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2019 Top Public Universities in MinnesotaAbout this List

The Top Public Universities ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along for millions of reviews from students and alumni. The ranking compares over 500 public colleges and state universities. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

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  1. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

    • 4 Year
    • Minneapolis, MN
    • 4,083
    1 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Junior: Coming to this University was quite the culture change considering the fact that I transferred from a junior college in California. I came out here because I was given the opportunity to be a student athlete in the sport of wrestling and I regret NOTHING. Everybody in this city in terms of administration, and students are very nice and give off a vibe that would be hard to be uncomfortable around. The only thing that I would change about this university is the cost of tuition, but I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks that and it could be way worse than what it is. This is a very fine institution and it’s my home away from home, and I love it! Being right outside of the downtown city gives you so many opportunities to do things such as food, bars, and hanging out with your people. The only disadvantage about being here is the winter, but after all that, the spring and summer is beautiful!
    Read 4,083 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 50% Acceptance Rate
    • $16,808 Net Price
    • 1270-1480 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  2. University of Minnesota - Morris

    • 4 Year
    • Morris, MN
    • 413
    2 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Junior: This university provides a high quality education at an approachable price point. Morris is unique in many ways, but most importantly in size. Small class sizes allow students to form relationships with faculty which can lead to research and creative opportunities that undergraduates would never have access to on larger campuses.
    Read 413 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 64% Acceptance Rate
    • $11,472 Net Price
    • 1150-1390 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  3. University of Minnesota Duluth

    • 4 Year
    • Duluth, MN
    • 1,024
    3 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Freshman: I love this school! I love that we get to walk everywhere in the entire building completely inside because it's all connected, that way we don't have to experience the freezing outdoors. Also, all of the teachers are taught by the teachers themselves, no graduate student teachers, or teaching assistants, it's always a professor. I also really like the community, it is very welcoming and liberal, right away I felt like I belonged.
    Read 1,024 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 77% Acceptance Rate
    • $16,381 Net Price
    • 1050-1280 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
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    Worcester Polytechnic Institute

    • 4 Year
    • Worcester, MA
    • 641

    Sophomore: I began my experience at WPI when I was a little girl going to my dad’s work, seeing his lab and wanting to be a scientist there just like him. I now attend school there and work in the psychology lab and study psychological science. WPI is on the smaller side and allows me to navigate, build relationships with my professors and easily recognize people all around campus. The reputation and opportunities the school has to offer are incredible. They really set you up for a career after graduation. One thing I want to see change is the diversity in majors and growing the humanities department. Science and math mixed with cultural studies, english, religion, language and psychology would make an even more well rounded individual and school. Overall I love my experience.
    Read 641 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 48% Acceptance Rate
    • $43,027 Net Price
    • 1310-1480 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  5. University of Minnesota - Crookston

    • 4 Year
    • Crookston, MN
    • 146
    4 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Senior: The University of Minnesota Crookston is a very small campus. During my stay here we hovered around 800-1100 on-campus students. The small student body may not be for everyone, but it does allow for a student to have opportunities that a larger campus may not. Being able to get involved in lots of clubs and professor created projects allows for a student to grow and learn outside the classroom. Getting connected with the different higher administration and utilizing their opportunities is very common here on campus, as a fraternity president I have been able to meet with the Chancellor many times to talk about student engagement and university programming. The professors are very well trained and teach their courses very well and are available for 1 on 1 help which wouldn't be available usually through a larger institution.
    Read 146 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 69% Acceptance Rate
    • $13,962 Net Price
    • 960-1140 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  6. Winona State University

    • 4 Year
    • Winona, MN
    • 841
    5 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Alum: WSU was a great 4 years of my life. The bluffs are beautiful and the nearby Lake allows the community to kayak and more for a small yearly fee. The campus is really pretty and has been updated in a lot of ways--there is a caribou coffee and snack shop in the library (the library is beautiful, spacious, and bright btw!), they have added another newer coffee shop in Somsen Hall as well. Yes like all colleges there are a lot of old buildings, but they have charm and history. The Wellness Center is amazing--relatively updated and very modern looking. The food court has also been remodeled and looks great as well. Overall, I had a great time at the school--true, the city of Winona is a little bland, there is the typical movie theater and a couple restaurants that aren't chains, but its a small town. Typically, people can travel to La Crosse or Rochester for the nearest mall or other adventures. Honestly though, Winona State is beautiful and a pretty great school. Go Warriors!
    Read 841 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 66% Acceptance Rate
    • $16,678 Net Price
    • 1040-1330 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  7. Minnesota State University, Mankato

    • 4 Year
    • Mankato, MN
    • 1,050
    6 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Freshman: I believe Minnesota State University, Mankato deserves a 5/5 star rating because there is wonderful diversity and offers room to grow in the crazy rollercoaster that college is! They offer great programs and offer students participation in their community. I am currently attending this University and I couldn't be more happier with this school! I have no objections.
    Read 1,050 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 61% Acceptance Rate
    • $13,704 Net Price
    • 886-1106 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
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  9. Minnesota State University Moorhead

