U.S. News Best Colleges: See Minnesota Schools On List

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — As students and colleges across the nation grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News & World Report on Monday remained steadfast with the release of its 2021 edition of Best U.S. Colleges, a list that includes several schools in Minnesota.

Despite how the pandemic has forced current and potential students to alter college plans, U.S. News said in a news release that it must “continue providing students and their families with the tools they need to help find the right school for them.”

To rank colleges, U.S. News first placed each school into a category based on its mission and, in some cases, its geographical location in the United States. U.S. News then evaluated more than 1,400 colleges and universities on 17 indicators of academic quality. The colleges are ranked based on their overall scores.

The data used for this year’s rankings was gathered in spring and early summer 2020; however, the publication noted that the pandemic did not affect the numbers.

This year’s edition also includes several methodology updates. The new measures look at timely topics such as student debt, social mobility and test-blind admissions policies. U.S. News also added new weights and indicators to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and added a new ranking for computer science programs.

See more detailed methodologies and frequently asked questions about the rankings. These Minnesota colleges and universities were included in this year’s rankings:

National Universities

• University of Minnesota — Twin Cities. Ranked 66.
• St. Thomas University — St. Paul. Ranked 133.
• Bethel University — Arden Hills. Ranked 196.
• St. Catherine University — St. Paul. Ranked 249.
• College of St. Scholastica — Duluth. Ranked 258.

National Liberal Arts Colleges

• Carleton College — Northfield. Ranked 9.
• Macalester College — St. Paul. Ranked 27.
• St. Olaf College — Northfield. Ranked 67.
• Gustavus Adolphus College — St. Peter. Ranked 84.
• College of St. Benedict — Collegeville. Ranked 96.
• St. John's University — Collegeville. Ranked 102.
• Concordia College — Moorhead. Ranked 130.

Best Value Schools

Gustavus Adolphus College. Total cost: $58,740. Average discounted cost: $21,180

University of Minnesota—Duluth. Total cost: $30,775. Average discounted cost: $24,904

St. Olaf College. Total cost: $63,280. Average discounted cost: $25,634

University of Northwestern—St. Paul. Total cost: $44,430. Average discounted cost: $26,072

Augsburg University. Total cost: $54,451. Average discounted cost: $27,549

St. John's University. Total cost: $59,974. Average discounted cost: $27,762

College of St. Benedict. Total cost: $60,788. Average discounted cost: $28,152

Hamline University. Total cost: $55,256. Average discounted cost: $28,107

Macalester College. Total cost: $71,553. Average discounted cost: $28,779

Carleton College. Total cost: $74,275. Average discounted cost: $29,501

University of Minnesota—Twin Cities. Total cost: $47,527. Average discounted cost: $38,155

Princeton University is once again No. 1 among National Universities, and Williams College remains in the top spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

For Top Public Schools, the University of California - Los Angeles is No. 1 among National Universities. The United States Naval Academy ranks No. 1 for Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

See all of 2021’s Best U.S. Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.