Best Community Colleges in Minnesota 2023

Best Community Colleges in Minnesota 2023

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Minnesota offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

10 Best Community Colleges in Minnesota

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          Colleges and Universities in Minnesota

          One of largest public higher education institutes in the country, the University of Minnesota has main campuses in both of the Twin Cities, Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This school costs about $15,000 in tuition, and provides its students with competitive programs in fields like nursing, education, economics, and psychology. And the options don’t stop there. There are more than 20 schools in the state with religious affiliations, including larger schools like the University of St. Thomas, which campuses in both Twin Cities, and smaller schools like Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji.

          Find college admissions consultants in your state.

          For students striving to keep costs low in a smaller school environment, Southwest Minnesota State University offers tuition below the national average and serves about 3,500 students. Additionally, those on track to become a teacher or health care provider may be eligible for one of Minnesota’s loan forgiveness programs after graduation. Minnesota also boasts a large network of private colleges, two of which, Walden University and Capella University, primarily cater to online students.

          Ever heard the phrase, There’s an app for that? Well, in Minnesota they say something similar, There’s a festival for that. This fun state doesn’t hold back when it comes to celebrating. With events like the Grumpy Old Men Festival, World Festival, and the Perham Turtle Fest, students earning their degrees at one of Minnesota’s more than 70 colleges won’t miss out on a good time.

          Discover some of Minnesota’s top programs and learn how you can earn your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree while cashing in on some of this state’s unique experiences.


          What are Minnesota’s Colleges & Universities?

          Minnesota’s Best Overall

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          We’ve identified 30 community colleges in Minnesota. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Minnesota.

          Best Community Colleges in Minnesota

          1. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            24%

            Student body

            7K

            What is Normandale Community College known for?

            Normandale Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          2. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            44%

            Student body

            3K

            What is Minnesota State Community and Technical College known for?

            Minnesota State Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          3. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            19%

            Student body

            4K

            What is Minneapolis Community and Technical College known for?

            Minneapolis Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          4. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            54%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Dakota County Technical College known for?

            Dakota County Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          5. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            37%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Minnesota North College – Vermilion known for?

            Minnesota North College – Vermilion’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          6. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            3K

            What is Lake Superior College known for?

            Lake Superior College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          7. #7

            Century College

            White Bear Lake , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            22%

            Student body

            6K

            What is Century College known for?

            Century College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          8. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            24%

            Student body

            5K

            What is Anoka-Ramsey Community College known for?

            Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          9. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            42%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Riverland Community College known for?

            Riverland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          10. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            14%

            Student body

            4K

            What is North Hennepin Community College known for?

            North Hennepin Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          11. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            45%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Northwest Technical College known for?

            Northwest Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          12. #12

            Saint Paul College

            Saint Paul , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            4K

            What is Saint Paul College known for?

            Saint Paul College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          13. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            30%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Minnesota North College – Itasca known for?

            Minnesota North College – Itasca’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          14. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            43%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Minnesota North College – Hibbing known for?

            Most Influential Alumni

          15. #15

            Leech Lake Tribal College

            Cass Lake , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            27%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Leech Lake Tribal College known for?

            Leech Lake Tribal College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          16. #16

            South Central College

            North Mankato , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            30%

            Student body

            2K

            What is South Central College known for?

            South Central College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          17. #17

            Hennepin Technical College

            Brooklyn Park , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            3K

            What is Hennepin Technical College known for?

            Hennepin Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          18. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            46%

            Student body

            1K

            What is Anoka Technical College known for?

            Anoka Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          19. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            41%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Minnesota West Community and Technical College known for?

            Minnesota West Community and Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          20. #20

            Inver Hills Community College

            Inver Grove Heights , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            24%

            Student body

            3K

            What is Inver Hills Community College known for?

            Inver Hills Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          21. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            26%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College known for?

            Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          22. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            39%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Minnesota North College – Mesabi Range Virginia known for?

            Minnesota North College – Mesabi Range Virginia’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          23. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            43%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Northland Community & Technical College known for?

            Northland Community & Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          24. #24

            Central Lakes College

            Brainerd , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            48%

            Student body

            3K

            What is Central Lakes College known for?

            Central Lakes College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          25. Tuition + fees

            $4K

            Graduation

            31%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Pine Technical and Community College known for?

            Pine Technical and Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          26. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            33%

            Student body

            3K

            What is St. Cloud Technical and Community College known for?

            St. Cloud Technical and Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          27. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            62%

            Student body

            2K

            What is Alexandria Technical and Community College known for?

            Alexandria Technical and Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          28. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            26%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is White Earth Tribal and Community College known for?
          29. #29

            Minnesota North College – Rainy River

            International Falls , MN

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            36%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Minnesota North College – Rainy River known for?
          30. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            38%

            Student body

            1K

            What is Minnesota State College Southeast known for?

            Minnesota State College Southeast’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          2021 Ranking Archive

          Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

          1. Minnesota North College – Mesabi Range Virginia
          2. Leech Lake Tribal College
          3. Minnesota North College – Vermilion
          4. Dakota County Technical College
          5. Riverland Community College
          6. South Central College
          7. Minnesota West Community and Technical College
          8. Lake Superior College
          9. Minnesota State Community and Technical College
          10. Minnesota North College – Hibbing
          11. Northwest Technical College
          12. Normandale Community College
          13. Minneapolis Community and Technical College
          14. Anoka-Ramsey Community College
          15. Hennepin Technical College
          16. Century College
          17. Minneapolis Business College
          18. Minnesota North College – Itasca
          19. Inver Hills Community College
          20. Central Lakes College
          21. North Hennepin Community College
          22. Northland Community & Technical College
          23. Saint Paul College
          24. Anoka Technical College
          25. St. Cloud Technical and Community College
          26. Minnesota North College – Rainy River
          27. Alexandria Technical and Community College
          28. Minnesota State College Southeast
          29. Pine Technical and Community College