# Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-minnesota

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Minnesota

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When considering schools in Minnesota, affordability is a top concern for many families. These institutions not only offer education but also promise a manageable financial path. The average net price across the schools on this list is $9,205, making them attractive options for cost-conscious students.

What sets these colleges apart is their balance of affordability and outcomes that matter—like earnings, graduation rates, and debt levels. For instance, the University of Minnesota-Morris has a low net price of $8,837 and a graduation rate of 62%. In contrast, while Riverland Community College has an even lower net price of $7,427, it has a lower graduation rate of 53%. Understanding how these factors play into the overall value of each school can help you make a more informed choice.

Take the University of Minnesota-Morris and Riverland Community College. While Morris offers higher average earnings of $50,919 compared to Riverland’s $45,247, Riverland has lower debt levels at $12,000. This contrast highlights the trade-offs you may need to consider based on your priorities—whether you want a higher earning potential after graduation or a lower debt burden while studying.

## Key Findings

- University of Minnesota-Morris has an average earning of $50,919 with a 62% graduation rate.
- Riverland Community College features the lowest net price at $7,427 and a 53% graduation rate.
- The average net price across these schools is $9,205, making them affordable options for students.
- Graduates from St Cloud Technical and Community College earn an average of $46,874 but face a net price of $9,635.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Minnesota-Morris](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-minnesota-morris) | Morris, MN | 62% | $50,919 | $8,837 | $18,995 | 0.37x |
| 2 | [Riverland Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/riverland-community-college) | Austin, MN | 53% | $45,247 | $7,427 | $12,000 | 0.27x |
| 3 | [South Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-central-college) | North Mankato, MN | 34% | $45,068 | $9,082 | $12,000 | 0.27x |
| 4 | [St Cloud Technical and Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-cloud-technical-and-community-college) | Saint Cloud, MN | 44% | $46,874 | $9,635 | $12,000 | 0.26x |
| 5 | [Saint Mary's University of Minnesota](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-marys-university-of-minnesota) | Winona, MN | 67% | $58,170 | $11,704 | $21,500 | 0.37x |
| 6 | [Ridgewater College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ridgewater-college) | Willmar, MN | 48% | $43,827 | $10,046 | $12,000 | 0.27x |
| 7 | [Hennepin Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hennepin-technical-college) | Brooklyn Park, MN | 43% | $49,460 | $10,272 | $11,433 | 0.23x |
| 8 | [Minnesota North College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minnesota-north-college) | Hibbing, MN | 42% | $45,570 | $10,432 | $12,000 | 0.26x |
| 9 | [University of Minnesota-Crookston](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-minnesota-crookston) | Crookston, MN | 50% | $58,056 | $12,212 | $20,500 | 0.35x |
| 10 | [Minnesota West Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minnesota-west-community-and-technical-college) | Granite Falls, MN | 49% | $45,285 | $11,191 | $10,987 | 0.24x |
| 11 | [Century College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/century-college) | White Bear Lake, MN | 27% | $46,424 | $10,906 | $14,250 | 0.31x |
| 12 | [Northwest Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-technical-college) | Bemidji, MN | 50% | $42,930 | $10,996 | $15,000 | 0.35x |
| 13 | [Saint Paul College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-paul-college) | Saint Paul, MN | 36% | $38,399 | $11,495 | $10,925 | 0.28x |
| 14 | [Inver Hills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inver-hills-community-college) | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 22% | $49,898 | $11,636 | $13,965 | 0.28x |
| 15 | [Saint Cloud State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-cloud-state-university) | Saint Cloud, MN | 44% | $55,813 | $13,529 | $21,058 | 0.38x |
| 16 | [North Hennepin Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-hennepin-community-college) | Brooklyn Park, MN | 19% | $51,142 | $12,186 | $14,750 | 0.29x |
| 17 | [University of Minnesota-Rochester](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-minnesota-rochester) | Rochester, MN | 57% | $69,020 | $13,744 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 18 | [Minnesota State Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minnesota-state-community-and-technical-college) | Fergus Falls, MN | 47% | $45,591 | $12,556 | $12,000 | 0.26x |
| 19 | [Red Lake Nation College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/red-lake-nation-college) | Red Lake, MN | 47% | N/A | $5,672 | N/A | N/A |
| 20 | [Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fond-du-lac-tribal-and-community-college) | Cloquet, MN | 23% | $45,665 | $12,677 | $14,181 | 0.31x |
