Best Private Colleges in Minnesota 2024

BEST IN MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGES

Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Minnesota.

10 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

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  1. Carleton College
  2. St. Olaf College
  3. Macalester College
  4. Gustavus Adolphus College
  5. Hamline University
  6. University of St. Thomas
  7. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
  8. Augsburg University
  9. St. Catherine University
  10. Bethel University
  1. Dunwoody College of Technology 99%
  2. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 98%
  3. North Central University 94%
  4. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University 92%
  5. Bethel University 89%
  6. University of Northwestern – St. Paul 82%
  7. Augsburg University 76%
  8. University of St. Thomas 76%
  9. Hamline University 76%
  10. St. Catherine University 75%
  1. Concordia University, St. Paul 20 to 1
  2. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18 to 1
  3. University of Northwestern – St. Paul 18 to 1
  4. Crown College 16 to 1
  5. North Central University 15 to 1
  6. College of St. Scholastica 14 to 1
  7. University of St. Thomas 14 to 1
  8. Augsburg University 13 to 1
  9. Hamline University 13 to 1
  10. Gustavus Adolphus College 12 to 1
  1. Macalester College $60,518
  2. Carleton College $60,225
  3. St. Olaf College $52,670
  4. Gustavus Adolphus College $50,490
  5. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University $50,126
  6. University of St. Thomas $48,329
  7. St. Catherine University $46,494
  8. Hamline University $46,221
  9. Augsburg University $41,007
  10. Bethel University $40,080
  1. University of St. Thomas $23,503
  2. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University $19,920
  3. St. Catherine University $17,100
  4. College of St. Scholastica $14,182
  5. Augsburg University $13,500
  6. Bethel University $11,700
  7. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $10,890
  8. Crown College $10,350
  9. North Central University $10,260
  10. Hamline University $10,120
  1. Crown College
  2. Concordia University, St. Paul
  3. Bethany Lutheran College
  4. Dunwoody College of Technology
  5. North Central University
  6. College of St. Scholastica
  7. Concordia College
  8. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  9. University of Northwestern – St. Paul
  10. Bethel University
  1. Carleton College 18%
  2. Macalester College 31%
  3. St. Olaf College 47%
  4. Bethany Lutheran College 61%
  5. Crown College 65%
  6. Concordia University, St. Paul 68%
  7. Concordia College 72%
  8. Gustavus Adolphus College 73%
  9. College of St. Scholastica 74%
  10. St. Catherine University 75%
  1. Carleton College 8 to 1
  2. Macalester College 10 to 1
  3. Dunwoody College of Technology 10 to 1
  4. Bethany Lutheran College 11 to 1
  5. St. Catherine University 11 to 1
  6. Concordia College 11 to 1
  7. Gustavus Adolphus College 12 to 1
  8. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University 12 to 1
  9. St. Olaf College 12 to 1
  10. Bethel University 12 to 1
  1. Dunwoody College of Technology $23,863
  2. Concordia University, St. Paul $23,900
  3. North Central University $27,200
  4. Concordia College $28,016
  5. Crown College $28,110
  6. Bethany Lutheran College $28,660
  7. University of Northwestern – St. Paul $34,180
  8. College of St. Scholastica $39,410
  9. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $39,410
  10. Bethel University $40,080
  1. Concordia University, St. Paul $8,550
  2. University of Northwestern – St. Paul $8,982
  3. Bethany Lutheran College $9,900
  4. Concordia College $9,990
  5. Hamline University $10,120
  6. North Central University $10,260
  7. Crown College $10,350
  8. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $10,890
  9. Bethel University $11,700
  10. Augsburg University $13,500

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

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

Minnesota's Best Private Colleges and Universities Badge
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This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 19 private universities in Minnesota. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Minnesota, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.

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Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  1. Tuition + fees

    $50K

    Acceptance

    92%

    Graduation

    77%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1135/24

    What is College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University known for?

    College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  2. #12

    Bethel University

    Saint Paul , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $40K

    Acceptance

    89%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1189/24

  3. Tuition + fees

    $39K

    Acceptance

    74%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    3K

    What is College of St. Scholastica known for?

    College of St. Scholastica’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  4. Tuition + fees

    $34K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    3K

    What is University of Northwestern – St. Paul known for?

    University of Northwestern – St. Paul’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  5. #15

    North Central University

    Minneapolis , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $27K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    59%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1049/21

    What is North Central University known for?

    North Central University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  6. Tuition + fees

    $29K

    Acceptance

    61%

    Graduation

    63%

    Student body

    <1K

    What is Bethany Lutheran College known for?

    Bethany Lutheran College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  7. Tuition + fees

    $24K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    59%

    Student body

    1K

    What is Dunwoody College of Technology known for?

    Dunwoody College of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  8. Tuition + fees

    $24K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Concordia University, St. Paul known for?

    Concordia University, St. Paul’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  9. #19

    Crown College

    Saint Bonifacius , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    65%

    Graduation

    61%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1055/20

    What is Crown College known for?

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

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Minnesota’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest

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. Carleton College
  2. Macalester College
  3. St. Olaf College
  4. Hamline University
  5. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
  6. Gustavus Adolphus College
  7. University of St. Thomas
  8. Augsburg University
  9. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  10. Concordia College
  11. Bethel University
  12. St. Catherine University
  13. Concordia University, St. Paul
  14. University of Northwestern – St. Paul
  15. College of St. Scholastica
  16. Dunwoody College of Technology
  17. Bethany Lutheran College

Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.

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