Best Small Colleges in Minnesota 2025

Badge for BEST IN MINNESOTA SMALL COLLEGES

Small colleges in Minnesota are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to earn a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree while pursuing a well-rounded education, working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Key Takeaways

  • Minnesota has 22 of the best fully accredited small colleges with student bodies of less than 5000 students.
  • Small colleges in Minnesota are the perfect solution for students seeking a bachelor’s degree who are looking for a more intimate campus experience with lots of personal interactions with their professors.

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best small colleges in Minnesota saw some shifts in rankings. The College of Saint Benedict, for example, was able to gain three ranking positions as the school developed its Experiential Learning Program, which integrates internships, service learning, and global study opportunities into the core curriculum, giving students more hands-on experience. The university also invested in sustainability initiatives, including new green buildings and renewable energy projects that align with environmental stewardship values.

Did you know that you can still qualify for financial aid when attending a small college, as long as the school is fully accredited? Accreditation allows for the largest public colleges and the smallest colleges to be on a level playing field for financial aid. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

The following list of the best small colleges in Minnesota is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools offering a bachelor’s degree (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 22 small colleges in Minnesota. The list below of the 30 best small colleges in Minnesota. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

Best Small Colleges in Minnesota

  1. #1

    Carleton College

    Northfield , MN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    17%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1490/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Carleton College

    Cost of Degree: $62,634
    Expenses: $18,716
    Starting Salary: $67,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. #2

    Macalester College

    Saint Paul , MN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    28%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1420/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Macalester College

    Cost of Degree: $62,500
    Expenses: $16,400
    Starting Salary: $55,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 20 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. #3

    St. Olaf College

    Northfield , MN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    56%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1390/30

    Career Outlook for degree at St. Olaf College

    Cost of Degree: $54,650
    Expenses: $14,350
    Starting Salary: $57,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  4. #4

    Gustavus Adolphus College

    Saint Peter , MN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $53K

    Acceptance

    74%

    Graduation

    76%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Gustavus Adolphus College

    Cost of Degree: $53,030
    Expenses: $13,090
    Starting Salary: $58,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  5. Tuition + fees

    $52K

    Acceptance

    88%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1150/23

    Career Outlook for degree at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

    Cost of Degree: $52,108
    Expenses: $14,822
    Starting Salary: $57,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    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

  6. Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    58%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Minnesota Morris

    Cost of Degree: $14,120
    Expenses: $12,172
    Starting Salary: $44,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Minnesota Morris known for?

    University of Minnesota Morris’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  7. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    50%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Bemidji State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,130
    Expenses: $13,462
    Starting Salary: $44,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Bemidji State University known for?

    Bemidji State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  8. #9

    Augsburg University

    Minneapolis , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $42K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    56%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at Augsburg University

    Cost of Degree: $42,064
    Expenses: $15,809
    Starting Salary: $53,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Augsburg University known for?

    Augsburg University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  9. #10

    St. Catherine University

    Saint Paul , MN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $48K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1302/22

    Career Outlook for degree at St. Catherine University

    Cost of Degree: $37,494
    Expenses: $13,580
    Starting Salary: $51,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is St. Catherine University known for?

    St. Catherine University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  10. #11

    Bethel University

    Saint Paul , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $41K

    Acceptance

    72%

    Graduation

    75%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Bethel University

    Cost of Degree: $41,270
    Expenses: $15,600
    Starting Salary: $52,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  11. Tuition + fees

    $35K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1163/24

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Northwestern – St. Paul

    Cost of Degree: $35,340
    Expenses: $13,704
    Starting Salary: $43,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Northwestern – St. Paul known for?

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

  12. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $41K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    6K

    Career Outlook for degree at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

    Cost of Degree: $41,150
    Expenses: $13,720
    Starting Salary: $50,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Saint Mary's University of Minnesota known for?

    Saint Mary's University of Minnesota’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  13. #14

    Concordia College

    Moorhead , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $29K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Concordia College

    Cost of Degree: $28,916
    Expenses: $14,480
    Starting Salary: $49,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  14. Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    57%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Minnesota Crookston

    Cost of Degree: $13,010
    Expenses: $12,930
    Starting Salary: $49,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Minnesota Crookston known for?

    University of Minnesota Crookston’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  15. Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    92%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    8K

    Career Outlook for degree at Southwest Minnesota State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,122
    Expenses: $13,072
    Starting Salary: $41,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Southwest Minnesota State University known for?

    Southwest Minnesota State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  16. Tuition + fees

    $39K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    67%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at College of St. Scholastica

    Cost of Degree: $39,410
    Expenses: $14,646
    Starting Salary: $56,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is College of St. Scholastica known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

  17. #18

    North Central University

    Minneapolis , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    91%

    Graduation

    59%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at North Central University

    Cost of Degree: $28,000
    Expenses: $14,215
    Starting Salary: $35,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is North Central University known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

  18. Tuition + fees

    $24K

    Acceptance

    69%

    Graduation

    51%

    Student body

    7K

    Career Outlook for degree at Concordia University, St. Paul

    Cost of Degree: $24,400
    Expenses: $14,200
    Starting Salary: $57,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Concordia University, St. Paul known for?

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

  19. Tuition + fees

    $25K

    Acceptance

    98%

    Graduation

    47%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Dunwoody College of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $24,611
    Expenses: $18,286
    Starting Salary: $53,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Dunwoody College of Technology known for?

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

  20. Tuition + fees

    $29K

    Acceptance

    58%

    Graduation

    57%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1140/22

    Career Outlook for degree at Bethany Lutheran College

    Cost of Degree: $29,010
    Expenses: $10,920
    Starting Salary: $37,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Bethany Lutheran College known for?

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

  21. #22

    Crown College

    Saint Bonifacius , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $29K

    Acceptance

    67%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Crown College

    Cost of Degree: $29,230
    Expenses: $16,036
    Starting Salary: $40,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Crown College known for?

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

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Minnesota’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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. University of Minnesota Morris
  4. St. Olaf College
  5. Hamline University
  6. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
  7. Gustavus Adolphus College
  8. Augsburg University
  9. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  10. Concordia College
  11. Bethel University
  12. St. Catherine University
  13. Southwest Minnesota State University
  14. Concordia University, St. Paul
  15. University of Northwestern – St. Paul
  16. College of St. Scholastica
  17. Dunwoody College of Technology
  18. University of Minnesota Crookston
  19. Bethany Lutheran College

Many states have great small colleges. If you’re interested in looking into what other states have to offer, check out the best small colleges in Michigan and Maryland.

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