Students interested in taking their education online will find that they’ll enjoy many benefits including savings on tuition, flexibility in scheduling, and the ability to study from any location they choose as long as they have Internet access. For those students interested in that level of educational flexibility, this list of the top online colleges in Minnesota will help in your search for the perfect online degree for you. This ranking has been ordered based upon the average tuition cost per credit at each of these colleges.
Ranking the Best Online Colleges in Minnesota
#1. Bemidji State University
Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, Bemidji State University is a public university. Founded in 1919, Bemidji State University was first established as the Bemidji State Normal School. Originally established as a teacher training school, Bemidji State Normal School continued to provide its students with teacher training for many years. After some time, Bemidji State Normal School began to offer its students degrees in teaching. With the addition of education degrees to its curriculum, the school was renamed to Bemidji State Teachers College. By adding degrees in teaching, Bemidji State Teachers College had opened the door for the addition of other degree programs that would soon be offered at the school. With additional degree programs being offered at the school, the name of the school was shortened to Bemidji State College. Eventually, the school began to offer graduate-level degree programs, which prompted the school to be renamed to Bemidji State University. In 1999, the school was added to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Today, Bemidji State University is home to a student body of approximately 6,400 students.
Featured Programs
Students at Bemidji State University are afforded the opportunity to select from a wide variety of academic programs offered at the school. Currently, Bemidji State University students can choose from over sixty different undergraduate majors as well as a selection of graduate programs. At this time, Bemidji State University offers students seven different online degree programs to enroll in. By offering these programs, Bemidji State University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Minnesota.
Accreditation: Bemidji State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $266/credit
Click here for a list of Bemidji State University‘s online programs.
#2. Minnesota State University, Mankato
A public research university, Minnesota University, Mankato‘s motto is “Big Ideas. Real-world Thinking.” Located in Mankato, Minnesota, Minnesota State University, Mankato is the flagship university of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Officially opened in 1868, plans for Minnesota State University, Mankato began to materialize around the end of the 1850s. The Minnesota Legislature began to call for the creation of an institution of higher education that would serve the southern part of the state. One of three state normal schools founded at this time, the Mankato Normal School was created in order to provide teacher training to students who would then go on to teach in the state’s public education system. Nearly sixty years later, Mankato State Normal School had begun offering students four-year degree programs. With this curriculum change, Mankato State Normal School was renamed to Mankato State Teachers College. The school had soon grown so much that by the 1960s it was decided that the school would be renamed to Minnesota State University. In 1995, the school had become part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which resulted in the school being given its current name. Today, Minnesota State University, Mankato enrolls over 15,000 students.
Home of the Mavericks, Minnesota State University, Mankato offers a sizable selection of academic programs for students to enroll in. Currently, students can select from over 130 different undergraduate degrees, over seventy graduate programs, and four doctoral programs. A large selection of programs is also offered to students online. Through offering these programs online, Minnesota State University, Mankato has ranked among our top online universities in the state. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a public institution.
Accreditation: Minnesota State University, Mankato is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $280/credit
Click here for a list of Minnesota State University, Mankato‘s online programs.
#3. Southwest Minnesota State University
Home of the Mustangs, Southwest Minnesota State University‘s motto is “Where You Belong”. Founded in 1964, Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, Southwest Minnesota State University was originally known as Southwest Minnesota State College. A relatively new institution, Southwest Minnesota State University was established in order to help create more options for educational opportunities in the state of Minnesota. Citing a lack of schools that served the southwestern part of the state, the Minnesota Legislature called for the creation of Southwest Minnesota State College. After its founding, Southwest Minnesota State College quickly proved to be quite popular. Growing its enrollment rapidly, Southwest Minnesota State College began to offer its students graduate-level degree programs. With this addition to the curriculum, Southwest Minnesota State College was renamed to Southwest State University in 1975. In 2003, the school was renamed to Southwest Minnesota State University. Today, Southwest Minnesota State University is home to 8,800 students.
