2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Minnesota

[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) 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 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health students.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Health Schools
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #1 spot for value among public health schools in Minnesota. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $70,387 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,850 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $32,830. Set against $17,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Winona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Students borrow a median of $20,966 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $46,250 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,966 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Capella University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $73,117. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $26,000. Public Health graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Rasmussen College Minnesota earned the #6 position for value in public health this year. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $40,809. Early-career public health graduates make about $35,433. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #7 among the best values for public health. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $69,785. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
St Catherine University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,428. Public Health graduates carry a median of $29,815 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $52,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #9 for value in public health this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $38,475. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.