by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Minnesota, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks 83 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed graduate schools 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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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year in Minnesota. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,395. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities students take on a median of $21,577 in debt.
Out of the 83 graduate schools in Minnesota in this year's ranking, Mayo Medical School landed the #2 spot. Mayo Medical School is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,040. Graduates go on to earn a median of $90,374 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,164 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of St Thomas Minnesota, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,183. University Of St Thomas Minnesota students take on a median of $23,923 in debt.
Carleton College came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Minnesota. Carleton College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. About 90% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,892. Median early-career earnings reach $45,096. The median student debt is $17,566.
Out of the 83 graduate schools in Minnesota in this year's ranking, St Olaf College landed the #5 spot. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. St Olaf College posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,848. St Olaf College students take on a median of $24,507 in debt.
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. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,785 early in their careers. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota students take on a median of $27,081 in debt.
University Of Minnesota Rochester did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Rochester, MN. University Of Minnesota Rochester graduates 57% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,016. University Of Minnesota Rochester graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,988. Graduates carry a median of $22,115 in student loans.
Saint Johns University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Collegeville, MN. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,816. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,238. Saint Johns University students take on a median of $26,646 in debt.
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Duluth, MN, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Duluth posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Median early-career earnings reach $46,572. University Of Minnesota Duluth students take on a median of $24,624 in debt.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Saint Peter, MN, Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates 77% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,076. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,396 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,197 in student loans.
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $61,465. Bethel University Minnesota students take on a median of $25,639 in debt.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,109 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete a degree here.
Hamline University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Saint Paul, MN, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. Hamline University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Hamline University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,679. The median student debt is $25,530.
Macalester College landed the #14 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Saint Paul, MN, Macalester College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,517 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,147 in student loans.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public school based in Mankato, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans.
Concordia College At Moorhead ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Moorhead, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,170. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,611 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,637 in student loans.
The College Of Saint Scholastica ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,778. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,431. The median student debt is $26,755.
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $25,600. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,835. Graduates carry a median of $29,026 in student loans.
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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,105. Typical student debt is $26,619.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,625. Graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans.
Martin Luther College placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Ulm, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,120. Early-career graduates earn a median of $31,016. Typical student debt is $20,224.
Dunwoody College Of Technology placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Minneapolis, MN. Dunwoody College Of Technology graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,477. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,751 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $18,973.
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #23 spot in Minnesota this year. Based in Alexandria, MN, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,236. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,368. Alexandria Technical And Community College students take on a median of $14,054 in debt.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Minnesota. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,857. Typical student debt is $23,505.
University Of Minnesota Morris did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Morris, MN, University Of Minnesota Morris is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Morris graduates 62% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,710. Median early-career earnings reach $44,479. Graduates carry a median of $21,080 in student loans.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 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
See our data sources and methodologies.