Best Colleges in Minnesota by ROI

Trying to find the best value in Minnesota? We ranked all 37 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities comes out on top at 88/100 - here's how every school compares.

37
Schools
58
Avg ROI Score
$21,087
Avg Net Price
88
Top Score

We scored all 37 Minnesota colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 58/100, on an average net price of $21,087 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at 88/100.

Graduates of Saint Johns University earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $76,786. The lightest price tag belongs to University of Minnesota-Morris at $8,837 a year. The list below ranks every Minnesota college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.

Top 10 Minnesota Colleges by ROI Score

  1. 1University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · Public88ROI
  2. 2Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Private Nonprofit84ROI
  3. 3University of Minnesota-RochesterRochester, MN · Public84ROI
  4. 4Saint Johns UniversityCollegeville, MN · Private Nonprofit83ROI
  5. 5University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN · Private Nonprofit81ROI
  6. 6Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona, MN · Private Nonprofit77ROI
  7. 7University of Minnesota-CrookstonCrookston, MN · Public75ROI
  8. 8University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · Public74ROI
  9. 9The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluth, MN · Private Nonprofit74ROI
  10. 10Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, MN · Private Nonprofit73ROI

Minnesota College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in Minnesota?

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has the highest ROI score in Minnesota at 88/100, while the lowest net price among Minnesota schools we track is $8,837/year at University of Minnesota-Morris. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

How much does college cost in Minnesota?

The average net price across the 37 Minnesota colleges in our dataset is $21,087 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.

Which Minnesota college has the highest graduate earnings?

Saint Johns University reports the highest median earnings among Minnesota schools we scored, at $76,786 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.

How many colleges in Minnesota did CampusROI analyze?

We scored 37 colleges in Minnesota on return on investment. Of those, 23 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.

All Minnesota Schools by ROI Score

37 schools

88

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$16,778
Earnings
$69,020
Completion
85%
84

Carleton College

Northfield, MN

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$25,407
Earnings
$75,525
Completion
90%
84

University of Minnesota-Rochester

Rochester, MN

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,744
Earnings
$69,020
Completion
57%
83

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, MN

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$25,672
Earnings
$76,786
Completion
75%
81

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$29,155
Earnings
$73,739
Completion
76%
77

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$11,704
Earnings
$58,170
Completion
66%
75

University of Minnesota-Crookston

Crookston, MN

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,212
Earnings
$58,056
Completion
50%
74

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$18,743
Earnings
$62,616
Completion
65%
74

The College of Saint Scholastica

Duluth, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$27,846
Earnings
$65,934
Completion
71%
73

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,900
Earnings
$65,607
Completion
77%
73

St Olaf College

Northfield, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,874
Earnings
$65,543
Completion
84%
72

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$16,863
Earnings
$64,705
Completion
44%
71

Bethel University

Saint Paul, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$28,556
Earnings
$63,764
Completion
71%
70

University of Minnesota-Morris

Morris, MN

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$8,837
Earnings
$50,919
Completion
63%
69

Winona State University

Winona, MN

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$17,503
Earnings
$58,532
Completion
57%
67

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Saint Paul, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,462
Earnings
$59,871
Completion
46%
66

Hamline University

Saint Paul, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,744
Earnings
$61,106
Completion
60%
66

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$26,640
Earnings
$63,260
Completion
77%
66

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,764
Earnings
$59,282
Completion
61%
64

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$32,149
Earnings
$63,878
Completion
87%
62

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$19,139
Earnings
$56,922
Completion
54%
62

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,529
Earnings
$55,813
Completion
40%
60

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, MN

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,261
Earnings
$53,755
Completion
48%
57

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, MN

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,902
Earnings
$59,317
Completion
61%
53

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, MN

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,873
Earnings
$58,829
Completion
52%
52

Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,291
Earnings
$51,342
Completion
45%
51

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Moorhead, MN

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$17,997
Earnings
$50,527
Completion
57%
47

University of Northwestern-St Paul

Saint Paul, MN

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$27,705
Earnings
$50,755
Completion
68%
46

Martin Luther College

New Ulm, MN

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,463
Earnings
$47,491
Completion
72%
35

Bethany Lutheran College

Mankato, MN

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,148
Earnings
$46,110
Completion
55%
33

North Central University

Minneapolis, MN

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$25,817
Earnings
$45,064
Completion
66%
33

Crown College

Saint Bonifacius, MN

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$26,672
Earnings
$48,057
Completion
45%
31

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$17,956
Earnings
$42,189
Completion
20%
19

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minneapolis, MN

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$29,926
Earnings
$40,873
Completion
51%
18

Academy College

Bloomington, MN

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$29,093
Earnings
$48,300
Completion
36%
16

Herzing University-Minneapolis

St. Louis Park, MN

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$16,670
Earnings
$36,909
Completion
47%
12

Oak Hills Christian College

Bemidji, MN

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,227
Earnings
$35,983
Completion
23%

Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release