25 Best Universities In Minnesota For International Students 2025

Minnesota is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in United States. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 29 universities and colleges in Minnesota, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 29 universities in Minnesota, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and St. Olaf College are the top-performing schools in Minnesota. This list covers both public and private institutions in Minnesota.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Minnesota. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Minnesota.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Minnesota?

Applying to the universities in Minnesota involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Minnesota to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Minnesota?

Tuition fees at Minnesota’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 8,571 USD to 60,300 USD , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 USD to 53,400 USD. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Minnesota!

As we cover the best universities in Minnesota for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Minnesota for International Students

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, founded in 1851, is one of the most prestigious public universities in the United States. It has over 52,000 students and around 4,000 faculty members. The university offers over 200 programs in various disciplines, such as Biological Sciences, Design, Liberal Arts, Public Affairs, and Engineering.

St. Olaf College aims to train and prepare students for the professional world. It provides intense training where both theory and practice meet together. The institution has a wide connection with various companies and is known for its arts and humanities courses.

College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University are partner institutions in Minnesota. The College of Saint Benedict is for women, while Saint John’s University is for men. Both institutions uphold the same curriculum and share resources to provide one-of-a-kind educational training. These schools have shared the same academic program for over 50 years.

St. Cloud State University is a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system member. More than 260 programs are offered, most of which are for undergrads. It has several accreditations and memberships, including those from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Minnesota State University, Mankato, a flagship institution of the Minnesota State system, started as a normal school in 1868. There are more than 200 programs available in allied health, nursing, arts, humanities, business, education, science, engineering, tech, and social sciences. Minnesota State is ranked 79th in the midwest region by US News.

Established in 1874, Macalester College is a private institution that offers liberal arts programs at the undergraduate level. The university has a small yet diverse community with its student body comprised of local students from different US states and international students from over 90 countries. And since multiculturalism is heavily promoted, the university yearly organizes several intercultural events, seminars, and workshops for students to understand how to be socially responsible individuals.

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science was established by the Mayo brothers, one of the first three-year university-based programs for the training of graduate physicians practicing their specialty. It is known to have the largest number of ACGME-accredited programs and the only graduate medical education institution in the world. Currently, the College has three campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota.

St. Catherine University was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, which is committed to practicing inclusivity and enhancing the advancement of wisdom and justice. Its college of women is recognized as the largest private university in the country, equipping women to be changemakers in the real-world setting. To this day, the university continues to educate women while emphasizing scholarly inquiry and social justice teachings.

The College of St. Scholastica is a private institution whose campuses dot the state of Minnesota. At its core are Benedictine values, with an academic edge in liberal arts. The College of St. Scholastica  oversees a student population of approximately 4,000 enrolled across the different fields of arts and sciences.

Concordia College is a liberal arts college that is focused on preparing students to be ready for anything. It influences the world’s affairs by sending thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life into society. Concordia graduates will be prepared to face life’s unscripted challenges and thoughtfully influence the community through education.

Augsburg University is a private institution religiously affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is not to be confused with the University of Augsburg in Germany. Augsburg University is known for its emphasis on service learning, which encourages students to volunteer in communities. It was first established in Wisconsin but relocated to Minnesota in 1872. Augsburg is a member of and accredited by several organizations.

Hamline University was named after Leonidas Lent Hamline, a Methodist bishop who served as the principal sponsor for the establishment of the university. The university campus served as an army post during World War I and was the institution of choice for soldiers returning to school after World War II. Over the years, the university built more buildings, offered more programs, and received recognition all over the world for quality education.

Gustavus Adolphus College was named after the King of Sweden and founded by Swedish Americans affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The university operates to help its students manifest excellence, justice, services, and faith in their daily life, as well as to help them to connect to the community. It is committed to moving forward with its students by providing world-class facilities while meeting the financial capacities of its community.

Minnesota State University Moorhead offers a great opportunity for students to learn and be empowered. More than that, the university also assists students in their career search, leading to a high employment rate after graduating. The university has wide connections with numerous corporations in and out of the country, which is why it continues to attract students worldwide.

University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, is a privately funded Catholic institution that is believed to be one of the biggest higher education schools in Minnesota. The university aims to generate world-class leaders and experts who will significantly contribute to society. It offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs in business, arts and sciences, education, health, engineering, law, and theology. These multidisciplinary programs are specifically selected and designed to meet the demands of future-thinking students and professionals.

Concordia University, St. Paul is a member of the Concordia University System, managed by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. The university features a diverse range of degree programs and a competent foundation in athletics. Graduates of Concordia University, St. Paul contribute in the growth of renowned brands and companies in big tech, medicine, and food technology.

Winona State University (WSU) is a public institution that is part of the Minnesota State System. The state university tops the student success rate among its other members. Additionally, graduates of WSU have found success in their chosen career paths. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs in various academic disciplines. These programs are lectured by some of the best educators and experts in the region.

Although the University of Northwestern – St. Paul was established by a Baptist pastor, it is a nondenominational Christian university. Christian values form the core of education at this university. Academically, it is specialized in bible studies, sciences, arts, and professional education. It is accredited by and affiliated with several organizations, like the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Although graduate studies are also available at the university, they are designed to be online and accelerated. This so it could fit the schedules of adult and working students.

The University of St. Thomas provides comprehensive education for learners who want to be experts someday. It is full of advanced equipment and state-of-the-art facilities that will support its rigorous academic program. The university has maintained its top-ranked reputation through constant innovation and student-centered principles.

Southwest Minnesota State University was founded in 1963 that now offers online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate programs. With eight academic departments, they categorize academic programs offered to their students. They also have around men’s, women’s, and mixed-gender teams in 16 different sports such as Basketball, Cross Country, Tennis, and Esports. The school also has a foundation named SMSU Foundation that aims to provide funds or volunteering support to different causes, projects, and programs.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law is a nationally recognized private law school in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They provide full-time and part-time Juris Doctor education. Their programs are interactive and practice-based, preparing students for the demands of the legal community.

Metropolitan State University is a college of arts and science, business, health, community and professional research, and a research university that is individualized with nursing schools, law enforcement and criminal justice schools, and urban education schools. The university offers a Ph.D. in business administration, and the Bachelor of Accounting Science program is famous for being the largest in Minnesota. Graduates of the accounting program at Metropolitan State University are consistently successful in finding employment as one of the top 10 finishers in Minnesota’s rigorous CPA exams.

Since its establishment, Bemidji State University has believed in the transformative power of the liberal arts. BSU educates people to lead inspired lives. Through innovative, interdisciplinary, and highly accessible learning environments, Bemidji State is committed to student success and a sustainable future for the community.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design is the best place to hone your artistry. The school encourages experimentation and exploration to maximize the creativity of the students. It also collaborates with other industries, such as the entertainment and media industry, to expose students to professional work.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota shares similarities with the culture of Christian Brothers University as both universities implement a Lasallian tradition in social practice and education for their students. The mission and vision of Saint Mary’s University are to empower, prosper, and create students that have a penchant for volunteering, faithful service, ethical practice, and well-driven action. Founded in 1913, this school continues to grow talents from its constituents as well as improve its infrastructures and operation.