Southwest Minnesota State University currently offers students many different academic programs to select from. Currently, students at Southwest Minnesota State University are able to choose over fifty different undergraduate programs as well as a large selection of graduate degrees. Southwest Minnesota State University also offers students the ability to take select programs online. By offering these programs, the school has placed among our top online universities in Minnesota. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Southwest Minnesota State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $286/credit
Click here for a list of Southwest Minnesota State University‘s online programs.
#4. Martin Luther College
A private university located in New Ulm, Minnesota, Martin Luther College was founded in 1995. A very new institution, Martin Luther College’s motto is “The Way, the Truth, the Life”. Made up of two different institutions, Martin Luther College was founded when Northwestern College was combined with the nearby Dr. Martin Luther College. While the newly-formed Martin Luther College is officially only twenty-three years old, the school’s history dates much further back. In 1865, Northwestern College was established by the Wisconsin Synod. Northwestern College was created in order to provide students with training for the ministry. Soon the school began to grow and grow, eventually offering students more traditional academic programming. By the early 1900s, the school had begun to offer its students many different undergraduate degree programs, which prompted the school to be renamed to Northwestern University. The name was soon changed to Northwestern College in 1910. Simultaneously, Dr. Martin Luther College was slowly developing into a school of its own. As these two schools independently grew, it was eventually decided in 1995 that the two schools should merge their resources to create one school. Today, Martin Luther College is home to a student body of approximately 900 students.
Students at Martin Luther College are able to select from a large catalog of academic programs made available to students at the school. At this time, Martin Luther College is offering students dozens of different undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Of these programs, Martin Luther College offers a selection to students online. By committing to online education, Martin Luther College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Minnesota. Martin Luther College is a private institution.
Accreditation: Martin Luther College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $325/credit
Click here for a list of Martin Luther College‘s online programs.
#5. University of Northwestern – Saint Paul
An evangelical Christian institution, University of Northwestern – Saint Paul is located in Roseville, Minnesota. Originally known as the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School, University of Northwestern – Saint Paul was originally focused on training students to work in the ministry. Run by Dr. William Bell Riley of the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School was quite popular among students who were seeking out an education with a religious underpinning. Over time, the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School began to add additional academic programs to its academic offerings. By adding these additional programs, it was soon determined that the school should be renamed in order to better reflect the different types of academic programs being offered. Named Northwestern College, the school continued to operate under this name until 2013. It was at this point in the school’s history that it was renamed to the University of Northwestern – Saint Paul. Today, the University of Northwestern – Saint Paul enrolls almost 3,500 students.
The University of Northwestern – Saint Paul offers students many different academic programs. At this time, students can choose from over seventy different degree programs offered at the school, including six master’s degrees. A selection of these programs is also made available to students entirely online, helping the University of Northwestern – Saint Paul to place among our top online universities and colleges of Minnesota. University of Northwestern – Saint Paul is a private institution.
Accreditation: University of Northwestern – Saint Paul is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $395/credit
Click here for a list of University of Northwestern – Saint Paul‘s online programs.
#6. Concordia University
Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Concordia University is a private liberal arts university. With the motto “It is good to pursue knowledge, better to know Jesus”, Concordia University was founded in 1893 with a close affiliation to the Lutheran Church. Originally known as Concordia High School, Concordia University was established in order to provide students with the opportunity to gain the education and training that they’d need to enter into the ministry. By 1921, the school had begun to offer its students the opportunity to enroll in two-year degree programs. With the addition of these programs, Concordia University began to consider the addition of more degree programs into its curriculum. After World War II, Concordia University experienced a surge in enrollment which resulted in the addition of more academic programs. This surge in enrollment also allowed for the school to expand its campus. In 1985, Concordia University was renamed to its current name. Ten years prior, the school had begun to experiment with accelerated learning programs which are now the precursors to its online degree programs. Today, Concordia University is home to a student body of over 5,000 students.
Students at Concordia University can select from a large catalog of academic programs offered at the school. At this time, Concordia University is offering students dozens of academic programs including undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many of these programs are also made available to students online. By offering these programs online, Concordia University has earned its place among our ranking of the top online universities and colleges in Minnesota. Concordia University is a private institution.
