Colleges where the most freshmen return in Minnesota
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Minnesota19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
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 a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Carleton College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Minnesota
- 96% of freshmen return
- 90% graduate
- 2
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Minnesota
- 92% of freshmen return
- 87% graduate
- 3
St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Minnesota
- 92% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 4
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 91% of freshmen return
- 85% graduate
- 5
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- 88% of freshmen return
- 76% graduate
- 6
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit#5 in Minnesota
- 88% of freshmen return
- 77% graduate
- 7
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- 86% of freshmen return
- 77% graduate
- 8
Saint Johns University
Collegeville, MN · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- 86% of freshmen return
- 75% graduate
- 9
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit#7 in Minnesota
- 86% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 10
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- 85% of freshmen return
- 72% graduate
- 11
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 84% of freshmen return
- 61% graduate
- 12
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- 83% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
- 13
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 82% of freshmen return
- 66% graduate
- 14
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- 82% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 15
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- 81% of freshmen return
- 65% graduate
- 16
St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 80% of freshmen return
- 61% graduate
- 17
- 18
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low debt
- 76% of freshmen return
- 66% graduate
- 19
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- 74% of freshmen return
- 63% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton College | $25,407 | $16,750 | $75,525 | 90% |
| Macalester College | $32,149 | $23,000 | $63,878 | 87% |
| St. Olaf College | $23,874 | $26,000 | $65,543 | 84% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $16,778 | $19,500 | $69,020 | 85% |
| University of St. Thomas | $29,155 | $23,250 | $73,739 | 76% |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | $22,900 | $26,774 | $65,607 | 77% |
| College of Saint Benedict | $26,640 | $26,944 | $63,260 | 77% |
| Saint Johns University | $25,672 | $27,000 | $76,786 | 75% |
| Bethel University | $28,556 | $21,500 | $63,764 | 71% |
| Martin Luther College | $18,463 | $20,177 | $47,491 | 72% |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | $24,902 | $26,847 | $59,317 | 61% |
| University of Northwestern-St. Paul | $27,705 | $21,325 | $50,755 | 68% |
| North Central University | $25,817 | $23,200 | $45,064 | 66% |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | $27,846 | $20,000 | $65,934 | 71% |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | $18,743 | $22,024 | $62,616 | 65% |
| St. Catherine University | $19,764 | $24,181 | $59,282 | 61% |
| Winona State University | $17,503 | $21,500 | $58,532 | 57% |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | $26,939 | $16,000 | $61,511 | 66% |
| University of Minnesota-Morris | $8,837 | $18,995 | $50,919 | 63% |
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 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15