Best colleges for communications and journalism in Minnesota

Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in communication, journalism, or a related field, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for communications and journalism in Minnesota29 schools

29 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in Minnesota.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Offers a bachelor’s program in communication and journalism, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#2 in Minnesota
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
2
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · PublicHonor Roll
Top 7% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A · Top 9%
3
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit
#5 in Minnesota
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 49%
4
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
Top 12% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 50%
5
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
#7 in Minnesota
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
6
Saint Johns University
Collegeville, MN · Private nonprofit
Top 10% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 46%
7
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN · Private nonprofit
Top 13% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
8
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · Public
Top 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
9
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN · Private nonprofit
Top 19% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 48%
10
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · Private nonprofit
Very good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
11
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
Top 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
12
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, MN · Private nonprofit
Very good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
13
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
14
St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 41%
15
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN · Private nonprofit
Top 20% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
16
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
17
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 41%
18
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · Public
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 40%
19
Winona State University
Winona, MN · Public
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
20
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
21
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · Public
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
22
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, MN · Public
Good: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
23
University of Minnesota-Crookston
Crookston, MN · Public
Top 22% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
24
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN · Public
Good: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
25
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Macalester College	$32,149	$23,000	$63,878	87%
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	$16,778	$19,500	$69,020	85%
Gustavus Adolphus College	$22,900	$26,774	$65,607	77%
University of St. Thomas	$29,155	$23,250	$73,739	76%
Bethel University	$28,556	$21,500	$63,764	71%
Saint Johns University	$25,672	$27,000	$76,786	75%
College of Saint Benedict	$26,640	$26,944	$63,260	77%
University of Minnesota-Duluth	$18,743	$22,024	$62,616	65%
The College of Saint Scholastica	$27,846	$20,000	$65,934	71%
Concordia College at Moorhead	$24,902	$26,847	$59,317	61%
University of Northwestern-St. Paul	$27,705	$21,325	$50,755	68%
Bethany Lutheran College	$20,148	$23,000	$46,110	55%
Crown College	$26,672	$22,500	$48,057	45%
St. Catherine University	$19,764	$24,181	$59,282	61%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	$11,704	$21,500	$58,170	66%
North Central University	$25,817	$23,200	$45,064	66%
Hamline University	$20,744	$23,770	$61,106	60%
Minnesota State University Moorhead	$17,997	$20,000	$50,527	57%
Winona State University	$17,503	$21,500	$58,532	57%
Minneapolis College of Art and Design	$29,926	$27,000	$40,873	51%
Minnesota State University-Mankato	$19,139	$21,106	$56,922	54%
Bemidji State University	$15,261	$19,750	$53,755	48%
University of Minnesota-Crookston	$12,212	$20,500	$58,056	50%
Southwest Minnesota State University	$15,291	$20,500	$51,342	45%
Augsburg University	$23,873	$25,347	$58,829	52%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges for communications and journalism in Minnesota

How this list is made

Macalester College

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Gustavus Adolphus College

University of St. Thomas

Bethel University

Saint Johns University

College of Saint Benedict

University of Minnesota-Duluth

The College of Saint Scholastica

Concordia College at Moorhead

University of Northwestern-St. Paul

Bethany Lutheran College

Crown College

St. Catherine University

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

North Central University

Hamline University

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Winona State University

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Bemidji State University

University of Minnesota-Crookston

Southwest Minnesota State University

Augsburg University

Compare cost and outcomes

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