by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking is part of that endeavor. 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:
Our analysis looked at 35 schools in Minnesota to determine which ones have the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $48-$75k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. 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 include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host 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 Hennepin Technical College the best value (income $48-$75k) school in Minnesota for students working on their associate degree. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Hennepin Technical College has the honor of being ranked #2 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,098.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list means St Cloud Technical and Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
St Cloud Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,175.
The quality degree programs at Dakota County Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota. Located in Rosemount, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
Dakota County Technical College has the honor of being ranked #6 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,082.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
Century College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,429.
Out of the 35 associate degree schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Normandale Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Normandale Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,838.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #6. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Not only is Minnesota State Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,246.
Learn More About Value at Minnesota State Community and Technical College
North Hennepin Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, North Hennepin Community College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,487.
With a ranking of #8, Anoka Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Anoka, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Anoka Technical College is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,801.
Ridgewater College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. Ridgewater College is a small public school situated in Willmar, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ridgewater College is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,203.
With a ranking of #10, Inver Hills Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. IHCC is a public institution located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Inver Hills Community College is ranked #20 for quality in the state of Minnesota. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,516.
Saint Paul College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Saint Paul College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,554.
Alexandria Technical & Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. Alexandria Technical & Community College is a small public school located in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Not only is Alexandria Technical & Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $12,614.
Read full value report on Alexandria Technical & Community College
St Catherine University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #13. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Not only is St Catherine University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $19,378.
South Central College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. South Central College is located in North Mankato, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is South Central College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,041.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Not only is Minneapolis Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $12,975.
Read full value report on Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College has the honor of being ranked #24 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,093.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. Located in Brainerd, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Central Lakes College - Brainerd is ranked #21 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $12,888.
Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #18. Rochester Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Rochester, Minnesota.
Rochester Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #15 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,763.
Read full value report on Rochester Community and Technical College
Northland Community and Technical College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. Thief River Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Northland Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,352.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking. Located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Minnesota West Community and Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $12,578.
Full Minnesota West Community and Technical College Value Report
With a ranking of #21, Winona State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. This medium-sized public school is located in Winona, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Winona State University is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $15,599.
With a ranking of #22, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school located in Mankato, Minnesota.
Not only is Minnesota State University - Mankato a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $14,499.
Lake Superior College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. LSC is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Lake Superior College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $14,616.
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #24. This small public school is located in Cloquet, Minnesota.
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College has the honor of being ranked #31 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $12,390.
With a ranking of #25, Northwest Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Minnesota list. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northwest Technical College is ranked #28 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $14,610.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $48-$75k) Nationwide >
All Majors and Fields of Study >
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.