Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:

1
1,773 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$78,092 Average Early-Career Earnings

Our 2024 rankings named University of Minnesota - Twin Cities the best grad school in Minnesota in terms of overall quality for students working on their doctorate degree. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the large public school handed out 1,773 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $78,092 during the early years of their career.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Report

2
208 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$72,484 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The College of Saint Scholastica. The school came in at #2 in Minnesota on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. St. Scholastica is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 208 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from St. Scholastica make an average of $72,484 a year.

Read full report on The College of Saint Scholastica

3
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1,437 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$77,333 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capella University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the large private for-profit school awarded 1,437 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Capella University make an average of $77,333 a year.

Full Capella University Report

4
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota
29 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$103,580 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #4 in Minnesota on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 29 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Winona State make an average of $103,580 a year.

Learn More About Winona State University

5
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
24 Doctorate Degrees Awarded

The excellent doctorate degree programs at Saint Cloud State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Minnesota. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

Learn More About Saint Cloud State University

6
Bethel University Minnesota crest
Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
30 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$88,760 Average Early-Career Earnings

With a ranking of #6, Bethel University Minnesota did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Bethel University Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.

Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $88,760 during the early years of their career.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Report

7
St. Kate's crest
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, Minnesota
73 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$94,860 Average Early-Career Earnings

St Catherine University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. St. Kate’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 73 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from St. Kate’s make an average of $94,860 a year.

Learn More About St Catherine University

8
Augsburg crest
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, Minnesota
17 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$110,503 Average Early-Career Earnings

Augsburg University landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $110,503 during the early years of their career.

Full Augsburg University Report

9
32 Doctorate Degrees Awarded

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. SMU MN is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 32 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Learn More About Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

10
196 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$68,491 Average Early-Career Earnings

University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 196 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a doctorate degree from UST MN make an average of $68,491 per year during the early years of their career.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Report

11
17 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$50,533 Average Early-Career Earnings

With a ranking of #11, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 17 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a doctorate degree from MSU Moorhead make an average of $50,533 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Report

12
11 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$84,499 Average Early-Career Earnings

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Minnesota State Mankato make an average of $84,499 a year.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Report

13
Metro State crest
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, Minnesota
16 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$103,446 Average Early-Career Earnings

Metropolitan State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota list. Metro State is a medium-sized public school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 16 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a doctorate degree from Metro State make an average of $103,446 per year during the early years of their career.

Learn More About Metropolitan State University

14
49 Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$73,465 Average Early-Career Earnings

Concordia University, Saint Paul landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 49 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Concordia University, Saint Paul make an average of $73,465 a year.

Learn More About Concordia University, Saint Paul

Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

View Best Doctorate Degree Schools Nationwide >

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Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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