How many colleges are in Minnesota?

In the 2022-23 school year, Minnesota had 78 public and private degree-granting institutions recognized by NCES. Of those institutions, 32 were four-year private institutions, 13 were four-year public colleges, and 28 were two-year institutions.

How do I get in-state tuition in Minnesota?

The most direct way to get in-state tuition in Minnesota is to live in the state for at least 12 consecutive months before you begin your program. You can also qualify by graduating from a Minnesota high school or receiving a GED diploma while living in the state. For full details, consult Minnesota's Office of Higher Education.

What jobs are in demand in Minnesota?

According to Minnesota Employment and Economic Development, the state's five most in-demand jobs as of October 2025 that require postsecondary education are registered nurses, nursing assistants, general and operations managers, software developers, and licensed practical nurses. You can browse other options using the agency's Occupations in Demand search tool.

What is the highest-paying job in Minnesota?

According to BLS data from May 2024, four careers for which specific salary figures are available paid a median annual salary of more than $200,000 per year in Minnesota: podiatrist ($224,280), physicist ($222,550), pediatrician ($212,380), and dentist ($209,820).

Discover The Best Online Colleges In Minnesota

Minnesota's labor market offers a wealth of job opportunities. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota has only 53 available workers for every 100 job vacancies in the state.

Online colleges in Minnesota can help you prepare for career success in fields with strong growth and earning potential. Minnesota schools offer flexible learning formats designed to serve both traditional and nontraditional students, making it easier than ever to earn an educational upgrade.

Explore key trends shaping Minnesota's higher education and employment landscapes with this state-focused guide.

Minnesota at a Glance at a Glance

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there are 46 nonprofit four-year institutions in Minnesota.
Per the U.S. Census Bureau, 40% of adults in the state hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
In fall 2023, 60.9% of students at Minnesota institutions were enrolled in online courses, according to NCES.
Per NCES, in fall 2023, there were over 160,000 students aged 25 and older enrolled at Minnesota colleges.

10 Best Online Colleges in Minnesota

Who Accredits Online Colleges in Minnesota?

The best online colleges in Minnesota hold institutional accreditation from reputable third-party agencies. Accreditation ensures that employers and other accredited schools will recognize your degree and/or accept your college credits.

The Higher Learning Commission has historically accredited Minnesota colleges and universities. However, schools in the state can be accredited by any accrediting body so long as it's recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). ED recognition is a requirement to be eligible for federal financial aid.

How Much Does College Cost in Minnesota?

Unless you study at the graduate level at a private institution, you are likely to encounter higher-than-average costs as a Minnesota college student. The state's typical undergraduate tuition costs exceed national averages by 18.7% at private institutions and 12.2% at public colleges.

However, Minnesota's state government runs several programs that can make your degree more affordable. The North Star Promise provides free tuition for eligible Minnesota residents with an adjusted household annual income of less than $80,000. You can also connect with many other state-level financial aid programs through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Minnesota also has tuition reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and the Canadian province of Manitoba. If you live in one of these locales, you may qualify for discounted tuition rates at participating public online colleges in Minnesota.

Career Opportunities in Minnesota

$53,810
Median annual wage in MN (May 2024)

+4.6%
Projected job growth in MN (2022-2032)

3.6%
Unemployment rate in MN (August 2025)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Projections Central, BLS LAUS

Workers in Minnesota benefit from higher-than-average wages and a labor market with low unemployment. As of May 2024, the state's median annual wage outpaced the national median by 8.7%.

Online colleges in Minnesota can help you take advantage of the state's changing labor market if you choose a major aligned with key sectors. With a bachelor's degree in tech or healthcare, you can pursue some of the fastest-growing jobs in the state, per CareerOneStop: nurse practitioner, data scientist, information security analyst, medical and health services manager, and actuary.

Popular Cities for Recent Grads

Minneapolis-St. Paul

The "twin cities" represent Minnesota's largest metropolitan center.
Minneapolis-St. Paul has the state's densest concentration of businesses and jobs that require a college degree.
From 2018-2021, Minneapolis-St. Paul's retention rate of recent college graduates was more than double the statewide average.

Rochester

Rochester has a population of about 122,400 people.
Southeast Minnesota posted the highest median hourly wage ($29.61) of any region in Minnesota from 2018-2021.
Healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing rank among the city's top industries of employment.

Duluth

Duluth's metro area population crosses the Minnesota-Wisconsin border and includes about 282,000 people.
Duluth is the largest city in northeastern Minnesota.
Northeastern Minnesota had the highest college graduate retention rate of any region in the state from 2018-2021 except for Minneapolis-St. Paul.