College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Every accredited U.S. college

Colleges

Every accredited four-year college, rated on Academic Excellence and Value (what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt), all from federal data.

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Compass Score sorts by outcomes, students and cost together. The other sorts order every college by a different measure.
Ratings
Compass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data: outcomes (40%), entering students (40%), cost (15%) and teaching (5%). Choose the lowest grade to show.
ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data.
Academic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges, from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
Only Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only the eight Ivy League universities.
Location1
Distance (miles)
A broad region of the country, as the guide groups the states. Territories are listed separately.
School
Type of college, as college guides group them (from the federal Carnegie Classification): national universities offer a full range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and do research; liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduates in the arts and sciences; regional universities mostly offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees; regional colleges mostly offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields; specialized schools focus on one field, such as health, art or business.
Public or privatePublic: run by a state or local government. Private: nonprofit or for-profit.
Total enrollment: small is under 2,000 students, medium 2,000 to 9,999, large 10,000 to 24,999, and very large 25,000 or more.
Net price: what a typical student pays per year after grants and scholarships, from the federal College Scorecard.
Coed: men and women together. Single-sex: all-male or all-female.
Campus life1
College sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.
Where the campus is, from federal data: in a city, a suburb, a town, or a rural area.
The college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).
The college offers study abroad (federal data).
Admissions and outcomes
How many applicants are admitted (federal data). Most: 65% or more. Selective: 25% to 64%. Highly selective: under 25%.
Your SAT or ACT, to sort colleges Target, Likely and Reach. Signed in, it is kept on your account (private to you); otherwise only in this browser.
Reach, Target or LikelyA rough guide from admitted students' scores and admission rates, not a prediction. Target: your score is in the college's middle range. Likely: above it, or the college admits most applicants. Reach: below it, or the college admits fewer than 1 in 5.
Small classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
Strong outcomes: 75% or more of students graduate (federal data).
Major1
Colleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.
Clear all
RecommendedOnly Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.Honor RollOnly Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.ValueOnly colleges with a Value score of 85 or higher (grade A), from federal data.AcademicsOnly schools with an Academic Excellence grade of A or better (the top 10% of rated colleges), from federal data.Ivy LeagueOnly the eight Ivy League universities.Clear
Division I sportsCollege sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.ROTCThe college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).Study abroadThe college offers study abroad (federal data).NursingColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.EngineeringColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.Under $20kNet price under $20,000 a year: what a typical student pays after grants and scholarships (federal data).Small classesSmall classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
State: MinnesotaStudy abroadMajor: Engineering (any)Clear all

15 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

    Top 7% for graduation
    Minneapolis, MN · Public · 4-year · 54,890 students

    $16,778 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 15%

    University of St. Thomas

    Top 12% for earnings
    Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 9,121 students

    $29,155 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 21%

    Bethel University

    #7 in Minnesota
    Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,521 students

    $28,556 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 28%

    University of Minnesota-Duluth

    Top 24% for earnings
    Duluth, MN · Public · 4-year · 9,350 students

    $18,743 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    University of Northwestern-St. Paul

    Top 24% for graduation
    Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,262 students

    $27,705 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 33%

    University of Minnesota-Morris

    Top 12% for low net price
    Morris, MN · Public · 4-year · 1,020 students

    $8,837 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 33%

    Bethany Lutheran College

    Very good: Compass grade B+
    Mankato, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 902 students

    $20,148 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 34%

    Dunwoody College of Technology

    Top 22% for low debt
    Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,424 students

    $26,939 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 40%

    Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

    Top 20% for low net price
    Winona, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,831 students

    $11,704 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Hamline University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,432 students

    $20,744 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    Minnesota State University Moorhead

    Good: Compass grade B
    Moorhead, MN · Public · 4-year · 4,410 students

    $17,997 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 46%

    Winona State University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Winona, MN · Public · 4-year · 6,058 students

    $17,503 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 50%

    Minnesota State University-Mankato

    Good: Compass grade B
    Mankato, MN · Public · 4-year · 14,709 students

    $19,139 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    University of Minnesota-Crookston

    Top 22% for low net price
    Crookston, MN · Public · 4-year · 2,518 students

    $12,212 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreSolid

    Saint Cloud State University

    Solid: Compass grade C+
    Saint Cloud, MN · Public · 4-year · 10,514 students

    $13,529 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong

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