Best value colleges for Education in Minnesota.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Education program in Minnesota means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 33 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: Macalester College leads on selectivity (28% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Minnesota's Education programs, the typical in-state price is $31,102 and the average graduation rate is 65%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $40,995 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 | Macalester CollegePrivate | Excellent· 46 | 28% | 90% | $13,050 | $34,157 | 10:1 | 37 | 2,131 |
| 2 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | Excellent· 45 | 52% | 84% | $15,236 | $37,341 | 12:1 | 36 | 3,049 |
| 3 | Excellent· 44 | 77% | 85% | $10,861 | $48,339 | 16:1 | 119 | 30,469 | |
| 4 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegePrivate | Great· 41 | 62% | 76% | $17,611 | $41,780 | 11:1 | 38 | 1,930 |
| 5 | Great· 41 | 70% | 62% | $5,967 | $46,414 | 9:1 | 36 | 980 | |
| 6 | College of Saint BenedictPrivate | Great· 39 | 91% | 83% | $22,544 | $43,466 | 11:1 | 36 | 1,392 |
| 7 | Strong· 37 | 63% | 72% | $21,948 | $45,161 | 12:1 | 47 | 1,721 | |
| 8 | University of St ThomasPrivate | Strong· 37 | 85% | 75% | $26,471 | $42,819 | 13:1 | 65 | 6,014 |
| 9 | Bethany Lutheran CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 51% | 60% | $16,099 | $37,463 | 12:1 | 30 | 682 |
| 10 | Saint Johns UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 90% | 76% | $17,390 | $48,669 | 12:1 | 37 | 1,468 |
| 11 | Strong· 36 | 58% | 50% | $8,362 | $48,325 | 17:1 | 32 | 1,650 | |
| 12 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 91% | 75% | $22,279 | $50,679 | 12:1 | 53 | 2,012 |
| 13 | Strong· 35 | 89% | 68% | $14,418 | $61,427 | 18:1 | 70 | 1,061 | |
| 14 | Strong· 35 | 94% | 63% | $18,824 | $64,303 | 10:1 | 39 | 1,725 | |
| 15 | Strong· 35 | 82% | 64% | $11,619 | $46,383 | 16:1 | 69 | 7,475 | |
| 16 | Winona State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 69% | 61% | $15,495 | $46,697 | 15:1 | 52 | 5,088 |
| 17 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 71% | 53% | $13,262 | $42,841 | 16:1 | 46 | 3,120 |
| 18 | Strong· 34 | 75% | 59% | $15,449 | $41,456 | 15:1 | 42 | 2,786 | |
| 19 | Strong· 34 | 53% | 55% | $14,544 | $44,449 | 17:1 | 61 | 3,120 | |
| 20 | Strong· 34 | 69% | 44% | $12,810 | $44,949 | 16:1 | 42 | 2,045 | |
| 21 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 94% | 65% | $19,862 | $32,946 | 10:1 | 53 | 2,393 |
| 22 | Augsburg UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 77% | 52% | $20,478 | $46,900 | 13:1 | 55 | 2,429 |
| 23 | North Central UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 91% | 64% | $21,877 | $37,902 | 11:1 | 43 | 802 |
| 24 | Good· 31 | 95% | 47% | $13,125 | $46,662 | 17:1 | 74 | 5,181 | |
| 25 | Good· 31 | 92% | 68% | $20,077 | $39,621 | 15:1 | 46 | 1,495 | |
| 26 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 90% | 58% | $19,628 | $36,976 | 13:1 | 47 | 1,685 |
| 27 | Martin Luther CollegePrivate | Good· 30 | 83% | 71% | $17,415 | $40,540 | 10:1 | 7 | 718 |
| 28 | Average· 29 | 96% | 38% | $18,128 | $53,416 | 14:1 | 46 | 4,998 | |
| 29 | Crown CollegePrivate | Average· 28 | 63% | 64% | $26,296 | $35,840 | 22:1 | 29 | 789 |
| 30 | Average· 28 | 91% | 54% | $15,200 | $47,132 | 21:1 | 78 | 11,325 |