Best colleges in Minnesota
| Rank | School | Compass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data on outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching. The ring shows where the college stands. | AcademicsAcademic 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. | ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carleton College | A+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1% | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 20% | |
| 2 | Macalester College | AAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 4% | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 3 | St. Olaf College | AAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 6% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 50% | |
| 4 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | AAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 9% | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 9% | |
| 5 | Gustavus Adolphus College | A-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 11% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 49% | |
| 6 | University of St. Thomas | A-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 13% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 50% | |
| 7 | Bethel University | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 21% | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 8 | Saint Johns University | A-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 15% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 46% | |
| 9 | Rasmussen University-Minnesota | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 48% | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 10 | College of Saint Benedict | A-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 15% | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 11 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32% | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27% | |
| 12 | Martin Luther College | A-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 18% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 48% | |
| 13 | The College of Saint Scholastica | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 48% | |
| 14 | Concordia College at Moorhead | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27% | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 15 | University of Northwestern-St. Paul | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32% | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 16 | University of Minnesota-Morris | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27% | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 13% | |
| 17 | Bethany Lutheran College | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 42% | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 18 | Dunwoody College of Technology | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 28% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41% | |
| 19 | Crown College | B-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 20 | St. Catherine University | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41% | |
| 21 | University of Minnesota-Rochester | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 45% | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 5% | |
| 22 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41% | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 12% | |
| 23 | North Central University | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 26% | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 24 | Hamline University | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 37% | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41% | |
| 25 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 40% | |
| 26 | Winona State University | B+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 35% | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 28% | |
| 27 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 39% | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 28 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 35% | |
| 29 | Bemidji State University | B-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 24% | |
| 30 | University of Minnesota-Crookston | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 11% | |
| 31 | Southwest Minnesota State University | B-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 30% | |
| 32 | Augsburg University | BAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 44% | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 33 | Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College | C+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 18% | |
| 34 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | B-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 20% | |
| 35 | Metropolitan State University | B-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 9% | |
| 36 | Saint Cloud State University | B-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 19% | |
| 37 | Herzing University-Minneapolis | B-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 38 | Oak Hills Christian College | C+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | |
| 39 | Capella University | C+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 45% | |
| 40 | Academy College | C+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. |
Sorted by Compass Score, highest first
- AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%
- ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 20%
- AcademicsAAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 4%
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsAAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 6%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 50%
- AcademicsAAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 9%
- ValueAValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 9%
- AcademicsA-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 11%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 49%
- AcademicsA-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 13%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 50%
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 21%
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsA-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 15%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 46%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 48%
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsA-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 15%
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32%
- ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27%
- AcademicsA-Academics: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 18%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 48%
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 48%
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27%
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32%
- ValueC+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27%
- ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 13%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 42%
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 28%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41%
- AcademicsB-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueC+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 27%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 45%
- ValueAValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 5%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41%
- ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 12%
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 26%
- ValueC+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 37%
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 41%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 40%
- AcademicsB+Academics: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 35%
- ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 28%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 39%
- ValueC+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 35%
- AcademicsB-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 24%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 11%
- AcademicsB-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 30%
- AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 44%
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsC+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 18%
- AcademicsB-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 20%
- AcademicsB-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueAValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 9%
- AcademicsB-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 19%
- AcademicsB-Academics: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueB-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsC+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueC+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- AcademicsC+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueBValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 45%
- AcademicsC+Academics: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.
- ValueC+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.