Rankings / By State
Best Communications Colleges in Minnesota
- 15
- Schools
- $59,256
- Avg. Earnings
- 64%
- Avg. Graduation
- $21,311
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,849
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $46,110 at the low end to $76,786 at the top. That 1.7× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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University of Minnesota-Crookston offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $58,056 against $12,212 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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Cost and quality are not at odds here. The most affordable school, University of Minnesota-Crookston at $12,212 a year in net price, delivers earnings of $58,056, matching or exceeding the list average.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates 85% of its students, well above the 64% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: graduates owe only 0.28× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. University of Minnesota-Crookston ($12,212/yr) and Bethel University ($28,556/yr) produce graduates earning $58,056 and $63,764 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $16,344 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, University of Minnesota-Crookston outperforms Saint Johns University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
- Completion is where this ranking's schools diverge most: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates 85% of its students versus 44% at Saint Cloud State University. Access without completion is opportunity unclaimed.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with University of Minnesota-Crookston and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $59K within a decade, and pr specialist roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Saint Johns University #1 overall | $76,786 ▲ +30% vs avg | $25,672 | 76% | 74 |
| 2 Gustavus Adolphus College #2 overall | $65,607 ▲ +11% vs avg | $22,900 | 76% | 72 |
| 3 College of Saint Benedict #3 overall | $63,260 ▲ +7% vs avg | $26,640 | 80% | 71 |
| $61,106 ▲ +3% vs avg | $20,744 | 59% | 71 | |
| $46,110 ▼ -22% vs avg | $20,148 | 57% | 70 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Communications Colleges in Minnesota
This analysis ranks 15 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $59,256 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 64% and an average net price of $21,311.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of Minnesota-Crookston — Net Price: $12,212 | Graduation Rate: 50%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — 85% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Saint Johns University — Median alumni earnings: $76,786
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Humanities & Creative Fields Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the value of a humanities and creative education?
$58,829
Median earnings (10yr)
59%
Median graduation rate
$20,744
Median net price
1.3%
Avg. mobility rate
The value of a humanities or creative degree resists summary in a single earnings number, but that does not make it absent. These programs build critical thinking, persuasive writing, and creative problem-solving, the abilities employers consistently say they need most. Those skills compound over a career and narrow the early earnings gap with more vocational fields.
The median graduation rate across these 15 schools is 59%. Median graduate earnings reach $58,829 ten years after enrollment, roughly $10,829 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $20,744 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $22,024. Some 24% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.3%.
Variability is the theme across these programs, and wide ranges in both earnings and cost make school selection especially consequential. Graduates earn a median of $58,829 ten years after enrollment, and the median net price runs $20,744. Affordability is the single most effective lever for improving ROI in this category.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Saint Johns University lands at #1 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $76,786 a decade after enrolling, 30% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,672 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Gustavus Adolphus College lands at #2 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $65,607 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,900 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
College of Saint Benedict lands at #3 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $63,260 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,640 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Hamline University lands at #4 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $61,106 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,744 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Bethany Lutheran College lands at #5 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $46,110 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,148 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Augsburg University lands at #6 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $58,829 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,873 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities lands at #7 with a 66/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (55/100). Graduates earn a median $69,020 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,778 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Crown College lands at #8 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (88/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $48,057 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,672 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of Minnesota-Crookston lands at #9 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $58,056 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,212 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
University of Minnesota-Duluth lands at #10 with a 63/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $62,616 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,743 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Winona State University lands at #11 with a 62/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (69/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $58,532 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,503 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Saint Cloud State University lands at #12 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $55,813 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,529 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Minnesota State University Moorhead lands at #13 with a 61/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (66/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $50,527 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,997 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Bethel University lands at #14 with a 59/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (71/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $63,764 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,556 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
University of Northwestern-St Paul lands at #15 with a 59/100 composite, led by academic quality (76/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $50,755 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,705 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 15 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become PR Specialists and related roles — a field with $67,440 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the PR Specialist career guide →Choosing a college is a big decision, and if you're interested in communications, Minnesota offers several strong options. These schools share a focus on preparing students for careers in media, public relations, and related fields. With an average earning potential of $58,341 for graduates, the stakes are high for students looking to invest in their education.
What sets the top communications programs apart are the outcomes that truly matter: graduation rates, average earnings, and student debt. The schools in this list have been ranked based on these key metrics, giving you a clear view of which programs can lead to successful careers and manageable financial situations. For instance, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities stands out with an impressive 85% graduation rate and average earnings of $69,020.
Take the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Saint John's University as examples. While both schools offer valuable communications programs, their outcomes differ significantly. Saint John's boasts higher earnings at $76,786 but comes with a steeper net price of $25,672 compared to Minnesota-Twin Cities' $16,778. This contrast highlights the importance of weighing potential earnings against financial commitments as you explore your options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 7 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.3%. Saint Johns University leads the group at 2.7%, with Hamline University (1.5%) and Augsburg University (1.3%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 4.7% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Crown College leads at 7.5%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 24.2% across this list. College of Saint Benedict posts the highest success rate at 47.8%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.70 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Gustavus Adolphus College reaches 1.77, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When examining the data, a noticeable pattern emerges between the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and University of Minnesota-Crookston. While the former boasts an impressive graduation rate of 85% and average earnings of $69,020, Crookston lags with a 50% graduation rate and significantly lower earnings at $58,056. This stark contrast illustrates how well-established programs can lead to better outcomes for graduates.
As you consider these schools, think about your own priorities. Factors like location, campus culture, and personal fit are crucial alongside these metrics. If you value a strong alumni network and internship opportunities, schools with higher graduation rates may be more appealing. It's essential to align the data with what matters most to you as you make this important decision.
Ultimately, this data highlights the critical link between education and future stability. A degree in communications can pave the way for a successful career, but it also comes with financial implications. For one family, the decision to invest in a higher education at a school like Saint John's University could lead to substantial earnings, but they must also consider the long-term debt. Balancing these factors can set the foundation for a stable life post-graduation.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Communications Colleges in Minnesota: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Communications Colleges in Minnesota ranking? +
Saint Johns University in Collegeville, MN ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Communications Colleges in Minnesota ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $76,786 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 76% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Saint Johns University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $76,786 ten years after enrollment, well above the $59,256 average across the 15 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of Minnesota-Crookston leads: graduates earn a median $58,056 against net price of about $12,212 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 85%, compared with a 64% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $21,311 a year across the 15 ranked schools with cost data. University of Minnesota-Crookston is among the most affordable at roughly $12,212. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Communications Colleges in Minnesota ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 15 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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