Best Small Colleges in Minnesota 2023

Best Small Colleges in Minnesota 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

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 pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

10 Best Small Colleges in Minnesota 2022

  1. Carleton College
  2. Macalester College
  3. Hamline University
  4. St. Olaf College
  5. Gustavus Adolphus College
  6. Concordia College
  7. Augsburg University
  8. University of Minnesota Morris
  9. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
  10. St. Catherine University

Colleges and Universities in California

California’s higher education institutes span across the entire state, allowing students to study by the beach, in the forest, in small towns, and in large cities. There are over 30 high quality online programs that would allow you to earn a degree from literally anywhere in California, or the world.

The state’s largest university is the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). UCLA serves nearly 44,000 students and offers a tuition rate around $13,000. This isn’t the only school with a large student body though. California is home to 23 colleges and universities with student populations of over 20,000 students.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

However, more than half of the state’s schools serve smaller student populations, offering plenty of options for students who crave a more intimate campus experience. Additionally, California boasts 50 religiously affiliated schools. Many of these schools have high graduation rates. However, tuition costs can range greatly, from $8,000 at Bethesda University up to $54,000 at Pepperdine University.

Additionally, many of California’s colleges and universities boast influential faculty and alumni, including Neil Armstrong, Jerry Lewis, and Weird Al Yankovic. In addition to famous alumni and professors, California’s schools are also home to some of the country’s top degree programs, including nursing, business, religious studies, education, literature, and law. Many of these schools offer online courses and complete online programs in these same disciplines.

Though Hollywood has given us an inside look into California’s most popular landmarks and attractions, these one-of-a-kind places aren’t the only reason people flock to The Golden State. With hundreds of colleges and universities, as well as community and junior colleges, to choose from, students have countless opportunities to further their education in California.

Many of these opportunities are also accessible through online courses and online colleges. A growing number of online programs in California have received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools, which means online students have a higher level of quality assurance than ever before. It’s also worth noting that students who live in California can still get an in-state discount on their associate degree or bachelor’s degree even when completing online courses or online programs.

To learn more about earning your degree in California, check out some of the state’s top programs and career paths.


What are California’s Colleges & Universities?

California’s Best Overall

Minnesota's Best Small Colleges and Universities Badge
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The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Minnesota is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (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.

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Best Small Colleges in Minnesota 2022

  9. #8

    University of Minnesota Morris

    Morris , MN
    #6 Best Public Colleges in Minnesota 2023 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    58%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1145/24

    What is University of Minnesota Morris known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

  10. #9

    College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

    Saint Joseph , MN
    #8 Best Christian Colleges Minnesota 2023 #9 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota 2023

    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

  15. #13

    Bethel University

    Saint Paul , MN
    #5 Best Research Universities in Minnesota 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $40K

    Acceptance

    89%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1189/24

    What is Bethel University known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

  16. #14

    University of Minnesota Crookston

    Crookston , MN
    #10 Best Public Colleges in Minnesota 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    48%

    Graduation

    56%

    Student body

    2K

    What is University of Minnesota Crookston known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

  17. #15

    Southwest Minnesota State University

    Marshall , MN

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    91%

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1018/20

    What is Southwest Minnesota State University known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

  20. #17

    University of Northwestern – St. Paul

    Saint Paul , MN

    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:

    Most Influential Alumni

  21. #18

    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

  22. #19

    Bethany Lutheran College

    Mankato , MN

    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:

    Most Influential Alumni

  23. #20

    Dunwoody College of Technology

    Minneapolis , MN

    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:

    Most Influential Alumni

  25. #21

    Concordia University, St. Paul

    Saint Paul , MN

    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:

    Most Influential Alumni

  26. #22

    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:

    Most Influential Alumni

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Minnesota’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

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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. 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
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