Best Colleges in Minnesota by Salary Potential

College is an investment — one that should pay off. Before you enroll, find out which Minnesota colleges have the highest-paid graduates.

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Bachelor's Only
All Alumni
RankSchool NameSchool TypeEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:Carleton CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$72,100Mid-Career Pay:$141,500% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:45%
Rank:2School Name:University of St Thomas (Minnesota)School Type:Private School, Religious, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$70,100Mid-Career Pay:$135,200% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:3School Name:Saint Johns UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$71,700Mid-Career Pay:$131,700% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:4School Name:St Olaf CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$67,500Mid-Career Pay:$128,600% High Meaning:46%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:5School Name:University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$71,000Mid-Career Pay:$125,700% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:30%
Rank:6School Name:Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$62,800Mid-Career Pay:$118,900% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:18%
Rank:7School Name:Dunwoody College of TechnologySchool Type:Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$65,700Mid-Career Pay:$118,100% High Meaning:67%% STEM Degrees:18%
Rank:8School Name:University of Minnesota-DuluthSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$65,800Mid-Career Pay:$117,300% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:34%
Rank:9School Name:Hamline UniversitySchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$60,700Mid-Career Pay:$115,500% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:10School Name:Macalester CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$65,900Mid-Career Pay:$113,900% High Meaning:61%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:11School Name:Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaSchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$64,900Mid-Career Pay:$109,000% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:11School Name:Saint Cloud State UniversitySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$64,600Mid-Career Pay:$109,000% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:20%
Rank:13School Name:Augsburg UniversitySchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$62,800Mid-Career Pay:$108,500% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:8%
Rank:14School Name:Minnesota State University-MankatoSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$63,300Mid-Career Pay:$107,900% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:13%
Rank:15School Name:College of Saint BenedictSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$60,100Mid-Career Pay:$106,000% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:19%
Rank:16School Name:Minneapolis College of Art and DesignSchool Type:Art, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$58,000Mid-Career Pay:$104,800% High Meaning:37%% STEM Degrees:0%
Rank:17School Name:Concordia University-Saint PaulSchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$61,500Mid-Career Pay:$103,400% High Meaning:64%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:18School Name:University of Minnesota-CrookstonSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$63,900Mid-Career Pay:$102,200% High Meaning:56%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:19School Name:University of Minnesota-MorrisSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$56,100Mid-Career Pay:$102,100% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:20School Name:Bethel University (Minnesota)School Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$62,900Mid-Career Pay:$101,600% High Meaning:59%% STEM Degrees:8%
Rank:20School Name:Winona State UniversitySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$62,500Mid-Career Pay:$101,600% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:12%
Rank:22School Name:St Catherine UniversitySchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$61,000Mid-Career Pay:$99,900% High Meaning:63%% STEM Degrees:2%
Rank:23School Name:Concordia College at MoorheadSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$57,800Mid-Career Pay:$97,700% High Meaning:62%% STEM Degrees:21%
Rank:24School Name:Metropolitan State UniversitySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$63,100Mid-Career Pay:$96,800% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:15%
Rank:25School Name:Minnesota State University MoorheadSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$55,600Mid-Career Pay:$95,900% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:8%

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College Student

The Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota is famous for lakes, woods, rolling pastoral scenery, Garrison Keeler and a growing tech business environment. Some of the most notable colleges in Minnesota are the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University, and the College of Saint Benedict.

Some of the most notable colleges in Minnesota are the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University, and the College of Saint Benedict.

The University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities is one of the best four-year colleges in Minnesota by early earning potential, as graduates from here earn a high median salary with zero to five years experience. Carleton College also ranks highly, particularly for alumni who have been in the workforce at least 10 years.

Many graduates from Minnesota’s colleges go on to work in careers in the Biosciences, Manufacturing, Data Centers, Clean and Renewable Technology, Banking and Insurance, and Health Services industries.