Best Colleges in Minnesota

The higher education experts at BestColleges reviewed the top 4-year colleges in Minnesota. Start planning your future at BestColleges.

Updated October 4, 2024

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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.

In this Article

Best Accredited Colleges in Minnesota

St Olaf College

Northfield, MN4 yearCampus

$54,650

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,650

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

52%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

3,046

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,650

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,650

St Olaf College

Northfield, MN4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,650

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,650

Acceptance Rate

52%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

3,046

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Carleton College

Northfield, MN4 yearCampus

$62,244

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$62,244

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

22%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

2,059

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$62,244

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$62,244

Carleton College

Northfield, MN4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$62,244

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$62,244

Acceptance Rate

22%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

2,059

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$14,496

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$34,410

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

77%

Acceptance Rate

37%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,468

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,578

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

54,890

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,496

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,410

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,496

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,410

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

37%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,468

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,578

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

54,890

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN4 yearCampus

$62,270

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$62,270

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

28%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

2,175

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$62,270

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$62,270

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$62,270

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$62,270

Acceptance Rate

28%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

2,175

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$50,950

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,950

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

88%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,910

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,910

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

1,470

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,950

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,950

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,950

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,950

Acceptance Rate

88%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,910

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,910

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

1,470

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN4 yearCampus

$52,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$52,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

62%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,072

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$52,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$52,490

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$52,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$52,490

Acceptance Rate

62%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,072

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$8,356

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$17,726

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

71%

Acceptance Rate

63%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,836

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,256

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

14,590

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,356

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,726

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,356

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,726

Acceptance Rate

71%

Online Enrollment

63%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,836

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,256

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

14,590

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Winona State University

Winona, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$8,388

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,120

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

74%

Acceptance Rate

52%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,320

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,560

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

6,154

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,388

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,120

Winona State University

Winona, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,388

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,120

Acceptance Rate

74%

Online Enrollment

52%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,320

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,560

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

6,154

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$12,766

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,210

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

82%

Acceptance Rate

39%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,468

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,578

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

9,350

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,766

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,210

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,766

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,210

Acceptance Rate

82%

Online Enrollment

39%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,468

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,578

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

9,350

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

University of Minnesota-Morris

Morris, MN4 yearCampus

$12,804

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,934

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

78%

Acceptance Rate

16%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

1,068

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,804

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,934

University of Minnesota-Morris

Morris, MN4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,804

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,934

Acceptance Rate

78%

Online Enrollment

16%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

1,068

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

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