2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Minnesota
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general education students.
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2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value general education schools in Minnesota. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $17,029. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $44,387. Set against $17,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Bemidji State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Students borrow a median of $25,819 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $48,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Southwest Minnesota State University, which ranked #3. Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marshall. In-state tuition and fees average $10,361. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $27,016. General Education graduates of Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of $55,867 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
A rank of #4 makes Winona State University one of the best values for general education. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. General Education graduates carry a median of $24,551 in student loans. General Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $52,019 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Capella University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. General Education graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. General Education graduates of Capella University earn a median of $74,309 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #6 position for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $24,624. Early-career general education graduates make about $50,147. Set against $24,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #7 for value in general education this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $51,118. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Martin Luther College earned the #8 position for value in general education this year. Set in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,120. General Education graduates carry a median of $20,224 in student loans. General Education graduates of Martin Luther College earn a median of $31,016 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,224 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #9 among the best values for general education. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,080. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $59,959. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Hamline University placed #10 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $52,452. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #11 among the best values for general education. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,076. Students borrow a median of $26,197 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $44,396. Set against $26,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #12 spot for general education value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $57,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
