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Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota

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2023 Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

17 Schools Ranked
$15,498 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$20,031 Avg Student Debt*

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota ranking. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in Minnesota to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
50 Total Awards
$12,836 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Winona State University to be the best value school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in Minnesota. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 50 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Winona State are $12,836 per year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Winona State. In fact, around 66% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Winona State also made our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list, coming in at #5.

Read More…

304 Total Awards
$9,308 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 17 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s value ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, the fairly large public school awarded 304 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Minnesota State Mankato are $9,308 per year.

One thing to take note of is that Minnesota State Mankato does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list.

Read full report on Minnesota State University - Mankato

#3

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
82 Total Awards
$13,412 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Saint Cloud State University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 82 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at St. Cloud State University are $13,412 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at St. Cloud State University. In 2019-2020 about 43% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Saint Cloud State University Report

#4

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
194 Total Awards
$10,402 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Hamline University is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 194 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Hamline are $10,402 a year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Hamline. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 78% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Hamline University Report

#4

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
80 Total Awards
$8,550 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Concordia University, Saint Paul is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 80 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550 a year.

Concordia University, Saint Paul does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 94% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Concordia University, Saint Paul

#6

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
41 Total Awards
$11,700 Average Tuition & Fees

Bethel University Minnesota landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate programs. Bethel University Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Bethel University Minnesota graduate students pay an average of $11,700 in tuition and fees each year.

Online graduate courses are available at Bethel University Minnesota, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.

Bethel University Minnesota did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Report

45 Total Awards
$11,052 Average Tuition & Fees

Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. MSU Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 graduate certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at MSU Moorhead are $11,052 a year.

MSU Moorhead does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 84% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#8

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
27 Total Awards
$10,237 Average Tuition & Fees

Metropolitan State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 27 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Metro State graduate students pay an average of $10,237 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that Metro State does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

19 Total Awards
$8,818 Average Tuition & Fees

Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 19 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Southwest Minnesota State University graduate students pay an average of $8,818 in tuition and fees each year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Southwest Minnesota State University. In fact, around 46% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Southwest Minnesota State University

152 Total Awards
$10,890 Average Tuition & Fees

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. SMU MN is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 152 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

SMU MN graduate students pay an average of $10,890 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that SMU MN does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 86% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#11

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
450 Total Awards
$10,092 Average Tuition & Fees

Walden University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 450 graduate certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Walden University are $10,092 a year.

Walden University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Walden University

#12

The College of Saint Scholastica

Duluth, Minnesota
143 Total Awards
$15,502 Average Tuition & Fees

The College of Saint Scholastica ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 143 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at St. Scholastica are $15,502 a year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at St. Scholastica. In 2019-2020 about 50% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full The College of Saint Scholastica Report

#13

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
45 Total Awards
$17,760 Average Tuition & Fees

St Catherine University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate programs. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 45 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at St. Kate’s are $17,760 per year.

Online graduate courses are available at St. Kate’s, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.

St. Kate’s did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list.

Read full report on St Catherine University

#14

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
1,322 Total Awards
$14,784 Average Tuition & Fees

Capella University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota list. This large private for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,322 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

Capella University graduate students pay an average of $14,784 in tuition and fees each year.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Capella University. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Capella University Report

#15

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
212 Total Awards
$29,262 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 212 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UMN Twin Cities are $29,262 a year. By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,400 in student loans.

UMN Twin Cities does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 65% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Report

#16

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
267 Total Awards
$23,736 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their graduate certificate. UST MN is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 267 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UST MN are $23,736 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UST MN. In fact, around 80% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

UST MN also took the #1 spot in our Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Minnesota rankings.

Read full report on University of St Thomas Minnesota

#17

University of Minnesota - Duluth

Duluth, Minnesota
2 Total Awards
$29,060 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate programs. UMN Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth graduate students pay an average of $29,060 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UMN Duluth. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

Best Value Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 17 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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