Accreditation: Concordia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $420/credit
Click here for a list of Concordia University‘s online programs.
#7. University of Minnesota Crookston
Part of the University of Minnesota system, the University of Minnesota Crookston was established in 1966. With the motto “Small Campus. Big Degree.”, the University of Minnesota Crookston is one of the state’s premier public universities. While officially established in 1966, the University of Minnesota Crookston’s history dates all the way back to the end of the 1800s. At that time, the Minnesota Legislature began plans to establish a variety of experimental farms in the Crookston area. This money was eventually allocated to the creation of the Northwest School of Agriculture in 1905. Affiliated with the University of Minnesota, the Northwest School of Agriculture provided students with farming education for decades. In 1963, it was decided that the University of Minnesota Technical Institute was to be opened in order to provide students with opportunities to enroll in two-year degree programs. This school was to share a campus with the Northwest School of Agriculture. The school was then renamed to the University of Minnesota Technical College. By 1993, the school had grown in size and in academic programming, resulting in the school being renamed to the University of Minnesota Technical College and then the University of Minnesota Crookston in 1993. Today, the University of Minnesota Crookston enrolls a student body of almost 1,900 students.
Students at the University of Minnesota Crookston are able to select from a large catalog of academic programs offered at the school. At this time, the University of Minnesota Crookston is offering almost thirty-five undergraduate degree programs as well as a variety of graduate degrees. Many of these programs are also offered to students entirely online. Through offering these online programs, the University of Minnesota Crookston has been ranked as one of our top online universities in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Crookston is a public institution.
Accreditation: University of Minnesota Crookston is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $445/credit
Click here for a list of University of Minnesota Crookston‘s online programs.
#8. Crown College
Established with the motto “Called to Serve. Prepared to Lead.”, Crown College is a private college with an affiliation to the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Located in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, Crown College was first established in 1916. Originally known as the Alliance Training Home, the school was first established in order to provide students with the opportunity to gain training that would prepare them to work within the Christian ministry. Soon after its establishment, the Alliance Training Home began to expand its academic offerings to beyond ministry training. With the expansion of the school’s curriculum also came a variety of different names for the institution. Over the course of the 20th century, the school continued to grow and attract students from across the state. By 1992, it was decided that the school was to be renamed to its current name of Crown College. Located in the very scenic St. Bonifacius, Crown College has become well known for the beauty of its campus. The school has also become well known for its commitment to online learning. Today, Crown College currently enrolls almost 1,300 students.
Crown College currently offers students many different academic programs from which to enroll. At this particular time, students at Crown College can select from over forty different degree programs made available at the school. Of these programs, students can choose from dozens of undergraduate and graduate degree programs online. Because of these online programs, Crown College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Minnesota. Crown College is a private institution.
Accreditation: Crown College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $450/credit
Click here for a list of Crown College‘s online programs.
#9. Metropolitan State University
Located in St. Paul, Metropolitan State University is a public university and member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Established with the motto “Where life and learning meet”, Metropolitan State University was first founded in 1971. A newer school, Metropolitan State University was created in order to better serve the non-traditional students from the Twin Cities area. At the time, the other schools within the area were not providing academic programs that were designed for non-traditional students. Noticing the lack of options for this group, Metropolitan State University was founded as Minnesota Metropolitan State College. Proving to be very popular, Minnesota Metropolitan State College soon began to expand its academic offerings to include over thirty bachelor’s degree programs. With the addition of these degree programs, the school soon began to grow beyond its initial purpose of being solely for non-traditional students. After moving its main campus to Saint Paul, the school was then renamed to Metropolitan State University. Today, Metropolitan State University is home to a student body of almost 11,600 students.
