Best Online Colleges in Minnesota for 2023

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Employment in Minnesota between the last quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 maintained a steady upward trend. In September 2021, the number of residents who held employment was 2,929,000. In November, this number had moved up and, in February of 2022, it increased again. Accordingly, unemployment fell during this same period; the low hitting 2.7% in February.

This is great news for those who are currently earning a college degree in this state or surrounding areas. It means that those who graduate with worthwhile degrees can expect to find a job. The lower the unemployment rate, the more growing companies will be clamoring to hire new graduates.

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Online Higher Education in Minnesota


  • What is the average cost of tuition for online education versus on-campus?

    On average, the tuition, including fees, for in-state students is $8,616. For out-of-state students, it’s closer to $9,000. The most expensive tuition and fees are around $60,500, and the absolute lowest are $3,515/year. However, the highest tuition for students earning their graduate degrees is $48,180 and the lowest is $16,910. Tuition and fees cover the cost per credit hour, room and board, books, supplies, and even parking costs, and more.

    With 122 colleges in Minnesota, students interested in online learning should have no problem finding the college and degree program they are seeking. Forty-five of these schools are public schools, meaning your education should be less expensive if you are attending from within the state, and 77 are private.

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  • What is the number or percentage of online learners?

    The number of online-only Minnesota college students is 189,355. Students who took some online classes or degree programs numbered 97,339.

    Breaking it down, the distance learning enrollment of undergraduate students was 103,446. For graduate students, this was lower at 85,909. In many cases, those who attend graduate school prefer to attend at least some of their classes online so that they can take advantage of networking opportunities. Those who earn bachelor’s degrees online are usually focused on gaining the education they need to get started in their career and are less worried about networking and other perks of the on-campus system.

Our School Rankings Methodology


As an organization working hard to rank colleges and universities across the country, we do our best to use objective rather than subjective data. This includes specific numbers and statistics that students and their families can rely on as they aim to choose the best college they can.

While subjective student reviews are helpful to get a feel for the campus culture, our rankings try to focus on these numbers as much as possible. For example, the cost of tuition lets you know how affordable a school can be, both before and after financial aid is applied. The retention rate tells you the percentage of first-year students who returned to the school for their second year. A higher percentage may indicate the school meets the needs of a larger portion of the student population.

The 4-year and 6-year graduation rates indicate how many students reach graduation within the “normal” time frame. The graduating salary or return on investment indicate that the salary previous students earned offered a good return on their investment.

We also consider whether or not colleges and universities offer more online courses and degree programs as many students are looking for these offerings. Schools which offer this to students indicate they are working to meet the needs of more students from around the country.

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What are the Best Online Associate & Community College Programs in Minnesota?


Students who are looking to earn a quality education in a community college may benefit from considering those which offer solid online options. Those excellent colleges which offer plenty of online learning options can be a money-saver when it comes time to pay your tuition and beyond. No paying for a meal plan, no paying for gas to return home during breaks, and no driving to class only to find it cancelled. Continue to work, care for family, and complete your degree on your schedule. As you explore college options, you should keep partnerships with four-year universities and accreditations in mind. Luckily, we take accreditation and other important factors into account. This can make your school search a little easier.

Alexandria Technical & Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
2,549
Graduation Rate
61%
Net Price
$12,976
Grads Salary
$45,200
Dakota County Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
2,319
Graduation Rate
47%
Net Price
$10,567
Grads Salary
$45,700
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
3,931
Graduation Rate
34%
Net Price
$8,680
Grads Salary
$46,400
Hibbing Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
913
Graduation Rate
43%
Net Price
$8,370
Grads Salary
$40,800
Northland Community and Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
2,962
Graduation Rate
43%
Net Price
$10,243
Grads Salary
$41,100
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
5,757
Graduation Rate
42%
Net Price
$10,233
Grads Salary
$41,500
Anoka Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
1,683
Graduation Rate
46%
Net Price
$13,362
Grads Salary
$44,200
Riverland Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
3,494
Graduation Rate
40%
Net Price
$9,032
Grads Salary
$39,300
Inver Hills Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
4,192
Graduation Rate
28%
Net Price
$10,699
Grads Salary
$47,200
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
3,253
Graduation Rate
45%
Net Price
$10,849
Grads Salary
$39,500
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What are the Best Online Universities & College Programs in Minnesota?


As students are looking through colleges and universities in their state, they may want to weed out those which don’t offer online degrees or at least courses, which can speed your academic career or save you money in the long run. Other students may use financial aid as a factor for eliminating schools from their list. Instead of looking at college after college, take a look at the rankings that already take these factors into account.

Finding the right college or university isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve taken some of the guesswork out of it. All of the schools on this list offer online learning options. Check them out and see if there’s a good fit for you.

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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
52,017
Graduation Rate
84%
Net Price
$17,729
Grads Salary
$76,000
Saint Cloud State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
11,841
Graduation Rate
45%
Net Price
$13,697
Grads Salary
$72,000
St. Catherine University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
4,277
Graduation Rate
64%
Net Price
$18,912
Grads Salary
$71,000
Minnesota State University-Mankato
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
14,761
Graduation Rate
51%
Net Price
$15,201
Grads Salary
$69,000
The College of Saint Scholastica
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
3,712
Graduation Rate
69%
Net Price
$23,215
Grads Salary
$72,000
University of St. Thomas-St. Paul
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
9,824
Graduation Rate
80%
Net Price
$31,799
Grads Salary
$74,900
Winona State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
7,106
Graduation Rate
61%
Net Price
$17,185
Grads Salary
$64,000
Concordia University-Saint Paul
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
5,585
Graduation Rate
48%
Net Price
$16,521
Grads Salary
$71,000
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
5,152
Graduation Rate
62%
Net Price
$22,021
Grads Salary
$71,000
Bethel University-Saint Paul
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
3,814
Graduation Rate
74%
Net Price
$29,107
Grads Salary
$71,000
Full Ranking Report

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