by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 54 schools across Minnesota to determine which have the best value programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named University of Minnesota - Twin Cities the best value (income $0-$30k) school in Minnesota. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Twin Cities a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,720.
Out of the 54 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #2 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
University of Minnesota - Duluth has the honor of being ranked #10 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,283.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list means University of Minnesota - Morris is a great place for students working on their degree. UMN Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Morris a great value, but it is also ranked #44 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,553.
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list means University of Minnesota - Crookston is a great place for students working on their degree. University of Minnesota - Crookston is a small public school located in Crookston, Minnesota.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Crookston a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,174.
Learn More About Value at University of Minnesota - Crookston
Out of the 54 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Hennepin Technical College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Not only is Hennepin Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,641.
St Olaf College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. St. Olaf is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota.
Not only is St Olaf College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,478.
With a ranking of #7, St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.
Not only is St Cloud Technical and Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,663.
Dakota County Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. DCTC is a small public school situated in Rosemount, Minnesota.
Not only is Dakota County Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,074.
Century College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #9. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
Century College has the honor of being ranked #25 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,416.
With a ranking of #10, Macalester College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Macalester College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,680.
Normandale Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Normandale Community College is a public institution located in Bloomington, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Normandale Community College is ranked #22 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,763.
Carleton College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Northfield, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Carleton College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $14,936.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. M State is a public institution located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Not only is Minnesota State Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #41 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,443.
Read full value report on Minnesota State Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #14, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Minnesota State University - Mankato a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,807.
Learn More About Value at Minnesota State University - Mankato
North Hennepin Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
North Hennepin Community College has the honor of being ranked #39 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,802.
Inver Hills Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. IHCC is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Inver Hills Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #43 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,680.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Saint Cloud State University is ranked #27 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,758.
Ridgewater College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Willmar, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Ridgewater College a great value, but it is also ranked #38 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,472.
With a ranking of #19, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota list. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University has the honor of being ranked #46 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,266.
Read full value report on Southwest Minnesota State University
Winona State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school located in Winona, Minnesota.
Not only is Winona State University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,380.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Anoka-Ramsey Community College is ranked #49 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,407.
Saint Paul College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. Saint Paul College is a medium-sized public school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Saint Paul College is ranked #35 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,853.
Alexandria Technical & Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. ATCC is a small public school situated in Alexandria, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Alexandria Technical & Community College is ranked #36 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,825.
Read full value report on Alexandria Technical & Community College
Anoka Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #24. Anoka Technical College is located in Anoka, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Anoka Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,796.
South Central College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota ranking. North Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is South Central College a great value, but it is also ranked #50 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,469.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.