Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Minnesota
Colleges ranked by what former students earn ten years after enrolling, compared with four years of net price.
Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Minnesota19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by earnings for the price.
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 median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by earnings divided by four years of net price, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Earnings are 1.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $50,919 ten years out
- 2
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Earnings are 1.0× the four-year net price
- Earnings $69,020 ten years out
- 3Tie
Winona State University
Winona, MN · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $58,532 ten years out
- 3Tie
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $62,616 ten years out
- 5Tie
St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $59,282 ten years out
- 5Tie
Saint Johns University
Collegeville, MN · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $76,786 ten years out
- 5Tie
Carleton College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Minnesota
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $75,525 ten years out
- 5Tie
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit#5 in Minnesota
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $65,607 ten years out
- 5Tie
St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Minnesota
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $65,543 ten years out
- 10Tie
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $47,491 ten years out
- 10Tie
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $73,739 ten years out
- 10Tie
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $59,317 ten years out
- 10Tie
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $63,260 ten years out
- 10Tie
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $65,934 ten years out
- 10Tie
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low debt
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $61,511 ten years out
- 10Tie
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit#7 in Minnesota
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $63,764 ten years out
- 17Tie
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Minnesota
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $63,878 ten years out
- 17Tie
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $50,755 ten years out
- 19
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Earnings are 0.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $45,064 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota-Morris | About $9,000 | $18,995 | $50,919 | 63% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | About $17,000 | $19,500 | $69,020 | 85% |
| Winona State University | About $18,000 | $21,500 | $58,532 | 57% |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | About $19,000 | $22,024 | $62,616 | 65% |
| St. Catherine University | About $20,000 | $24,181 | $59,282 | 61% |
| Saint Johns University | About $26,000 | $27,000 | $76,786 | 75% |
| Carleton College | About $25,000 | $16,750 | $75,525 | 90% |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | About $23,000 | $26,774 | $65,607 | 77% |
| St. Olaf College | About $24,000 | $26,000 | $65,543 | 84% |
| Martin Luther College | About $18,000 | $20,177 | $47,491 | 72% |
| University of St. Thomas | About $29,000 | $23,250 | $73,739 | 76% |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | About $25,000 | $26,847 | $59,317 | 61% |
| College of Saint Benedict | About $27,000 | $26,944 | $63,260 | 77% |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | About $28,000 | $20,000 | $65,934 | 71% |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | About $27,000 | $16,000 | $61,511 | 66% |
| Bethel University | About $29,000 | $21,500 | $63,764 | 71% |
| Macalester College | About $32,000 | $23,000 | $63,878 | 87% |
| University of Northwestern-St. Paul | About $28,000 | $21,325 | $50,755 | 68% |
| North Central University | About $26,000 | $23,200 | $45,064 | 66% |
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 62
- 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 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 77
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15