by our College Data Analytics Team
[Accounting](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 54 schools to find the best return on investment for accounting students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in accounting, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in accounting, no school beat North Hennepin Community College this year. North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,061. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $49,685. That is a strong return on a $21,241 median debt.
Century College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value accounting schools. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $21,332. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Century College generally make around $46,996. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Ridgewater College one of the best values for accounting. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $42,178. That is a strong return on a $15,556 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Crookston earned it the #4 place for accounting. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,288 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,391 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of University Of Minnesota Crookston earn a median of $56,627 early in their careers. Set against $33,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value accounting schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $52,059. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
1
2
3
4
5
Dakota County Technical College placed #6 among the best values for accounting. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Accounting graduates carry a median of $21,469 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $37,289 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Cloud Technical And Community College placed #7 among the best values for accounting. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124. Accounting graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Accounting graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $48,652 early in their careers. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Anoka Ramsey Community College earned the #8 position for value in accounting this year. Set in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,682. Accounting graduates carry a median of $22,083 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $43,520. Set against $22,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College earned the #9 position for value in accounting this year. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,491. Students borrow a median of $13,946 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $43,009. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College earned the #10 position for value in accounting this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $26,790. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $39,742. Set against $26,790 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earned the #11 position for value in accounting this year. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $17,650. Accounting graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $38,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value accounting schools. Set in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Students borrow a median of $20,291 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $47,439. That is a strong return on a $20,291 median debt.
Normandale Community College landed the #13 spot for accounting value this year. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $6,329 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $21,128. Accounting graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,128 median debt.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #14 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $27,175. Early-career accounting graduates make about $58,497. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Alexandria Technical And Community College earned the #15 position for value in accounting this year. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. Students from in state pay about $6,236 in tuition and fees. Accounting graduates carry a median of $14,054 in student loans. Accounting graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $45,368 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College came in at #16 for value in accounting this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,161. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $16,323. Accounting graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $34,808 early in their careers. Set against $16,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #17 for value in accounting this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $22,342 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $72,296. Set against $22,342 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Southwest Minnesota State University placed #18 among the best values for accounting. Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marshall. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,361. Students borrow a median of $27,016 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $47,898. That is a strong return on a $27,016 median debt. Southwest Minnesota State University admits about 62% of applicants.
Bemidji State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value accounting schools. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for accounting graduates is $30,114. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $58,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #20 among the best values for accounting. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $61,360. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #21 spot for accounting value this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the accounting program here. Soon after graduation, accounting degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $50,867. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Winona State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value accounting schools. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Students borrow a median of $23,652 to complete the accounting program here. Early-career accounting graduates make about $55,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #23 spot for accounting value this year. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Accounting graduates carry a median of $26,621 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $56,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value accounting schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Accounting graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career accounting graduates make about $62,038. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Capella University earned the #25 position for value in accounting this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Students borrow a median of $30,795 to complete the accounting program here. Accounting graduates of Capella University earn a median of $66,787 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in accounting:
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 54 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 33 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.