Ranking

Best Colleges in Minnesota by ROI 2026

White Earth Tribal and Community College leads this ROI ranking with a A+ value grade and a 24.91 ROI score. EduGradify ranks 25 colleges here by earnings against net price.

The top-value Minnesota colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $1,811
Top earnings 10y: $69,020
Public / Private: 22 / 3

White Earth Tribal and Community College

A+

Mahnomen, MN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 24.91
Net price: $1,811
Earnings 10y: $18,044
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of Minnesota-Morris

Morris, MN · Public

ROI score: 14.41
Net price: $8,837
Earnings 10y: $50,919
Acceptance: 74.9%

University of Minnesota-Rochester

Rochester, MN · Public

ROI score: 12.55
Net price: $13,744
Earnings 10y: $69,020
Acceptance: 71%

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 12.43
Net price: $11,704
Earnings 10y: $58,170
Acceptance: 92.8%

South Central College

North Mankato, MN · Public

ROI score: 12.41
Net price: $9,082
Earnings 10y: $45,068
Acceptance: Open / not reported

St Cloud Technical and Community College

Saint Cloud, MN · Public

ROI score: 12.16
Net price: $9,635
Earnings 10y: $46,874
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of Minnesota-Crookston

Crookston, MN · Public

ROI score: 11.89
Net price: $12,212
Earnings 10y: $58,056
Acceptance: 87.9%

Minnesota North College

Hibbing, MN · Public

ROI score: 10.92
Net price: $10,432
Earnings 10y: $45,570
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN · Public

ROI score: 10.91
Net price: $10,046
Earnings 10y: $43,827
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Inver Hills Community College

Inver Grove Heights, MN · Public

ROI score: 10.72
Net price: $11,636
Earnings 10y: $49,898
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, MN · Public

ROI score: 10.49
Net price: $12,186
Earnings 10y: $51,142
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#12

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN · Public

ROI score: 10.31
Net price: $13,529
Earnings 10y: $55,813
Acceptance: 94.8%

#13

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

ROI score: 10.28
Net price: $16,778
Earnings 10y: $69,020
Acceptance: 79.8%

#14

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, MN · Public

ROI score: 9.68
Net price: $12,972
Earnings 10y: $50,207
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#15

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN · Public

ROI score: 9.59
Net price: $16,863
Earnings 10y: $64,705
Acceptance: 98.7%

#16

Dakota County Technical College

Rosemount, MN · Public

ROI score: 9.58
Net price: $13,548
Earnings 10y: $51,938
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#17

Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Fergus Falls, MN · Public

ROI score: 9.08
Net price: $12,556
Earnings 10y: $45,591
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#18

Alexandria Technical & Community College

Alexandria, MN · Public

ROI score: 9.02
Net price: $13,691
Earnings 10y: $49,393
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#19

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Cloquet, MN · Public

ROI score: 9.01
Net price: $12,677
Earnings 10y: $45,665
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#20

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, MN · Public

ROI score: 8.81
Net price: $15,261
Earnings 10y: $53,755
Acceptance: 56%

#21

Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN · Public

ROI score: 8.39
Net price: $15,291
Earnings 10y: $51,342
Acceptance: 62.2%

#22

Winona State University

Winona, MN · Public

ROI score: 8.36
Net price: $17,503
Earnings 10y: $58,532
Acceptance: 75.5%

#23

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN · Public

ROI score: 8.35
Net price: $18,743
Earnings 10y: $62,616
Acceptance: 88.8%

#24

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Saint Paul, MN · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.11
Net price: $18,462
Earnings 10y: $59,871
Acceptance: 78.9%

#25

Northland Community and Technical College

Thief River Falls, MN · Public

ROI score: 7.95
Net price: $13,975
Earnings 10y: $44,425
Acceptance: Open / not reported

How we picked this list

This list starts with Minnesota colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 10.81 (22 public, 3 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

White Earth Tribal and Community College in Mahnomen, MN tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Minnesota colleges are in this list?

57 Minnesota colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.