Best Community Colleges in Minnesota

Minnesota combines dozens of community college learning opportunities with some of the largest companies located nearby.

With an open admissions policy, prospective students have an easier path to community college. A high school diploma or equivalent will do, or prospective students can present their case as to why they would like to be in higher education. No strict GPA or essay requirements exist.

There is also the opportunity to do online or hybrid learning at community colleges in Minnesota.

Community colleges in Minnesota offer a variety of degrees, or students can get a certificate in a specific field.

More than half of the state’s residents from 25-44 years old have an associate degree or higher. The state’s goal is for 70% of the people in that age group to have a postsecondary certificate or higher by 2025.

Big companies and significant opportunities contribute to Minnesota’s economy. Like all states, Minnesota took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minnesota Chamber is working to protect key elements of economic recovery. These include flexibility in the workplace for people who wish to work from home, ensuring high-quality and low-cost healthcare, and sustaining and protecting the environment.

A single person in Minnesota will need a yearly salary of $33,000 to make ends meet. That number goes up for families. A couple with two children with one person working full time needs to make $60,000.

Every region in the state meets or exceeds the annual salary needed to adhere to the cost of living. Minnesota ranks slightly below the cost of living on a national scale.

Shoppers flock to the Mall of America each year. This shopping mecca draws people looking to window shop or buy, as it’s the country’s largest shopping and entertainment destination.

“The people are so nice here.”

That’s a common statement from those who live in or move to this Midwestern state. For sports fans, there are major league teams in the Twin Cities area.

The state celebrates a melting pot of cultures — from the Native Americans who first resided on its land to the Mexican, Swedish, Somali, and Hmong populations that have moved there more recently. The Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis opens year round, celebrating the food, music, crafts, and heritage of cultures from around the world.

This state — with over 10,000 lakes — offers many activities for outdoor lovers. Fishing, snowshoeing, hiking, and ATV-ing rank high on the “to do” list.

Yes, the winters are cold. We can get that right out of the way.

The average temperature in January is 8 degrees. Up to 70 inches of snow can fall, especially along the snow zone of Lake Superior.

Buckle up for the rest of the year because the ride gets bumpy. Spring can bring snow storms or tornadoes. The state averages close to 30 tornadoes each year. About 19 inches of rain falls during the warmer months.

With Minnesota being home to the Mayo Clinic and ranking as one of the healthiest states in the country, many residents are taking care of themselves. They need additional health providers to help.

Large companies like Target, Cargill, Best Buy, and UnitedHealth Group call Minnesota home.

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul area projects to add more than 100,000 jobs by 2028. However, industry experts warn that job growth will be slower than before the pandemic as employers look for qualified candidates to fill the few job openings they have. Yet another great reason to get a community college degree in Minnesota.

With a projected 10% job growth in Minnesota from 2018-2028, computer network specialists are the people to call when the network is having issues. They analyze, test, and troubleshoot the technology systems that keep the world connected. The best community colleges in Minnesota offer a variety of these degrees. It’s also a stepping stone to a bachelor’s should a student wish to pursue higher-paying jobs that require a higher degree.

Mean Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$71,410

This group contains a variety of occupations, from nursing assistants to massage therapists to pharmacy aides. The projected 14% job increase in this field by 2028 makes it one of the most in-demand career fields. This field has jobs that can be done by professionals with an associate degree. However, there are opportunities to pursue a bachelor’s degree if the worker decides to in the future.

Mean Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$33,320

The number of jobs in this wide-ranging field is projected to grow 17% from 2018-2028. It includes cosmetologists, travel and tour guides, exercise trainers, and funeral workers. Some of these jobs, like a cosmetologist, will also require a license in the state of Minnesota.

Mean Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$33,490

Paralegals and legal assistants get to work in the law field without going to law school. Jobs for this field are projected to grow 8% from 2018-2028. These jobs require preparing legal documents, doing research, or helping plan a defense strategy. It’s also a good step toward a full law degree if the student chooses to further their career either now or in the future.

Mean Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$57,390

Community health workers spend their days helping to make the community healthier and more informed. They might work one-on-one with someone to better their unhealthy patterns or set up health screenings in a community. Career opportunities are expected to grow by almost 10% by 2028.

Mean Annual Salary (as of May 2020):$44,260