by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Top Minnesota Colleges ranking.
We analyzed 52 colleges and universities across Minnesota to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on over 20 objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as student-to-faculty ratio, average graduate earnings, and graduation rate.
See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Minnesota for overall quality.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. During the early years of their career, graduates from UMN Twin Cities make an average of $69,020 a year.
Out of the 52 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #2 spot on the list.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UST MN go into careers with an average salary of $73,739 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota. The school came in at #3 in Minnesota on this year’s overall quality ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,080 during the early years of their career..
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #4 on our 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 88%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Carleton make an average of $75,525 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 52 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Hennepin Technical College landed the #5 spot on the list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Hennepin Technical College make an average of $49,460 per year during the early years of their career.
St Olaf College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 82%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from St. Olaf make an average of $65,543 a year.
Winona State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,532 during the early years of their career..
Macalester College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Macalester make an average of $63,878 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #9, St Catherine University did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from St. Kate’s make an average of $59,282 per year during the early years of their career.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Central Lakes College make an average of $42,162 per year during the early years of their career.
Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State Mankato is $56,922 during the early years of their career.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #12.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from SMU MN make an average of $58,170 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Northwestern - St Paul landed the #13 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern make an average of $50,755 per year during the early years of their career.
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,764 during the early years of their career..
Century College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Century College is $46,424 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #16, The College of Saint Scholastica did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,934 during the early years of their career..
University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #17 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UMN Duluth is $62,616 during the early years of their career.
Normandale Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Normandale Community College make an average of $50,207 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, Saint Johns University did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from SJU is $76,786 during the early years of their career.
Hamline University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Hamline make an average of $61,106 a year.
College of Saint Benedict ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 80%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from CSB make an average of $63,260 per year during the early years of their career.
Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #22 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Rochester Community and Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $45,287 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Rochester Community and Technical College
Dakota County Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Minnesota list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,938 during the early years of their career..
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from St Cloud Technical and Community College is $46,874 during the early years of their career.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Minnesota ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Minneapolis Community and Technical College make an average of $40,086 per year during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.