Best Colleges in Minnesota

Hannah Muniz
By
Updated on October 4, 2024
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The higher education experts at BestColleges reviewed the top 4-year colleges in Minnesota. Start planning your future at BestColleges.

Minnesota ranks among the most educated states in the country, in both average level of educational attainment and the quality of education available. As a major center of education in the Midwest, the state is home to schools of all types and sizes – from small, elite liberal arts colleges like Carleton and Macalester to massive state schools like the University of Minnesota. To help you select the right Minnesota school for you, we compiled the following ranking, which offers an overview of the top colleges in the state.

Below, you’ll find information on 25 of the best colleges in Minnesota, including information related to each school’s reputation, selectivity, notable academic offerings or campus features, and online enrollment options. This list attempts to pinpoint unique features of each school, but it should serve as the beginning — not the end — of your research.

In terms of livability for college graduates, Minnesota ranks about average, with an unemployment rate near the national average (3.3% as of November 2019) and a cost of living slightly below the national average. The state hosts a diverse economy that includes one of the country’s top bioscience sectors, along with other major industries including data centers and operations, manufacturing, clean and renewable energy (particularly wind power), banking and finance, and agriculture and livestock products.

Best Accredited Colleges in Minnesota

#1 Best Colleges in Minnesota

St Olaf College

  • Location-markerNorthfield, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$54,650
  • Out-of-state$54,650
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate91%
  • Acceptance Rate52%
  • Students Enrolled3,046
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment0%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

Carleton College

  • Location-markerNorthfield, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$62,244
  • Out-of-state$62,244
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate96%
  • Acceptance Rate22%
  • Students Enrolled2,059
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Colleges in Minnesota

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

  • Location-markerMinneapolis, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$14,496
  • Out-of-state$34,410
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$18,468
  • Out-of-state$28,578
  • Retention Rate91%
  • Acceptance Rate77%
  • Students Enrolled54,890
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment37%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Colleges in Minnesota

Macalester College

  • Location-markerSaint Paul, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$62,270
  • Out-of-state$62,270
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate95%
  • Acceptance Rate28%
  • Students Enrolled2,175
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Colleges in Minnesota

College of Saint Benedict

  • Location-markerSaint Joseph, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$50,950
  • Out-of-state$50,950
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$14,910
  • Out-of-state$14,910
  • Retention Rate89%
  • Acceptance Rate88%
  • Students Enrolled1,470
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment2%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Colleges in Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College

  • Location-markerSaint Peter, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$52,490
  • Out-of-state$52,490
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate84%
  • Acceptance Rate62%
  • Students Enrolled2,072
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment2%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Colleges in Minnesota

Minnesota State University-Mankato

  • Location-markerMankato, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,356
  • Out-of-state$17,726
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,836
  • Out-of-state$13,256
  • Retention Rate76%
  • Acceptance Rate71%
  • Students Enrolled14,590
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment63%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Colleges in Minnesota

Winona State University

  • Location-markerWinona, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,388
  • Out-of-state$15,120
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,320
  • Out-of-state$12,560
  • Retention Rate76%
  • Acceptance Rate74%
  • Students Enrolled6,154
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment52%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Colleges in Minnesota

University of Minnesota-Duluth

  • Location-markerDuluth, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$12,766
  • Out-of-state$18,210
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$18,468
  • Out-of-state$28,578
  • Retention Rate81%
  • Acceptance Rate82%
  • Students Enrolled9,350
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment39%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Best Colleges in Minnesota

University of Minnesota-Morris

  • Location-markerMorris, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$12,804
  • Out-of-state$14,934
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate72%
  • Acceptance Rate78%
  • Students Enrolled1,068
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment16%
  • AccreditationYes

badge-checkHow We Rank Schools

At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.

We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2020. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.

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