2023 Best Value Schools in Minnesota
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
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.
The Best Value Schools in Minnesota ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 49 schools in Minnesota to see which 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.
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Top Value Schools in Minnesota
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found North Hennepin Community College to be the best value school for students in Minnesota. This medium-sized public school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,263 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $24,533 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, North Hennepin Community College graduates make an average of $42,370 annually.
North Hennepin Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Minnesota list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Out of the 49 schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,126 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus are $5,515 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,645 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus graduates make an average of $43,464 annually.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus also made our Best Schools in Minnesota list, coming in at #3.
The excellent programs at Rochester Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Minnesota. This small public school is located in Rochester, Minnesota, and it awarded 909 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year. On average, students take out $22,298 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Rochester Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $41,604 annually.
Read full report on Rochester Community and Technical College
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Normandale Community College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Normandale Community College is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,379 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Normandale Community College are $5,789 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $20,674 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Normandale Community College graduates make an average of $41,929 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Alexandria Technical & Community College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. ATCC is a small public school situated in Alexandria, Minnesota. It awarded 656 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ATCC are $5,910 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,948 in student loans. During the early years of their career, ATCC graduates make an average of $40,141 annually.
St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 1,021 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at St Cloud Technical and Community College are $5,874 a year. On average, students take out $18,381 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, St Cloud Technical and Community College graduates make an average of $40,365 annually.
Century College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. White Bear Lake, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,810 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,112 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Century College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,997 during the early year of their career.
Ridgewater College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Minnesota list. Willmar, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 899 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Ridgewater College are $5,914 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,601 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Ridgewater College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,961 during the early years of their career.
Central Lakes College - Brainerd ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Minnesota list. Central Lakes College is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 876 degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Lakes College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,954 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,546 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Central Lakes College graduates make an average of $41,724 annually.
Anoka Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Anoka, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 918 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Anoka Technical College are $6,075 per year. On average, students take out $21,588 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Anoka Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,893 during the early years of their career.
Dakota County Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Minnesota ranking. Rosemount, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 794 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DCTC are $6,208 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,397 in student loans. During the early years of their career, DCTC graduates make an average of $46,125 annually.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Minnesota ranking. Hennepin Technical College is a small public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 1,610 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hennepin Technical College are $5,741 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,708 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Hennepin Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,797 during the early years of their career.
Northland Community and Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It awarded 858 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northland Community and Technical College are $6,052 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,224 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Northland Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,428 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Northland Community and Technical College
Minnesota State Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #14 on the list. M State is located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,152 degrees to qualified students.
M State undergraduate students pay an average of $5,862 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,353 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, M State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,038 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Lake Superior College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. LSC is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 950 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LSC are $5,616 a year. On average, students take out $20,849 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, LSC graduates make an average of $37,585 annually.
Saint Paul College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #16 on the list. Saint Paul College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,407 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Saint Paul College are $6,041 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $20,623 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Saint Paul College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,206 during the early years of their career.
South Central College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in North Mankato, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 538 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Central College are $5,966 a year. On average, students take out $18,542 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, South Central College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,588 during the early year of their career.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #18 on the list. Granite Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 827 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Minnesota West are $11,936 per year. On average, students take out $12,553 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Minnesota West graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,213 during the early year of their career.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,396 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Minneapolis Community and Technical College are $5,906 per year. On average, students take out $25,516 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,845 during the early years of their career.
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, the fairly large public school handed out 3,616 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Minnesota State Mankato are $18,200 a year. On average, students take out $24,437 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $133. Once they receive their degree, Minnesota State Mankato graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,060 during the early year of their career.
Winona State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Minnesota list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,886 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Winona State are $16,684 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $26,110 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $176 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Winona State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,424 during the early years of their career.
Winona State also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Minnesota list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Bemidji State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #22 on the list. This small public school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,243 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bemidji State University are $9,806 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,667 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Bemidji State University graduates make an average of $43,896 annually.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Minnesota ranking. St. Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,656 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at St. Cloud State University are $18,010 per year. On average, students take out $25,873 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from St. Cloud State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,870 during the early years of their career.
Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #24 on the list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,489 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MSU Moorhead are $17,564 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $25,798 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from MSU Moorhead, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,896 during the early years of their career.
Metropolitan State University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Metro State is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,187 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Metro State are $9,394 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,302 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Metro State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,827 during the early year of their career.
Best Value Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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