Colleges in Minnesota

A Christian liberal arts college associated with the Lutheran Church, Concordia University-St. Paul enrolls around 4,500 students annually. Though the school is private, CSP's reasonable tuition and deep discounts for distance education students make it one of the most affordable online colleges in Minnesota. Online learners can choose from dozens of undergraduate and graduate degrees in subjects such as radiologic science leadership, exercise science, creative writing, and sports management. CSP is focused on professional preparation for all online degree candidates, with career resources that help graduates find work quickly. The school's resources and training pay off for most students, with 92% of graduates securing employment soon after completing their education.

With more than 15,000 students, Minnesota State University-Mankato is the second-largest college in Minnesota, and the school offers more than a dozen fully online degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. MSU's bachelor's degrees are completion programs that require students to earn their lower-division credits at another institution or through campus courses at MSU. Focused mainly on professional education, the school offers programs in applied organizational studies, international business, technical communications, dental hygiene, and nursing. Undergraduate students can also pursue unique minors in subjects such as aging studies, ethnic studies, nonprofit leadership, and urban studies. Graduate options focus mainly on education and human services in areas such as educational technology, school library studies, and autism spectrum disorders.

With around 1,800 enrolled students, University of Minnesota-Crookston is one of the smallest colleges in the UM system, but its size does not detract from its status as one of the best online schools in Minnesota. Undergraduate students can earn several unique online degrees in areas such as sports and recreation management, international business, manufacturing management, and applied health. UMC's undergraduate minors are business-oriented, with options including marketing, finance, accounting, and management. For graduate students, the university offers a fully online MBA in partnership with the University of North Dakota. Combining academic resources and faculty, the two schools' online MBA program features live virtual class sessions that allow students to engage with faculty and collaborate on group work.

One of the top online schools in Minnesota, MSUM offers dozens of online undergraduate and graduate degrees that focus primarily on business and education. Students can select from several programs in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, special education, and school administration. Business students can study global supply chain management, operations management, and business administration with several concentration options. MSU offers most of its distance programs in an "online plus" format, which provides face-to-face options for some or all parts of the program curriculum. While no campus visits are required for these degrees, students able to travel can take advantage of classroom meetings when it suits their schedules.

Situated on the shores of Minnesota's Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University offers seven fully online degree programs in areas such as accounting, applied engineering, marketing communication, and psychology. Undergraduates can also choose from several unique minors, such as fraud examination and geography. All BSU's online degrees are completion programs, and applicants must have earned at least two years worth of college credit. Aside from its fully online degree programs, the university offers three hybrid degree programs in elementary education, nursing, and social work. Unlike many online schools in Minnesota, BSU does not charge extra tuition for out-of-state online students, making it affordable an affordable option for distance learners.

A nondenominational Christian school located near Bemidji, Oak Hills offers four fully online programs: an associate degree in business administration, an associate degree in Bible studies and ministry, a bachelor's in business administration, and a bachelor's in leadership and ministry. Oak Hill's online courses are geared mainly toward working professionals, and the school offers a generous Credit for Prior Learning program that allows students to earn academic credit for relevant work experience. Staff and faculty work with online learners to help determine which previous experiences translate into course credit, including workshops, training seminars, self-study, and military service. Oak Hills places no limit on the number of credits students can earn from prior experience, making it an excellent option for working professionals.

Based in the Twin Cities, Metro State is regarded as one of the best online colleges in Minnesota for its comprehensive student support services and range of online programs. The school's undergraduate degrees focus primarily on business, with options including human resources management, finance, marketing, and supply chain and operations management. Students can also enroll in three business-oriented graduate programs: public and nonprofit administration, management information systems, and business administration. As a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Metro State allows students to access the Minnesota Online portal, which aggregates the various online courses and degree programs available across different member colleges. Online learners can select from 6,500 courses, giving them a wide variety of class options to complete their degree.

Serving over 15,000 students, SCSU is one of the largest members of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and one of the top online colleges in Minnesota. The school offers two bachelor's degree completion programs in elective studies and nursing, allowing students to complete their undergraduate education at SCSU after earning credits at another institution. Nursing applicants must hold current licensure, while elective studies students must hold the credit equivalent of an associate degree. The college also offers 17 fully online graduate degrees and certificates, including notable programs in applied behavior analysis, electrical engineering, information media, and public safety executive leadership. Online degree candidates receive a wide variety of support services from the college, including library resources, student disability services, technical support and training, proctored testing services, and free online tutoring.

One of the largest schools in Minnesota’s community college system, Minnesota State maintains campuses in Moorhead, Fergus Falls, Wadena, and Detroit Lakes. The college’s 8,000 students also enroll in 25 online programs. M State also offers associate degree transfer programs, workforce development, and continuing education. The school boasts a very high success rate among other online community colleges in Minnesota.

The school serves as the top transfer institution for students attending Minnesota State University - Moorhead, North Dakota State, University of North Dakota, and Concordia College. Some of M State’s most noteworthy programs include allied health, business, mental health, paralegal, and pharmacy technology. The college prides itself on affordability, and more than half of the student body attends tuition free.

Set in Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota Southeast serves about 3,000 students annually. Most students attend part-time. The school offers more than 30 programs in the liberal arts and technical fields, with 20 of those programs available entirely online. Known nationally for its training in guitar and band instrument repair, the college emphasizes student-centered, personalized education with an average 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

The college hosts web-delivered programs in computer security, accounting, software development, and medical support that rank among the best degrees available at online community colleges in Minnesota. The school also offers an array of liberal arts courses online, allowing students to earn credits that they can take into a four-year bachelor’s program.

