by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Minnesota Schools For The Money For Those Getting Aid for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision. 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. 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.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking is to look at the school's average net price - 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 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:
Hennepin Technical College tops this year’s ranking as the best value (with aid) school for associate degrees in Minnesota for overall quality. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Hennepin Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Minnesota for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $11,194.
Out of the 35 associate degree schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, St Cloud Technical and Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, St Cloud Technical and Community College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Minnesota. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,404.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dakota County Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Dakota County Technical College is a small public school located in Rosemount, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Dakota County Technical College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Minnesota. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $11,472.
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 (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Century College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Minnesota for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,901.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list means Normandale Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Normandale Community College is a public institution located in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Not only is Normandale Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Minnesota for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $12,354.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking. 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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,119.
Read full value report on Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Inver Hills Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking. IHCC is a public institution located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
Not only is Inver Hills Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $10,184 a year.
Ridgewater College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Willmar, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Ridgewater College a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $11,014 a year.
Anoka Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking. Anoka Technical College is a small public school situated 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 net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $12,407 a year.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
North Hennepin Community College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $11,368.
With a ranking of #11, Saint Paul College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Saint Paul College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $12,391 a year.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #12. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Anoka-Ramsey Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Minnesota for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,929.
St Catherine University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) 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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $19,252.
South Central College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking. Located in North Mankato, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
South Central College has the honor of being ranked #25 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,025.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #15. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Minneapolis Community and Technical College is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Minnesota. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $12,314.
Read full value report on Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Central Lakes College - Brainerd ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Central Lakes College is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd has the honor of being ranked #21 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $12,279 a year.
Alexandria Technical & Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota ranking. Located in Alexandria, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Alexandria Technical & Community College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,189 a year.
Rochester Community and Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, the school is a small public institution.
Rochester Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #15 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,522 a year.
Learn More About Value at Rochester Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #19, Minnesota West Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Minnesota West is located in Granite Falls, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Minnesota West Community and Technical College is ranked #27 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $11,356 a year.
Learn More About Value at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #20, Northland Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. This small public school is located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
Northland Community and Technical College has the honor of being ranked #26 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $11,952 a year.
Lake Superior College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Lake Superior College is a small public school located in Duluth, Minnesota.
Lake Superior College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $13,682.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a private for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Rasmussen University - Minnesota is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Minnesota. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $18,239.
With a ranking of #23, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a small public school situated in Cloquet, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is ranked #31 for quality in the state of Minnesota. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,307.
With a ranking of #24, Northwest Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. NTC is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Northwest Technical College has the honor of being ranked #28 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $12,540 a year.
With a ranking of #25, Hibbing Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Minnesota list. Hibbing Community College is a small public school located in Hibbing, Minnesota.
Hibbing Community College has the honor of being ranked #33 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $9,151 a year.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.