Home of the Muskrats, Metropolitan State University currently offers students a large selection of academic programs from which to enroll in. Students can select from nearly fifty different degree programs offered. Many of these programs are also offered to students entirely online. By offering these degrees online, Metropolitan State University has ranked among our top online universities in Minnesota. Metropolitan State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Metropolitan State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $464/credit
Click here for a list of Metropolitan State University‘s online programs.
#10. Minnesota State University Moorhead
A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public university. Founded in 1887, Minnesota State University Moorhead was proposed as one of the potential normal schools for the state. Originally known as Moorhead Normal School, the school was created to act as a facility that would train teachers to work within Minnesota’s public education system. By 1921, the school had begun to offer a handful of bachelor’s degrees relating to education. This change in programming resulted in the school being renamed to Moorhead State Teachers College. Following the end of World War II, Moorhead State Teachers College saw an influx of students enrolling at the school. With this increase in enrollment also came an addition of programs to the school’s curriculum. By 1957, it was decided that the school was to be renamed to Moorhead State College to better reflect the breadth of programs offered at the school. Renamed to Moorhead State University in 1975, the school was then made part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system in 1995. Renamed to Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2000, the school is now home to almost 6,000 students.
Home of the Dragons, Minnesota State University Moorhead maintains an expansive catalog of academic programs. At this time, students can choose from almost eighty different undergraduate programs as well as over a dozen graduate degrees. Of these programs, dozens are made available to students entirely online. By committing to online education, Minnesota State University Moorhead has placed among our top online universities in the state. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution.
Accreditation: Minnesota State University Moorhead is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $478/credit
Click here for a list of Minnesota State University Moorhead‘s online programs.
#11. Saint Cloud State University
Founded in 1869, St. Cloud State University is a public university. Part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, St. Cloud State University is currently the largest public university in the entire state of Minnesota. Originally known as the Third State Normal School, St. Cloud State University was initially established as a teacher training facility. Operating out of a renovated hotel, Third State Normal School offered teacher training programs while steadily increasing its additional curriculum. By 1921, Third State Normal School had accumulated so many additional academic programs that it was renamed to St. Cloud State Teachers College to better reflect the type of academic options offered at the school. In 1925, St. Cloud State Teachers College began offering students bachelor’s degree programs. With the addition of college degree programs to its curriculum, St. Cloud State Teachers College soon experienced a surge in enrollment. The school was renamed to St. Cloud State College in 1957. Four years prior, the school began to offer master’s degrees, which eventually led to the school being renamed to St. Cloud State University in 1975. Today, St. Cloud State University is home to a student body of approximately 14,600 students.
Students at St. Cloud State University are able to choose from a large selection of academic programs offered at the school. At this time, St. Cloud State University is offering students over two-hundred degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. A large amount of these programs are also offered to students entirely online, helping St. Cloud State University to earn its place among the top online universities in Minnesota. St. Cloud State University is a public university.
Accreditation: Saint Cloud State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $520/credit
Click here for a list of Saint Cloud State University‘s online programs.
#12. University of Minnesota Duluth
Established in 1902, University of Minnesota Duluth is a public university within the University of Minnesota system. Located in Duluth, the University of Minnesota Duluth was originally known as the Duluth Normal School. Founded as part of a plan by the state of Minnesota to provide facilities for which students can be trained to become teachers for the state’s public education system, Duluth Normal School operated in this capacity for almost twenty years. By 1921, Duluth Normal School had begun to offer students the ability to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree in education, which led to the school being renamed to Duluth State Teachers College. The addition of bachelor’s degrees in education opened the door for other types of bachelor’s programs at the school. During the 1940s, the nearby University of Minnesota campus was starting to overcrowd, and the state legislature began to search for ways to address this problem. It was decided that the Duluth State Teachers College would be redesignated as part of the University of Minnesota system of schools and would be renamed to University of Minnesota Duluth. Today, the University of Minnesota Duluth enrolls around 11,000 students.
The University of Minnesota Duluth maintains a large catalog of academic programs. At this time, students can select from over eighty bachelor’s degree programs as well as almost thirty different graduate programs. A large selection of these programs is also made available to students entirely online, earning the University of Minnesota Duluth a place among the top online universities and colleges in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution.
