Skip to Main Content

2018 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 with 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.

Best Colleges
12 results

Best Programs

Students

Social Scene

Campus

Athletics

  1. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

    • 4 Year
    • Minneapolis, MN
    • 4,034
    1 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Niche User: The University of Minnesota is a welcoming, lively, and beautiful university. They have amazing communication with the families of students and the students themselves. The campus looks like a campus that would be in a movie- absolutely stunning! The mixture of metropolitan landscape and wildlife and nature is perfect. You will never be bored at the University of Minnesota as there is always something to do, whether that be exploring downtown, going to a concert, or kayaking on one of Minnesota's thousands of lakes.
    Read 4,034 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 44% Acceptance Rate
    • $16,242 Net Price
    • 1180-1450 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  2. University of Minnesota - Morris

    • 4 Year
    • Morris, MN
    • 410
    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 410 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 58% Acceptance Rate
    • $11,589 Net Price
    • 1020-1270 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  3. University of Minnesota - Crookston

    • 4 Year
    • Crookston, MN
    • 143
    3 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Freshman: Nice quiet campus out of the way, good solid classes, workable work load but challenging, very hands on, big on critical thinking. Dorms for freshmen are NICE. The older grades get kinda cruddy dorms though. Diversity is excellent. Agriculture department is very strong. Big study abroad department. The local area is pretty sparse, but there is a lot to work with on campus. Winters are cold. Would like warmer winters. Nothing worth complaining about, 5/5. If you go there for an Ag or Business degree, you will be will get a good education.
    Read 143 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 68% Acceptance Rate
    • $13,396 Net Price
    • 800-1100 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  5. University of Minnesota Duluth

    • 4 Year
    • Duluth, MN
    • 1,007
    4 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Freshman: At the University of Minnesota - Duluth, everyone is very welcoming! Overall, I was very nervous to move from my small town, but once I got settled in, I was very happy with the decision I made. I have grown so much as a person being independent. The thing that I have found frustrating is that some student advisors are not helpful at all and haven't necessarily steered me in the right direction. I have often found myself having to stress over registering for class, having transfer credits be put into the schools system. Other than that, I have really enjoyed my time in Duluth and have no intentions of transferring.
    Read 1,007 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 77% Acceptance Rate
    • $15,664 Net Price
    • 970-1210 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  6. Winona State University

    • 4 Year
    • Winona, MN
    • 826
    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 826 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 60% Acceptance Rate
    • $17,109 Net Price
    • 790-1070 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  7. Minnesota State University, Mankato

    • 4 Year
    • Mankato, MN
    • 1,029
    6 Top Public Universities in Minnesota

    Sophomore: I really enjoy all that the school has to offer in terms of extracurriculars. There’s always intramural sports you can do with teams, and there’s a huge gym and rock climbing wall. There’s always stuff in the student center going on as well. There’s plenty of organizations and clubs to get involved with, as well as Greek life, which I am part of. Being in a fraternity has completely changed my college experience for the better and I don’t regret coming to his great school one bit!
    Read 1,029 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 62% Acceptance Rate
    • $13,812 Net Price
    • 886-1106 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
  8. Find College Scholarships

  9. Minnesota State University Moorhead

    • 4 Year
    • Moorhead, MN
    • 707
    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 707 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 60% Acceptance Rate
    • $15,294 Net Price
    • 910-1120 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  10. Metropolitan State University - Minnesota

    • 4 Year
    • Saint Paul, MN
    • 415

    Sophomore: I love my university because it's centrally located, wonderful staff, and amazing student services. I really appreciate this college because it's so easy to become discouraged about the process of school, but when you look up there is always a warm and welcoming university facility or staff there to help you. Thanks Metro State for being just amazing!
    Read 415 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 100% Acceptance Rate
    • $15,231 Net Price
    • — SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  11. St. Cloud State University

    • 4 Year
    • Saint Cloud, MN
    • 1,048

    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 1,048 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 85% Acceptance Rate
    • $13,582 Net Price
    • 930-1170 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
  12. Sponsored

    North Central University

    • 4 Year
    • Minneapolis, MN
    • 568

    Junior: Overall, I have enjoyed my time at North Central. I was involved in two years of full-time PSEO at the school, and am now a full-time undergrad student with three semesters of work left. The environment is very nice; students, faculty, and professors are very easy to work and get along with. The campus is located a couple blocks out of downtown Minneapolis, so it is a beautiful setting. The school also has an extremely good business program, with many students able to find jobs immediately out of school because of the connections and skills they learn in the School of Business. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for a smaller, private school in the Minneapolis area; it is well worth the investment!
    Read 568 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 66% Acceptance Rate
    • $18,827 Net Price
    • 905-1138 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  13. Bemidji State University

    • 4 Year
    • Bemidji, MN
    • 503

    Sophomore: The campus is beautiful and right on the lake. It is basically like my small town at home but with a lot more people around. There's a mall and tons of restaurants in the town. There is so much stuff you can do outside and at the lake. School isn't too bad, the professors are all really helpful. The dorms are super fun, they are small but it's cool because your friends are right next door. The food is pretty good. It can get repetitive but it's a buffet every time. There are a bunch of jobs on campus and intramural sports. The gym is pretty nice; we got new equipment this year! You can walk to all your classes and the tuition is one of the lowest in the state. Overall, I wouldn't have picked a different college.
    Read 503 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 64% Acceptance Rate
    • $14,334 Net Price
    • — SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  14. Southwest Minnesota State University

    • 4 Year
    • Marshall, MN
    • 287

    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 287 Reviews

    • C+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 54% Acceptance Rate
    • $14,824 Net Price
    • 765-1075 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  15. University of Minnesota - Rochester

    • 4 Year
    • Rochester, MN
    • 154

    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 154 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 66% Acceptance Rate
    • $16,247 Net Price
    • 960-1120 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?