    • 4 Year
    • Moorhead, MN
    • 715
    7 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Freshman: My experience at Minnesota State University Moorhead is unlike any other! The campus is a very inviting environment; there are always events going on whether it is sports, diversity, or arts. The professors give off a warm, caring aroma. No student should be afraid to ask for help from their professor; they are always willing whether it is through office hours or email. MSUM offers many ways to help students succeed; from tutoring to the Wellness Center for physical health. The campus is just the right size, not too small yet not overwhelming as well. As soon as I visited MSUM my senior year of high school, I knew it was home. Though, what I would like to see change is the exclusion from some activities held on campus. For example, they have activities that exclude some students from clubs or learning communities. I wish for more equality in allowing all students to be involved. Otherwise, I believe MSUM is a great place full of opportunities for students to further their education.
    Read 715 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 60% Acceptance Rate
    • $15,541 Net Price
    • 930-1180 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  10. Bemidji State University

    • 4 Year
    • Bemidji, MN
    • 511

    Freshman: Bemidji has a beautiful campus right on the lake with a ton of trees. There’s lots to do from hiking, kayaking, good food to eat, and lots of other activities downtown. Everyone is so friendly and helpful in making your time on campus successful. The professors are very thourough and everything is easy to access through E-Services and D2l. I love Bemidji State!
    Read 511 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 66% Acceptance Rate
    • $14,653 Net Price
    • — SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  11. Metropolitan State University - Minnesota

    • 4 Year
    • Saint Paul, MN
    • 423

    Graduate Student: There are many things that I have enjoyed about my experience at Metro State University (finishing my undergraduate degree for 3 semesters and the first 3 semesters of my graduate degree thus far). The professors at the school are absolutely phenomenal. They are always willing to work with students and are very knowledgeable about the subject matter. I enjoy the personal attention and more interactive learning that’s created by having smaller class sizes. The school offers many of its classes on a schedule that caters to nontraditional students.

    One thing I would change is student involvement. Being that there is no on-campus housing, it’s easy for students to just go to class and leave without interacting too much with others on campus. I’m not sure of the best solution to this or if this is an issue with all non-traditional universities.
    Read 423 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 56% Acceptance Rate
    • $13,954 Net Price
    • — SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  14. Southwest Minnesota State University

    • 4 Year
    • Marshall, MN
    • 292

    Graduate Student: This year, I will be starting the Educational Leadership Graduate program at Southwest Minnesota State University. Since the program does not officially start until September 8th, I can only give my first impressions. Upon hearing about the program from my administrator, I was very intrigued. I was not interested in doing an online program and this appeared to be a fabulous fit. It is a cohort that meets closer to my home, we will be meeting on a monthly basis and a few of my coworkers have joined the program. Two professors from the university came to the location and met with potential students, where they outlined the program, offered incentives for early admissions and took the time to hear and answer questions. The only thing that I wish were different was the timeliness of communication about the first class. All in all, I am very anxious to start this journey and look forward to what Southwest has to offer me as I work towards my Master's.
    Read 292 Reviews

    • C+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 62% Acceptance Rate
    • $14,854 Net Price
    • 765-1075 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  15. St. Cloud State University

    • 4 Year
    • Saint Cloud, MN
    • 1,075

    College Freshman: Think. Do. Make a Difference. That is the motto of my current college, St. Cloud State University. Here, the professors genuinely enjoy the field that they were teaching and want their students to succeed in it, too. Within the first month of the 2016-2017 academic school year, there have been a number of different events for students to attend in which they can meet other students, enjoy free activities, and have an involvement on campus. As recently reported on the news, my community has recently undergone a traumatic occurrence at the local mall ten minutes away. Eight people were stabbed, none of which were students at the university, and the assailant was killed on site. Since this, the community has really come together to work through this difficult time. Within the past few days, the school has offered many opportunities for gatherings in which students and faculty could find some light in this time of darkness. The school genuinely cares. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for an affordable, amazing college experience. St. Cloud State University is a school that I would choose time and time again. Go, Huskies!
    Read 1,075 Reviews

    • C+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 86% Acceptance Rate
    • $13,684 Net Price
    • 960-1190 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  16. University of Minnesota - Rochester

    • 4 Year
    • Rochester, MN
    • 155

    Senior: I love the classroom style! The focus is on group work where you learn together and try to solve problems rather than attending a lecture and taking notes. Classrooms always have more than one teacher in them so students can get more individualized help and different view points from different teachers. Sometimes, classrooms will have teachers from different departments all teaching one topic (for example, a math teacher, a psych teacher, and a chemistry teacher all talking about the distributions of Skittles flavors, the recognition of Skittles and their flavors, and the sour acids in the Skittles respectively).
    Read 155 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 51% Acceptance Rate
    • $14,329 Net Price
    • 1230-1410 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?