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.
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
- 1University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · PublicNet price$16,778/yrMedian earnings$69,02088ROI
- 2Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Private NonprofitNet price$25,407/yrMedian earnings$75,52584ROI
- 3University of Minnesota-RochesterRochester, MN · PublicNet price$13,744/yrMedian earnings$69,02084ROI
- 4Saint Johns UniversityCollegeville, MN · Private NonprofitNet price$25,672/yrMedian earnings$76,78683ROI
- 5University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN · Private NonprofitNet price$29,155/yrMedian earnings$73,73981ROI
- 6Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona, MN · Private NonprofitNet price$11,704/yrMedian earnings$58,17077ROI
- 7University of Minnesota-CrookstonCrookston, MN · PublicNet price$12,212/yrMedian earnings$58,05675ROI
- 8University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · PublicNet price$18,743/yrMedian earnings$62,61674ROI
- 9The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluth, MN · Private NonprofitNet price$27,846/yrMedian earnings$65,93474ROI
- 10Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, MN · Private NonprofitNet price$22,900/yrMedian earnings$65,60773ROI
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
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
Carleton College
Northfield, MN
University of Minnesota-Rochester
Rochester, MN
Saint Johns University
Collegeville, MN
University of St Thomas
Saint Paul, MN
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN
University of Minnesota-Crookston
Crookston, MN
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN
St Olaf College
Northfield, MN
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN
Winona State University
Winona, MN
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, MN
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, MN
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN
University of Northwestern-St Paul
Saint Paul, MN
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, MN
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, MN
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis, MN
Academy College
Bloomington, MN
Herzing University-Minneapolis
St. Louis Park, MN
Oak Hills Christian College
Bemidji, MN
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release