2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Minnesota

[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong chemistry education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for chemistry students.
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2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemistry Schools
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for chemistry in Minnesota. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $21,158. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $47,451. Set against $21,158 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $44,674 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan State University earned it the #3 place for chemistry. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Students borrow a median of $29,646 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $54,195 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,646 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
St Olaf College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $24,988. Chemistry graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,988 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
A rank of #5 makes The College Of Saint Scholastica one of the best values for chemistry. Located in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,778. Students borrow a median of $26,755 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of The College Of Saint Scholastica earn a median of $60,431 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,755 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #6 spot for chemistry value this year. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,076. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $26,901 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of $44,396 early in their careers. Set against $26,901 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gustavus Adolphus College admits about 61% of applicants.
Carleton College earned the #7 position for value in chemistry this year. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. In-state tuition and fees average $68,892. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carleton College admits about 20% 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.