Best Online Colleges in Minnesota for 2024

Get detailed info on Best Online Colleges in Minnesota and their online degrees, financial aid and scholarships, acceptance rate, tuition and fees.

Minnesota is one of the states which offers online education from Kindergarten to Graduate schools and colleges. The state of Minnesota has more than 113 institutions and colleges, including Community colleges and tribal colleges and universities, which are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to provide you with online education and with an accredited degree. Two of the largest colleges in the country which offer online education, Walden University, and Capella University, is located in Minnesota. Online programs are highly accepted and appreciated in Minnesota and are continuously expanding in the state.

Universities like, University of Minnesota and Concordia University are listed as one of the best online colleges in Minnesota. There are financial aids and scholarships where you can apply to help you cut the cost of your online programs tuitions.  The federal government, state government, and educational institutes offer students various scholarships and financial aid.

Opportunities for college education in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota has implemented an initiative called the Minnesota Online Quality to meet the extensive challenges and continually expanding enrollment of students in the online education system. This initiative helps the educators by providing them guidelines and forum to serve and teach the students in a certain standard and specific criteria. According to the National Center for Education and Statistics, the total number of enrollment in 2016 was 422,792. The total number of degrees awarded in 2015-2016 was 19,526 Associate's Degree, 36,580 Bachelor's Degree, 23,882 Master's Degree, and 5,433 Doctoral Degrees.  

The state is already booming with heavy enrollment for online education and hence, it has taken many valid steps for improving every day on the standard of the e-learning and also helping the new students with enrollment and choosing their required course and programs whether it be an associate’s, bachelors are master’s degree.

Following are the Best Online Colleges in Minnesota in 2019.

Concordia University Saint Paul
#

1 Concordia University Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 97%

Average Financial Aid: $12,199

Acceptance Rate: 57.00

Total Programs Offered (42)


13

Education Programs

11

Business Management Programs

3

Criminal Justice Programs

15

Other Programs


Concordia University-Saint Paul is a private, not-for-profit institution that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers online affordable education programs such as Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate in Accounting, Fine Arts, Biology, Business Management, Computer Science Health Science and many more.

A cumulative GPA of 3.13 is required to take admission in this institution. The graduate students earn 44% more than the national average. It has online faculties who have more than 25 years of experience in teaching.

The Transfer Advantage Scholarships are offered to those students who directly get transferred from an institution and are pursuing a traditional, undergraduate degree. The eligible students are awarded $2000 at the time of admission, which is provided as installments of $1000 annually.

St. Catherine University
#

2 St. Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 99%

Average Financial Aid: $24,710

Acceptance Rate: 91.00

Total Programs Offered (13)


6

Education Programs

2

Behavioral Sciences Programs

2

Health Science Programs

3

Other Programs


St. Catherine University is a private, not-for-profit Catholic institution that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate in Behavioral Science, Business Management, Education, Health Science, Human Services, Nursing and many more.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.61 out of 4.0 is required to take admission in this institution. The institution conducts several events and activities for its students such as Wordplay, Katwalk, TU Dance, Graduate College Commencement, Sistah Solo, etc.

The university has 11 athletic teams that compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) as part of NCAA Division III.

It has an award called Mary E. McCahill Memorial Award which is awarded to those students who demonstrate outstanding performance in academic excellence, leadership, loyalty, and service to this institution.

University of Northwestern (UNW)
#

3 University of Northwestern (UNW)

Saint Paul, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 100%

Average Financial Aid: $16,874

Acceptance Rate: 87.00

Total Programs Offered (10)


6

Theology Programs

2

Business Management Programs

1

Education Program

1

Other Program


St. Catherine University is a private, not-for-profit Catholic institution that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate in Behavioral Science, Business Management, Education, Health Science, Human Services, Nursing and many more.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.61 out of 4.0 is required to take admission in this institution. The institution conducts several events and activities for its students such as Wordplay, Katwalk, TU Dance, Graduate College Commencement, Sistah Solo, etc.

The university has 11 athletic teams that compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) as part of NCAA Division III.

It has an award called Mary E. McCahill Memorial Award which is given to those students who demonstrate outstanding performance in academics, leadership, loyalty, and service to this institution.

Rasmussen College
#

4 Rasmussen College

Bloomington, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 64%

Average Financial Aid: $4,743

Acceptance Rate: Request Info

Total Programs Offered (42)


11

Health Science Programs

10

Business Management Programs

4

Design Programs

17

Other Programs


Rasmussen College is a private, for-profit institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, Associate, and Undergraduate Certificate in varies areas at an affordable cost.

It has high tech classrooms, computer labs, health science labs, spacious classrooms that provide a perfect environment for students for their career development and learning. It offers resources for traditional as well as an online classroom facility for its students.

Rasmussen College offers tuition fee assistance through various federal student aid like federal grants, work-study, loan facilities to needy and deserving candidates. To avail these financial aids, the eligible student must complete the application for Federal Student Aid which is done online and free of cost.

The college is a global leader in Competency-Based Education (CBE), that is totally focused towards helping and advancing a project-based and faculty-led learning approach that will make it easy for a student to learn every aspect in a given deadline.

