2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in Minnesota
[Adult & Continuing Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/adult-continuing-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong adult & continuing education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for adult & continuing education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the adult & continuing education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools
For return on investment in adult & continuing education, no school beat University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $21,598 in student loans. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $36,271. That is a strong return on a $21,598 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #2 makes Capella University one of the best values for adult & continuing education. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $35,998. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $65,786. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
Metropolitan State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value adult & continuing education schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Typical student debt for adult & continuing education graduates is $28,279. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $42,471. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hamline University earned it the #4 place for adult & continuing education. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,004 in tuition and fees. Adult & Continuing Education graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $59,462. Set against $25,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hamline University admits about 88% of applicants.
More Adult & Continuing Education Rankings
View All Adult & Continuing Education Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
