Best College ROI in Mn 2026
43 colleges in Mn analyzed for return on investment. Carleton College leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Mn has 43 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 12 public institutions and 31 private ones. Across the 43 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $83K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
93% of Mn colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Carleton College (median $95K on Computer Science).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Mn
Carleton College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Mn's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $17K in median debt.
University of Minnesota-Morris
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Science. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Bethany Lutheran College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Mathematics. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $20K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Mn
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carleton College(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Morris(public) | Computer Science | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Bethany Lutheran College(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 4 | Macalester College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Duluth(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities(public) | Computer Systems Analysis | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Winona State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Augsburg University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Bemidji State University(public) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 10 | Bethel University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Capella University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | College of Saint Benedict(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 13 | Concordia College at Moorhead(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | Dunwoody College of Technology(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Gustavus Adolphus College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Minnesota State University Moorhead(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | Minnesota State University-Mankato(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | North Central University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Saint Cloud State University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | Saint Johns University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Mn is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carleton College has the best ROI in Mn with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $17K in median debt.
Across 43 Mn colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $83K.
Carleton College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Mn has 43 colleges in our database (12 public, 31 private). Of the 43 with reportable ROI, 93% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).