Minnesota doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 21 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 21 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Northfield came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Minnesota For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Minnesota's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | St Olaf College, Carleton College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,179 (25 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 20,742 |
| Median rent | $1,103 |
| Graduation rate | 90% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $78,368 |
Northfield is home to St Olaf College, Carleton College. There are 25 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,103 a month, and the average cost to attend is $78,368 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Minnesota-Rochester, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 877 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 122,330 |
| Median rent | $1,399 |
| Graduation rate | 87% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,904 |
Rochester is home to University of Minnesota-Rochester, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,399 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,904 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of St Thomas, Metropolitan State University, Concordia University-Saint Paul |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 24,572 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 307,284 |
| Median rent | $1,281 |
| Graduation rate | 68% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $55,000 |
St. Paul is home to University of St Thomas, Metropolitan State University, Concordia University-Saint Paul. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,281 a month, and the average cost to attend is $55,000 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Augsburg University, Dunwoody College of Technology |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 37,413 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 427,246 |
| Median rent | $1,371 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $46,680 |
Minneapolis is home to University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Augsburg University, Dunwoody College of Technology. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,371 a month, and the average cost to attend is $46,680 a year. It ranks 20th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Herzing University-Minneapolis |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 740 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 49,594 |
| Median rent | $1,644 |
| Graduation rate | 80% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,163 |
St. Louis Park is home to Herzing University-Minneapolis. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,644 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,163 a year. It ranks 17th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southwest Minnesota State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,315 (17 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 13,896 |
| Median rent | $779 |
| Graduation rate | 45% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,757 |
Marshall is home to Southwest Minnesota State University. There are 17 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $779 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,757 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Minnesota-Morris |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 936 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 5,128 |
| Median rent | $950 |
| Graduation rate | 58% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,039 |
Morris is home to University of Minnesota-Morris. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $950 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,039 a year. It ranks 12th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Minnesota State University Moorhead, Concordia College at Moorhead |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,901 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 45,036 |
| Median rent | $1,033 |
| Graduation rate | 65% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,570 |
Moorhead is home to Minnesota State University Moorhead, Concordia College at Moorhead. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,033 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,570 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Minnesota-Crookston |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,729 (24 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,344 |
| Median rent | $848 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,068 |
Crookston is home to University of Minnesota-Crookston. There are 24 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $848 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,068 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Minnesota State University-Mankato, Bethany Lutheran College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 12,372 (27 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 45,473 |
| Median rent | $1,132 |
| Graduation rate | 56% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $32,504 |
Mankato is home to Minnesota State University-Mankato, Bethany Lutheran College. There are 27 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,132 a month, and the average cost to attend is $32,504 a year. It ranks 13th for crime among the 21 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Minnesota
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 21 towns in Minnesota that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Minnesota.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Minnesota.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Minnesota
If you're looking for the best college towns in Minnesota, Northfield is where to start.
The best college towns in Minnesota are Northfield, Rochester, St. Paul, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Marshall, Morris, Moorhead, Crookston, and Mankato.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Minnesota for 2026?
Northfield is the best college town in Minnesota for 2026, followed by Rochester and St. Paul.
How did you rank the best college towns in Minnesota?
We looked at every town in Minnesota with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Minnesota?
Roseville ranks last of the 21 college towns we ranked in Minnesota for 2026.
Best College Towns In Minnesota For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northfield, MN | 20,742 | 5,179 | $1,103 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | 122,330 | 877 | $1,399 |
| 3 | St. Paul, MN | 307,284 | 24,572 | $1,281 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | 427,246 | 37,413 | $1,371 |
| 5 | St. Louis Park, MN | 49,594 | 740 | $1,644 |
| 6 | Marshall, MN | 13,896 | 2,315 | $779 |
| 7 | Morris, MN | 5,128 | 936 | $950 |
| 8 | Moorhead, MN | 45,036 | 4,901 | $1,033 |
| 9 | Crookston, MN | 7,344 | 1,729 | $848 |
| 10 | Mankato, MN | 45,473 | 12,372 | $1,132 |
| 11 | Winona, MN | 26,009 | 6,217 | $882 |
| 12 | New Ulm, MN | 14,056 | 725 | $962 |
| 13 | St. Peter, MN | 12,185 | 1,878 | $961 |
| 14 | St. Cloud, MN | 70,629 | 5,088 | $1,003 |
| 15 | St. Joseph, MN | 7,021 | 1,370 | $1,136 |
| 16 | Cloquet, MN | 12,537 | 557 | $1,024 |
| 17 | Bloomington, MN | 88,665 | 327 | $1,561 |
| 18 | Minnetonka, MN | 53,064 | 0 | $1,779 |
| 19 | Duluth, MN | 87,093 | 9,101 | $1,087 |
| 20 | Bemidji, MN | 15,569 | 3,214 | $1,067 |
| 21 | Roseville, MN | 35,802 | 0 | $1,374 |
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