The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Minnesota
What’s Covered:
- The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Minnesota
- Tips for Saving Money on College
- How Much Will College Cost Your Family?
From well-respected public institutions like the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to highly ranked liberal arts schools such as Carleton College, there’s no shortage of prestigious institutions of higher education in the North Star State. While top-ranked schools steal the spotlight, the Land of 10,000 Lakes is also home to many affordable institutions, including the ten cheapest colleges in Minnesota listed below.
The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Minnesota
1. Minnesota State University-Mankato
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $9,572/$18,942
Location: Mankato, MN
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,987
Minnesota State University-Mankato is the state’s second-largest university and one of its most affordable. MSU-Mankato hosts the only nationally, regionally, and state-accredited aviation program in Minnesota and partners with airlines like Delta and Sun Country to provide students with employment upon graduation.
The university is committed to diversity; more than 13.7% of employees are people of color, the over 1,300 international students on campus hail from 90 different countries, and the school earns five out of five stars on the Campus Pride Index—a ranking of colleges and universities based on policies and programs that foster a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ students.
Learn more about Minnesota State University-Mankato and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Bemidji State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $10,237/$10,237
Location: Bemidji, MN
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,610
There’s a lot to like about Bemidji State University (BSU), starting with its gorgeous campus on the western shore of Lake Bemidji and easy access to nature and outdoor activities, including:
- Kayaking, canoeing, and sailing
- Fishing/Ice fishing
- Mountain biking
- Camping
- Cross-country skiing
BSU’s tunnel system—a network of underground walkways—makes negotiating the notoriously harsh Minnesota winter a bit easier, helping attract students from across both the state and country. BSU students hail from 38 Minnesota counties and 36 different states.
Learn more about Bemidji State University and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Saint Cloud State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $10,245/$10,245
Location: Saint Cloud, MN
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,430
Saint Cloud State University has grown significantly from its humble beginnings—it first opened its doors in 1869 and consisted of a single building, a renovated hotel. Today, in addition to being one of the cheapest colleges in Minnesota, Saint Cloud State University is also one of the largest.
The university offers more than 200 undergraduate programs, ranging from Addiction Counseling to Technology Education. It also provides more than 30 master’s programs and several doctoral programs. The university boasts over 250 student clubs and organizations, and features an alumni network surpassing 135,000 people.
Learn more about Saint Cloud State University and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $10,361/$10,361
Location: Marshall, MN
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,884
Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) is located in Marshall, Minnesota, one of the best small towns in the nation. SMSU is divided into six academic colleges and schools:
- College of Arts, Letters, and Science
- College of Business, Education, and Professional Studies
- School of Agriculture
- North Star Mutual School of Business
- School of Education
- School of Graduate Studies
One unique offering at SMSU is its culinology program—the only school in the country to offer a Culinary B.S.—which blends food science with culinary arts.
Learn more about Southwest Minnesota State University and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Minnesota State University Moorhead
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $10,428/$10,428
Location: Moorhead, MN
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,413
Minnesota State University Moorhead offers 74 majors, the most popular of which are:
- Elementary Inclusive Education
- Business Administration
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Biology
MSU Moorhead also offers a handful of unique majors, including:
- Commercial Music
- Audio Production and Entertainment Management
- Medical Psychs
- Project management
- Sustainability.
Helping keep MSU Moorhead affordable is its banded tuition, which allows students to take up to 18 credits per semester for the price of 12 credits. It also offers in-state tuition rates to out-of-state students.
Learn more about Minnesota State University Moorhead and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Winona State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $10,576/$17,308
Location: Winona, MN
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,267
Along with being one of the most affordable colleges in Minnesota, Winona State University (WSU) is notable for being the oldest member of the Minnesota State System of colleges and universities—it was founded in 1858.
WSU is divided into five colleges, through which it offers more than 200 academic programs. WSU’s five colleges are:
- College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Nursing & Health Sciences
- College of Science & Engineering
Helping keep WSU affordable for all students are reciprocity programs with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The university also offers a Resident Tuition Scholarship that lowers the expense of out-of-state tuition to the same rate as in-state tuition.
Learn more about Winona State University and what it takes to get accepted.
7. University of Minnesota-Crookston
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $13,288/$13,288
Location: Crookston, MA
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,518
The University of Minnesota-Crookston is one of the five campuses in the University of Minnesota system. UMN Crookston is an attractive and affordable option for both in-state and out-of-state students thanks to its one-rate tuition plan. All students—regardless of their state residence—are charged in-state tuition.