| 21 | [Pine Technical & Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pine-technical-community-college) | Pine City, MN | 38% | $41,232 | $12,798 | $14,392 | 0.35x |
| 22 | [Normandale Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/normandale-community-college) | Bloomington, MN | 23% | $50,207 | $12,972 | $12,000 | 0.24x |
| 23 | [Bemidji State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bemidji-state-university) | Bemidji, MN | 51% | $53,755 | $15,261 | $19,750 | 0.37x |
| 24 | [Dakota County Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dakota-county-technical-college) | Rosemount, MN | 52% | $51,938 | $13,548 | $11,000 | 0.21x |
| 25 | [Southwest Minnesota State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwest-minnesota-state-university) | Marshall, MN | 45% | $51,342 | $15,291 | $20,500 | 0.4x |
| 26 | [Alexandria Technical & Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alexandria-technical-community-college) | Alexandria, MN | 60% | $49,393 | $13,691 | $12,000 | 0.24x |
| 27 | [Minneapolis Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minneapolis-community-and-technical-college) | Minneapolis, MN | 18% | $40,086 | $13,812 | $17,954 | 0.45x |
| 28 | [Central Lakes College-Brainerd](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-lakes-college-brainerd) | Brainerd, MN | 51% | $42,162 | $13,869 | $11,000 | 0.26x |
| 29 | [Northland Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northland-community-and-technical-college) | Thief River Falls, MN | 52% | $44,425 | $13,975 | $12,000 | 0.27x |
| 30 | [Rochester Community and Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rochester-community-and-technical-college) | Rochester, MN | 27% | $45,287 | $14,435 | $14,743 | 0.33x |
| 31 | [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities) | Minneapolis, MN | 85% | $69,020 | $16,778 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 32 | [Metropolitan State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/metropolitan-state-university) | Saint Paul, MN | 42% | $64,705 | $16,863 | $17,100 | 0.26x |
| 33 | [Lake Superior College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lake-superior-college) | Duluth, MN | 40% | $46,449 | $15,492 | $12,775 | 0.28x |
| 34 | [Winona State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/winona-state-university) | Winona, MN | 59% | $58,532 | $17,503 | $21,500 | 0.37x |
| 35 | [Minnesota State College Southeast](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minnesota-state-college-southeast) | Winona, MN | 49% | $43,613 | $16,140 | $12,971 | 0.3x |
| 36 | [Herzing University-Minneapolis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/herzing-university-minneapolis) | St. Louis Park, MN | 61% | $36,909 | $16,670 | $21,500 | 0.58x |
| 37 | [Minnesota State University Moorhead](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minnesota-state-university-moorhead) | Moorhead, MN | 56% | $50,527 | $17,997 | $20,000 | 0.4x |
| 38 | [Anoka-Ramsey Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/anoka-ramsey-community-college) | Coon Rapids, MN | 27% | $48,342 | $16,434 | $13,500 | 0.28x |
| 39 | [Anoka Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/anoka-technical-college) | Anoka, MN | 62% | $47,746 | $16,953 | $11,000 | 0.23x |
| 40 | [Martin Luther College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/martin-luther-college) | New Ulm, MN | 71% | $47,491 | $18,463 | $20,177 | 0.42x |
| 41 | [University of Minnesota-Duluth](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-minnesota-duluth) | Duluth, MN | 65% | $62,616 | $18,743 | $22,024 | 0.35x |
| 42 | [St Catherine University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-catherine-university) | Saint Paul, MN | 63% | $59,282 | $19,764 | $24,181 | 0.41x |
| 43 | [Concordia University-Saint Paul](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-saint-paul) | Saint Paul, MN | 52% | $59,871 | $18,462 | $17,832 | 0.3x |
| 44 | [Minnesota State University-Mankato](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minnesota-state-university-mankato) | Mankato, MN | 54% | $56,922 | $19,139 | $21,106 | 0.37x |
| 45 | [Bethany Lutheran College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethany-lutheran-college) | Mankato, MN | 57% | $46,110 | $20,148 | $23,000 | 0.5x |
| 46 | [Hamline University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hamline-university) | Saint Paul, MN | 59% | $61,106 | $20,744 | $23,770 | 0.39x |
| 47 | [Gustavus Adolphus College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gustavus-adolphus-college) | Saint Peter, MN | 76% | $65,607 | $22,900 | $26,774 | 0.41x |
| 48 | [Augsburg University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/augsburg-university) | Minneapolis, MN | 52% | $58,829 | $23,873 | $25,347 | 0.43x |
| 49 | [St Olaf College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-olaf-college) | Northfield, MN | 84% | $65,543 | $23,874 | $26,000 | 0.4x |
| 50 | [Concordia College at Moorhead](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-college-at-moorhead) | Moorhead, MN | 66% | $59,317 | $24,902 | $26,847 | 0.45x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-minnesota

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.