Graduate school may be a critical step in your higher education, whether you are interested in expanding your knowledge, learning a specialization, or earning advanced credentials required by your profession. The best graduate schools in Minnesota offer advanced degrees, such as master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as opportunities for independent research, mentorships, and professional networking.
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.
There are 14 doctorate-granting graduate schools in Minnesota. Our ranking of the best graduate schools in the Minnesota is composed of both private and public schools. To be included, schools must be fully accredited non-profit institutions, and must offer doctoral degrees and a broad array of graduate degrees.
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
84%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/28
University of Minnesota’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
61%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/23
University of Minnesota Duluth’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
80%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/26
University of St. Thomas ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
65%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/22
Hamline University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
51%
Student body
13K
Minnesota State University, Mankato’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
55%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/21
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
45%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1064/21
St. Cloud State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
61%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1105/21
Winona State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
62%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1113/23
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
46%
Student body
6K
Metropolitan State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
74%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1160/24
Bethel University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$24K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
48%
Student body
4K
Concordia University, St. Paul’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utiulized 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.