Further helping U of M-Crookston students control college costs is their flat tuition rate, which makes all credits above 13 per semester tuition-free.
Learn more about the University of Minnesota-Crookston and what it takes to get accepted.
8. University of Minnesota-Morris
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $14,526/$16,710
Location: Morris, MN
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,020
The University of Minnesota–Morris is a public liberal arts college with deep ties to American Indian communities. The campus is located on lands originally inhabited by the Anishinaabe and Dakota/Lakota peoples, and its earliest buildings once housed an American Indian boarding school.
When the boarding school closed in 1909, the campus was transferred to the state of Minnesota under the condition that American Indian students be admitted tuition-free—a commitment the university continues to honor today. Native Americans make up a quarter of the university’s student body and it’s the only four-year college in the upper Midwest that qualifies as a Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution.
The Degree in Three program at UMN Morris allows students to complete any major in just three years, enabling them to enter the workforce or attend graduate school ahead of their peers while saving an average of $20,000.
Learn more about the University of Minnesota-Morris and what it takes to get accepted.
9. University of Minnesota Duluth | UMD
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $14,610/$20,130
Location: Duluth, MN
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,525
A wide variety of students come to the University of Minnesota Duluth to pursue one of the school’s 87 majors and participate in its 250 student organizations—students from 44 states and 41 countries are represented on campus.
Off-campus, Duluth offers the amenities of city life while also providing an easy escape into nature (UMD is located on the western shore of Lake Superior). Most UMD buildings are connected by concourses and hallways, making the campus easy to navigate year-round.
Learn more about the University of Minnesota Duluth and what it takes to get accepted.
10. University of Minnesota-Rochester
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $15,016/$15,016
Location: Rochester, MN
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 588
The University of Minnesota–Rochester (UMR) is a small school focused on preparing students for careers in healthcare. Founded in 2006, UMR offers just two majors: a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions.
Underrepresented students make up 65% of the university’s undergraduate student body and the school is proud to help contribute to the diversification of the state’s health care workforce. An impressive 100% of BHSP graduates have entered the workforce in their field.
Learn more about the University of Minnesota-Rochester and what it takes to get accepted.
Tips for Saving Money on College
There are numerous steps that college-bound students can take to make higher education more affordable.
Minimize Time in College
The longer you’re at college taking courses, the more money you’ll spend. Most college-bound students are optimistic they’ll graduate in four years; however, less than half (45%) of college students will do so.
Work with your advisor and plan ahead to ensure you only take classes you need and stay on schedule. Another cost-saving tip is to take advantage of the flat-rate plans offered by some schools. These plans allow students to take more than 12 credits a semester—what’s generally considered a full course load—for no additional cost.
Get a Head Start in High School
Another strategy for avoiding spending extra time in college is to start earning credits in high school. Most colleges will award college credit to students who earn a 3 or higher on an AP exam. This allows college-bound students to fulfill general education requirements while in high school and get ahead of schedule, with comparably inexpensive credits.
The cost of an AP exam is $99—compare that to the average cost of a college credit at:
- Four-year public in-state colleges: $456
- Four-year public out-of-state colleges: $1,177
- Four-year private nonprofit colleges: $1,642
Choose an In-State School
In-state public schools are generally more affordable than private colleges. On average, annual tuition at a four-year public institution is $9,750, compared to $38,421 at a four-year private nonprofit college. Also, consider that every college on our list of the cheapest colleges in Minnesota is a public institution.
While public colleges typically provide the most cost-effective college choice, that’s not always the case. Private institutions often offer more merit aid—especially to students with strong profiles—which can make them less expensive than their public counterparts.
How Much Will College Cost Your Family?
Simply looking at the sticker prices of schools will not tell you what the cheapest colleges in Minnesota are for you. The actual cost of each college can vary from person to person, depending on a variety of factors—such as financial aid received and scholarships awarded—which makes sticker price a poor indicator of what you will actually pay.
A better measure of the true cost of college is net price, a calculation that considers financial aid. Most college websites provide a net price calculator, but our free Financial Aid Calculator allows you to easily estimate the expense of college for hundreds of schools across the country—including Minnesota—in one place and in just minutes.
Use our free Financial Aid Calculator along with our free Chancing Engine to estimate your odds of acceptance and gain deeper insight into your college future.