Hamline University
#

5 Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 100%

Average Financial Aid: $25,007

Acceptance Rate: 70.00

Total Programs Offered (24)


16

Education Programs

4

Psychology Programs

2

Environmental Science Programs

2

Other Programs


Hamline University is a private, not-for-profit institution in Minnesota. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer Master’s and Certificates in Education, Environmental Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Law, and many more.

It offers various kinds of essential facilities to its students, faculty, staff members and visitors like housing, dining, transportation, central book store, athletic equipment, counseling, health and safety, and more.

A minimum GPA of 3.44 is required to take admission in Hamline.

The university is always committed to serve veterans, active service members and their dependents. Financial aid facilities like grants, scholarships, loans, etc. are offered to eligible and deserving students who are good in academics and co-curricular.

The College of St. Scholastica (CSS)
#

6 The College of St. Scholastica (CSS)

Duluth, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 100%

Average Financial Aid: $22,240

Acceptance Rate: 64.00

Total Programs Offered (7)


2

Business Management Programs

2

Computer Science Programs

1

Nursing Program

2

Other Programs


The College of St. Scholastica is a private, not-for-profit institution that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Bachelor’s in Accounting, Business Management, Computer Science, Health Science, Nursing, and many more.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.49 out of 4.0 is required to take admission in this institution.

All transfer students are eligible to receive a Transfer Benedictine Scholarship from the institute. It is known to offer more Transfer Scholarships than many private colleges in Minnesota.

The institute has more than 60 student clubs and organizations such as Social Work Club, Biology Club, Investment Club, Student Education Association, Sports Club, and more.

The undergraduate students are mostly involved in experiential learning here, such as research placements, field experiences and internship programs, etc.

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (UMN)
#

7 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (UMN)

Minneapolis, Minnesota


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 62%

Average Financial Aid: $8,656

Acceptance Rate: 44.00

Total Programs Offered (58)


12

Nursing Programs

9

Education Programs

8

Business Management Programs

29

Other Programs


University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).It awards Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate, Undergraduate and Graduates Certificates in the areas of Accounting, Business Management, Computer Science, Education, Nursing, Media Studies and many more.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.71 is required to take admission in this institution.

It conducts numerous events for its students such as the College of Design Graduating Student Exhibitions, Graphic Design Graduate Students Show, Gems of the Danube, Multicultural celebration of achievement, etc.

UMN is known for its continued excellence from seven national championships in football to 11 combined national titles in both women’s and men’s hockey teams.

The graduate students or former students receive outstanding achievement award by this institute for their leadership on a community, state, national, or international level, and profession in public service in Minnesota.

Capella University
#

8 Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 50%

Average Financial Aid: $2,524

Acceptance Rate: Request Info

Total Programs Offered (255)


63

Education Programs

34

Business Management Programs

31

Psychology Programs

127

Other Programs


Capella University is a private, for-profit institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate, Graduate and Undergraduate Certificates and Post Master’s Certificate in Accounting, Business Management, Behavioral Sciences, Information System, Information Technology, Nursing, and many more majors.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to take admission in this university.

The students of this university are the prime beneficiary of a number of support services made available to them such as Personalized Career Counseling, Career exploration and planning resources, Job search tools, and strategies, Networking and mentoring, Interview tips, etc.

Capella’s online public service programs encourage or trigger the students to work towards developing a community, government, and the lives of others.

The university has received several titles and awards for being one of the best online colleges in the nation. Capella University is the proud winner of the NUTN Distance Education Innovation Award.

University of Minnesota - Crookston (UMC)
#

9 University of Minnesota - Crookston (UMC)

Crookston, Minnesota


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 86%

Average Financial Aid: $8,763

Acceptance Rate: 68.00

Total Programs Offered (26)


11

Business Management Programs

6

Accounting Programs

4

Engineering Programs

5

Other Programs


The University of Minnesota Crookston is a public institution that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Bachelor’s and Certificates in Accounting, Business Management, Education, Health Science, Information Technology, Literature, and many more majors.

A cumulative GPA of 3.16 is required to take admission in this university.

The university has several clubs and organizations such as Agronomy Club, Archery Club, Art Club, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, Ag Industries and so on.

The financial aid department of the college supports the students by providing them monetary support in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships. Few scholarships provided by the university include Regents Scholarships, Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarships, Academic Scholarships, Transfer Scholarships, and many others.

The students who demonstrate an exceptional achievement and leadership qualities in the state, national and international level are awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Crown College
#

10 Crown College

St. Bonifacius, Minnesota


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 97%

Average Financial Aid: $14,534

Acceptance Rate: 54.00

Total Programs Offered (27)


10

Theology Programs

7

Business Management Programs

2

Interdisciplinary Studies Programs

8

Other Programs


Crown College is a private college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Undergraduate and Graduate Certificate in Behavioral Science, Business Management, Criminal Justice, Education, Nursing, Science, and many more.

It offers excellent facilities to students such as high-tech computer labs, food service, health services, residential facility, athletic facilities, etc. A cumulative GPA of 3.36 is required to take admission in this university.

Crown College is one of the military friendly colleges offering several militaries and veteran educational benefits under the Yellow Ribbon program to eligible veterans and their dependents. Students can pursue on-campus as well as online degree programs based on their convenience and flexibility.

Meritorious students are provided financial assistance like loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study to pursue their education.