by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Minnesota, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **19** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 19 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 graduate school in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school based in Minneapolis, MN. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,395. Typical student debt is $21,577.
Out of the 19 graduate schools in Minnesota in this year's ranking, University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #2 spot. Based in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Median early-career earnings reach $65,183. Graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Mayo Medical School one of the top graduate schools in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, MN. Students from in state pay about $9,040 in tuition and fees. Mayo Medical School graduates report median early-career earnings of $90,374. Graduates carry a median of $27,164 in student loans.
Saint Johns University came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Minnesota. Based in Collegeville, MN, Saint Johns University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,816. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,238. Saint Johns University students take on a median of $26,646 in debt.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Minnesota. Located in Winona, MN, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,785. Typical student debt is $27,081.
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Bethel University Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,226. Bethel University Minnesota graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,465. Graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans.
Hamline University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $50,004 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $48,679. Graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans.
Concordia University Saint Paul did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,835. The median student debt is $29,026.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public school based in Duluth, MN. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,572. The median student debt is $24,624.
Winona State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Students from in state pay about $10,576 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,109. The median student debt is $24,551.
The College Of Saint Scholastica did well this year, earning the #11 position. 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%. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,778. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,431. The College Of Saint Scholastica students take on a median of $26,755 in debt.
Minnesota State University Mankato did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,088. Graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
Saint Cloud State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Median early-career earnings reach $51,625. Saint Cloud State University students take on a median of $25,076 in debt.
Concordia College At Moorhead placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. Based in Moorhead, MN, Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Students from in state pay about $31,170 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,611. Graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans.
Augsburg College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Minneapolis, MN. Augsburg College graduates 52% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,452. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,409. Typical student debt is $26,319.
Martin Luther College landed the #16 spot in Minnesota this year. Set in New Ulm, MN, Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,120. Early-career graduates earn a median of $31,016. Students borrow a median of $20,224 to complete a degree here.
Northwestern College Minnesota ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern College Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,920. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,857. The median student debt is $23,505.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Moorhead, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,892. The median student debt is $24,447.
Bemidji State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Bemidji, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,237. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,984. Graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans.
St Catherine University landed the #20 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Saint Paul, MN, St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $38,428. St Catherine University graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,427. The median student debt is $29,883.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,484. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design graduates report median early-career earnings of $30,537. Graduates carry a median of $27,812 in student loans.
Capella University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Minneapolis, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,053. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete a degree here.
Northwestern Health Sciences University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bloomington, MN. In-state tuition and fees average $12,015. Median early-career earnings reach $32,391. Northwestern Health Sciences University students take on a median of $19,500 in debt.
Bethany Lutheran College landed the #24 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Mankato, MN, Bethany Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,360. Median early-career earnings reach $44,462. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete a degree here.
Rasmussen College Minnesota came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in St. Cloud, MN, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,956. Students borrow a median of $28,723 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.