Colleges with the lowest student debt in Minnesota
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Minnesota19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by median debt.
How this list is made
- Schools in Minnesota.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low debt
- Median debt $16,000
- 66% graduate
- 2
Carleton College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Minnesota
- Median debt $16,750
- 90% graduate
- 3
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Median debt $18,995
- 63% graduate
- 4
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Median debt $19,500
- 85% graduate
- 5
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Median debt $20,000
- 71% graduate
- 6
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Median debt $20,177
- 72% graduate
- 7
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Median debt $21,325
- 68% graduate
- 8Tie
- 8Tie
- 10
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- Median debt $22,024
- 65% graduate
- 11
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Minnesota
- Median debt $23,000
- 87% graduate
- 12
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $23,200
- 66% graduate
- 13
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- Median debt $23,250
- 76% graduate
- 14
St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $24,181
- 61% graduate
- 15
St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Minnesota
- Median debt $26,000
- 84% graduate
- 16
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit#5 in Minnesota
- Median debt $26,774
- 77% graduate
- 17
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Median debt $26,847
- 61% graduate
- 18
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- Median debt $26,944
- 77% graduate
- 19
Saint Johns University
Collegeville, MN · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- Median debt $27,000
- 75% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunwoody College of Technology | $26,939 | $16,000 | $61,511 | 66% |
| Carleton College | $25,407 | $16,750 | $75,525 | 90% |
| University of Minnesota-Morris | $8,837 | $18,995 | $50,919 | 63% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $16,778 | $19,500 | $69,020 | 85% |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | $27,846 | $20,000 | $65,934 | 71% |
| Martin Luther College | $18,463 | $20,177 | $47,491 | 72% |
| University of Northwestern-St. Paul | $27,705 | $21,325 | $50,755 | 68% |
| Bethel University | $28,556 | $21,500 | $63,764 | 71% |
| Winona State University | $17,503 | $21,500 | $58,532 | 57% |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | $18,743 | $22,024 | $62,616 | 65% |
| Macalester College | $32,149 | $23,000 | $63,878 | 87% |
| North Central University | $25,817 | $23,200 | $45,064 | 66% |
| University of St. Thomas | $29,155 | $23,250 | $73,739 | 76% |
| St. Catherine University | $19,764 | $24,181 | $59,282 | 61% |
| St. Olaf College | $23,874 | $26,000 | $65,543 | 84% |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | $22,900 | $26,774 | $65,607 | 77% |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | $24,902 | $26,847 | $59,317 | 61% |
| College of Saint Benedict | $26,640 | $26,944 | $63,260 | 77% |
| Saint Johns University | $25,672 | $27,000 | $76,786 | 75% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 61
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15