by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Minnesota, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **33** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 33 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:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
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, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,395. The median student debt is $21,577.
The strong outcomes at University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned it the #2 place in Minnesota. Based 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. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $65,183. The median student debt is $23,923.
Mayo Medical School came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Minnesota. Set in Rochester, MN, Mayo Medical School is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $9,040 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $90,374 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,164.
Out of the 33 graduate schools in Minnesota in this year's ranking, Saint Johns University landed the #4 spot. Saint Johns University is a private not-for-profit school based in Collegeville, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $55,816. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,238. Saint Johns University students take on a median of $26,646 in debt.
Out of the 33 graduate schools in Minnesota in this year's ranking, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota landed the #5 spot. Set in Winona, MN, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,080. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,785. The median student debt is $27,081.
Concordia University Saint Paul did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located 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%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,600. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,835. The median student debt is $29,026.
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Students from in state pay about $44,226 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $61,465. The median student debt is $25,639.
Hamline University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. About 60% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $50,004 in tuition and fees. Hamline University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,679. Hamline University students take on a median of $25,530 in debt.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. Based in Duluth, MN, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,572. Graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans.
Winona State University landed the #10 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. Winona State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. Students from in state pay about $10,576 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Winona State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,109. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete a degree here.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. 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. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,088. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete a degree here.
The College Of Saint Scholastica did well this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Duluth, MN. About 70% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,778. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,431. Graduates carry a median of $26,755 in student loans.
Concordia College At Moorhead did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Moorhead, MN, Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,170. Median early-career earnings reach $44,611. Concordia College At Moorhead students take on a median of $26,637 in debt.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,625. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete a degree here.
Martin Luther College landed the #15 spot in Minnesota this year. Based in New Ulm, MN, Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,120. Martin Luther College graduates report median early-career earnings of $31,016. The median student debt is $20,224.
Adler Graduate School landed the #16 spot in Minnesota this year. Adler Graduate School is a private not-for-profit school based in Minnetonka, MN. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,365 early in their careers.
Augsburg College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Minneapolis, MN. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,409. Typical student debt is $26,319.
Minnesota State University Moorhead did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Moorhead, MN, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,428 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,892 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,447 to complete a degree here.
St Catherine University landed the #19 spot in Minnesota this year. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $38,428. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,427. Students borrow a median of $29,883 to complete a degree here.
Bemidji State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Bemidji, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Bemidji State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,984. Typical student debt is $25,819.
Northwestern Health Sciences University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Northwestern Health Sciences University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bloomington, MN. Students from in state pay about $12,015 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $32,391. The median student debt is $19,500.
Northwestern College Minnesota ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,857. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete a degree here.
North Central University landed the #23 spot in Minnesota this year. Based in Minneapolis, MN, North Central University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,220. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,190. Typical student debt is $25,496.
Metropolitan State University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Saint Paul, MN. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,840. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,195. Graduates carry a median of $30,822 in student loans.
Capella University landed the #25 spot in Minnesota this year. Capella University is a private for-profit school based in Minneapolis, MN. Capella University posts a six-year graduation rate of 20%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Capella University graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,053. The median student debt is $35,998.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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.