Accreditation: University of Minnesota Duluth is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $659/credit
Click here for a list of University of Minnesota Duluth‘s programs.
#13. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
A public research university, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities was founded in 1851. Located in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a member of the University of Minnesota system. The flagship university within the University of Minnesota system, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is widely regarded as a Public Ivy university due to the high-quality academic programming offered at the school. Since its establishment, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities has attracted many of the brightest minds from across the United States, including notable alumni such as former Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Bob Dylan. The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities has also been recognized as having the Highest Research Activity possible among universities as graded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Given the motto “A common bond for all the arts”, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities continues to be one of the premier universities within the state of Minnesota. At this time, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities enrolls a student body of approximately 52,000 students.
Students at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities are able to select from a large catalog of academic programs made available at the school. At this time, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is offering students dozens of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many of these programs are also offered to students entirely online. By offering these programs online, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities has ranked among the top online universities in Minnesota. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public institution.
Accreditation: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $961/credit
Click here for a list of University of Minnesota, Twin Cities‘s online programs.
#14. Bethel University
Located in Arden, Minnesota, Bethel University is a private university. Affiliated with the evangelical Christian Church, Bethel University was founded in 1871. Originally located in Chicago, Illinois, Bethel University’s history began as a Baptist seminary. Founded by a group of Swedish Baptists, Bethel University operated its first classes out of the First Swedish Baptist Church in Chicago. In 1914, it was decided by the Baptist General Conference that the school would merge with Bethel Academy in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After merging with Bethel Academy, the school began to experiment with adding college-level courses into its curriculum. Proving successful, the school expanded its curriculum to include junior college-level courses, resulting in the school being renamed to Bethel Junior College. Building upon the foundation of the junior college courses, Bethel Junior College expanded into offering four-year liberal arts degrees, resulting in another name change to Bethel College and Seminary in 1947. The school then moved to Arden Hills, Minnesota in 1972 and was finally renamed to Bethel University in 2004. Today, Bethel University has grown to have a student population of over 6,500 students.
Home of the Royals, Bethel University now offers students a sizable selection of academic programs to select from. At this time, students can choose from almost ninety different undergraduate degree programs as well as a number of different graduate programs. A selection of these programs is also made available to students online. Through this offering of online courses, Bethel University has placed among our ranking of the top online universities in Minnesota. Bethel University is a private institution.
Accreditation: Bethel University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $1,550/credit
Click here for a list of Bethel University‘s online programs.
#15. The College of Saint Scholastica
Originally known as the Sacred Heart Institute, The College of Saint Scholastica was first established in 1912. A private university, the College of Saint Scholastica is located in Duluth, Minnesota. With the motto “All her paths are peace”, the College of Saint Scholastica was formed out of the combination of the work of Benedictine missionaries and settlers in the town of Duluth. Arriving from St. Joseph, Minnesota, Mother Scholastica Kerst came to Duluth with a group of her twenty-eight Sisters in order to establish a new Benedictine mission and academy. Upon arrival, the group established the Sacred Heart Institute. Originally a high school, Sacred Heart Institute proved to be quite popular. Mother Scholastica began envisioning the school as not just a high school, but a place of higher education. In 1912, Sacred Heart Institute took steps towards this goal by adding junior college courses and changing the school’s name to The College of St. Scholastica. Over the course of the next twelve years, The College of St. Scholastica expanded its academic offerings and began offering four-year degree programs in 1924. Today, The College of Saint Scholastica is home to the Saints, a student body of over 4,200 students.
The College of Saint Scholastica maintains a large catalog of academic programs. Currently, students are able to select from over fifty different undergraduate and graduate programs. Of these programs, a large number is made available to students online. The College of Saint Scholastica has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in Minnesota due to its commitment to online education. The College of Saint Scholastica is a private institution.
Accreditation: The College of Saint Scholastica is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $2,034/credit
Click here for a list of The College of Saint Scholastica‘s online programs.
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