Dakota County Technical College is one of five standalone technical schools in Minnesota’s system of two-year colleges. The majority of the Rosemount institution’s 2,000 students pursue degrees that lead to immediate jobs, and the college offers unique programs in brewing, heavy-duty truck repair, civil engineering technology, and veterinary technology. The school also serves as also home to a GM Automotive Service program.

Though it focuses on vocational training, Dakota County also hosts a dozen degree and certificate programs through its virtual campus, including accounting, marketing, and business administration. Dakota Tech delivered about 20% of its credits online in 2017. The college champions sustainability, and the campus aims for green policies wherever possible. With an average age of 29, the school caters to a slightly older demographic than many of the other online community colleges in Minnesota.

Central Lakes College sits near the lakes region communities of Brainerd and Staples. Known for agriculture education and technical training, the school also hosts seven programs that present students with unique opportunities. For example, few other schools offer online degrees in enology and viticulture. CLC’s other online offerings include degrees in agriculture science and computer information technology and an associate transfer program.

CLC’s program list includes a variety of unique programs, including natural resources law enforcement, robotics manufacturing, Ojibwe studies, wildlife tourism, and sustainable greenhouse production. The college’s 6,000 students attend largely on a part-time basis, and more than 95% of them find work in their field upon graduation. The school also boasts its own Veterans Resource Center.

Lake Superior Community College offers an array of liberal arts and technical programs to residents of the Duluth area and beyond. LSC’s facilities stand out among the online community colleges in Minnesota. They include a Center for Cyber Security, a state-of-the-art Emergency Response Training Center, and a Center for Advanced Aviation. The school offers more than 200 classes and 21 degree programs, including a transfer degree and many degrees in business, computing, and law.

Students at LSC can launch careers in a year or less or gain credits towards a four-year-degree. The college holds articulation agreements with a host of Midwestern universities, including most of the public post-secondary schools in Minnesota. Online learners at LSC enjoy customized education, small class sizes, and the third-lowest tuition in the Minnesota public college system.

North Hennepin Community College’s campus sits just north of Minneapolis in Brooklyn Park. With 10,000 students, the Hennepin County school numbers among the largest community colleges in Minnesota. The diverse student body overwhelmingly attends part-time, and the most popular majors include liberal arts, pre-nursing, business administration, and computer science. It also provides access to less common community college options like film, American sign language, studio arts, history, and exercise science.

North Hennepin offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs, many of them online. About 25% of the college’s course sections take place entirely online, and 17% include at least some web-delivered content. NHCC also provides a pathway to a bachelor’s through the school’s University Center partners. The college prides itself on its low tuition.

St. Cloud Tech provides its 6,000 students with 90 career-oriented and transfer degree programs. The school offers five of these online: liberal arts and sciences, business management, medical coding, and two in finance and credit. Most coursework in St. Cloud’s virtual campus is offered asynchronously. Nearly 20% of St. Cloud’s students attend classes online; most students hail from the six counties surrounding the school.

St. Cloud doubled in size in the past decade, making it one of the fastest-growing online community colleges in Minnesota. The school’s programs in biomedical equipment technology, nuclear energy technology specialist, and water environment technology offer students unique educational options. The college boasts excellent job placement numbers, with more than 95% of graduates finding employment upon graduation. All students must take the Accuplacer exam.

One of the nation’s oldest community colleges, Rochester provides students access to more than 70 technical and transfer programs, including 17 online degree and certificate programs. These include focuses in the liberal arts, medical administrative assisting, healthcare informatics, workplace communication, and cancer registry management. Most professors teach their online classes in an asynchronous format and keep to the semester schedule.

Rochester also hosts an array of pioneering programs, including equine science, clinical neurophysiology, surgical technology, and welding technology. The college partners with local business and industry and offers service-learning programs across the country and worldwide. About half of Rochester’s 7,500 students attend full time and the other half part time. Students pay a tuition rate at Rochester similar to most online community colleges in Minnesota.

Located near the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, Inver Hills Community College offers more than 50 programs to its 4,000 students. The school’s program offerings compare favorably with other online community colleges in Minnesota. It offers an associate of arts designed for transfer into a four-year institution and three associate degrees in business fields. The college also hosts nine certificate programs online, most in business and taught in an asynchronous format.

Inver Hills won national recognition as an “adult-friendly” school, and it also developed a reputation as an ideal choice for veterans. The college’s innovative Adult Success through Accelerated Pathways program helps students earn credits for life experience and provides a flexible, independent pace for learning. The school offers tuition rates among the lowest at any of Minnesota’s public, two-year colleges.

Students attend South Central College at campuses in North Mankato and Faribault and online. The two-year institution offers more than 50 programs in career-oriented technical fields and studies that seamlessly transfer to the state’s four-year universities. Many of the school’s 4,700 students earn credits equal to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at a price much lower than any public or private university. As with other online community colleges in Minnesota, South Central provides workforce development opportunities through local businesses.

The school offers three online degrees: administration of childcare programs, child development, and administrative office specialist. Students can also pursue three certificates through the web: business software, client relations, and web programming. Most of the school’s digital coursework runs asynchronously, but some classes do require real-time attendance.