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
- Normandale Community College 27 to 1
- Century College 24 to 1
- Riverland Community College 23 to 1
- Anoka Technical College $6,075
- Saint Paul College $6,041
- South Central College $5,966
- Central Lakes College $5,954
- Anoka Technical College 15 to 1
- Northwest Technical College 16 to 1
- South Central College 16 to 1
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?
- 6 Research Universities
- 24 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 12 Graduate Schools
- 11 Public Colleges & Universities
- 21 Private Colleges & Universities
- 17 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 22 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 13 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 30 Community Colleges
- Best Online Colleges
Minnesota’s Best Overall
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
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:
- Nursing
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Criminal Justice
- Engineering
- Chemistry
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
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
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:
- Criminal Justice
- Social Work
- Business
- Computer Science
- Medical
- Engineering
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Nursing
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
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:
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
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:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
22%
Student body
6K
What is Century College known for?
Century College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Business
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Education
- Nursing
- Chemistry
- Sociology
- Earth Sciences
- Medical
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
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
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
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:
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Business
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Medical
- Nursing
Most Influential Alumni
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
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
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
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
43%
Student body
<1K
What is Minnesota North College – Hibbing known for?
Most Influential Alumni
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:
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
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
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
46%
Student body
1K
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
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
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:
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
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
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
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
31%
Student body
<1K
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
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
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
26%
Student body
<1K
What is White Earth Tribal and Community College known for?
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
36%
Student body
<1K
What is Minnesota North College – Rainy River known for?
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.
- Minnesota North College – Mesabi Range Virginia
- Leech Lake Tribal College
- Minnesota North College – Vermilion
- Dakota County Technical College
- Riverland Community College
- South Central College
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College
- Lake Superior College
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College
- Minnesota North College – Hibbing
- Northwest Technical College
- Normandale Community College
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College
- Hennepin Technical College
- Century College
- Minneapolis Business College
- Minnesota North College – Itasca
- Inver Hills Community College
- Central Lakes College
- North Hennepin Community College
- Northland Community & Technical College
- Saint Paul College
- Anoka Technical College
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College
- Minnesota North College – Rainy River
- Alexandria Technical and Community College
- Minnesota State College Southeast
- Pine Technical and Community College
