Best value colleges for Economics in Minnesota.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Economics program in Minnesota means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 23 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Carleton College leads on selectivity (22% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Minnesota's Economics programs, the typical in-state price is $34,440 and the average graduation rate is 67%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $36,287 within one year of completing their degree.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carleton CollegePrivate | Excellent· 47 | 22% | 91% | $10,999 | $66,567 | 8:1 | 36 | 2,019 |
| 2 | Macalester CollegePrivate | Excellent· 46 | 28% | 90% | $13,050 | $59,752 | 10:1 | 37 | 2,131 |
| 3 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 52% | 84% | $15,236 | $56,238 | 12:1 | 36 | 3,049 |
| 4 | Excellent· 44 | 77% | 85% | $10,861 | $39,081 | 16:1 | 119 | 30,469 | |
| 5 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | Great· 41 | 62% | 76% | $17,611 | $52,439 | 11:1 | 38 | 1,930 |
| 6 | Great· 41 | 70% | 62% | $5,967 | $38,659 | 9:1 | 36 | 980 | |
| 7 | College of Saint BenedictPrivate | Great· 39 | 91% | 83% | $22,544 | $45,402 | 11:1 | 36 | 1,392 |
| 8 | Strong· 37 | 63% | 72% | $21,948 | $45,161 | 12:1 | 47 | 1,721 | |
| 9 | University of St ThomasPrivate | Strong· 37 | 85% | 75% | $26,471 | $60,323 | 13:1 | 65 | 6,014 |
| 10 | Saint Johns UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 90% | 76% | $17,390 | $54,752 | 12:1 | 37 | 1,468 |
| 11 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 91% | 75% | $22,279 | $50,679 | 12:1 | 53 | 2,012 |
| 12 | Strong· 35 | 94% | 63% | $18,824 | $64,303 | 10:1 | 39 | 1,725 | |
| 13 | Strong· 35 | 82% | 64% | $11,619 | $50,873 | 16:1 | 69 | 7,475 | |
| 14 | Winona State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 69% | 61% | $15,495 | $47,975 | 15:1 | 52 | 5,088 |
| 15 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 71% | 53% | $13,262 | $48,587 | 16:1 | 46 | 3,120 |
| 16 | Strong· 34 | 53% | 55% | $14,544 | $44,449 | 17:1 | 61 | 3,120 | |
| 17 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 94% | 65% | $19,862 | $64,916 | 10:1 | 53 | 2,393 |
| 18 | Augsburg UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 77% | 52% | $20,478 | $45,720 | 13:1 | 55 | 2,429 |
| 19 | North Central UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 91% | 64% | $21,877 | $37,902 | 11:1 | 43 | 802 |
| 20 | Good· 31 | 95% | 47% | $13,125 | $46,696 | 17:1 | 74 | 5,181 | |
| 21 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 90% | 58% | $19,628 | $41,896 | 13:1 | 47 | 1,685 |
| 22 | Average· 29 | 96% | 38% | $18,128 | $53,416 | 14:1 | 46 | 4,998 | |
| 23 | Average· 28 | 91% | 54% | $15,200 | $49,152 | 21:1 | 78 | 11,325 |