2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #1 spot for value among social sciences schools in Minnesota. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,573 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $48,203. That is a strong return on a $21,573 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Bemidji State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $48,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,734 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $28,991 early in their careers. Set against $22,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $23,147 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $43,993 early in their careers. Set against $23,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Winona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Students borrow a median of $24,241 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $37,540. That is a strong return on a $24,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Capella University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $35,998. Social Sciences graduates of Capella University earn a median of $53,838 early in their careers. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #7 spot for social sciences value this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,916 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $44,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Metropolitan State University placed #8 among the best values for social sciences. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $41,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Hamline University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $50,004 in tuition and fees. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,910 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $34,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hamline University admits about 88% of applicants.
St Olaf College came in at #10 for value in social sciences this year. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $59,760. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $25,853. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $49,721. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Augsburg College came in at #11 for value in social sciences this year. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $24,403. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $39,478. That is a strong return on a $24,403 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,076. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $25,509. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $44,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gustavus Adolphus College admits about 61% of applicants.
Saint Johns University earned the #13 position for value in social sciences this year. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Collegeville. Students from in state pay about $55,816 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Saint Johns University generally make around $42,779. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Johns University admits about 91% of applicants.
Carleton College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,892 in tuition and fees. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,295 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $66,567. Set against $19,295 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 20%.
Macalester College came in at #15 for value in social sciences this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,104. Students borrow a median of $23,096 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $52,997. Set against $23,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
