The Best MBA Programs in Minneapolis for 2026
The best MBA programs in Minneapolis are the accredited schools that graduate their students and charge honestly for it, not the ones with the biggest name on the building. Hakia analyzed 12 accredited MBA programs in Minneapolis and the surrounding metro and ranked 12 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 12 ranked schools runs from $8,571 to $52,820 a year, a $44,249 spread for the same credential.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities leads with a 90.8 Hakia Score on an 85% graduation rate, at $15,148 a year. Across all 12 ranked MBA programs in Minneapolis the average graduation rate is 57%, ranging from 20% to 85%. 2 of the 12 are public and 10 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below. National median pay for the field is $105,770 a year per the BLS, the benchmark every school on this list feeds into regardless of what it charges.
Below is the full ranked table, followed by a school-by-school look at what actually separates the MBA programs in Minneapolis: cost, completion, selectivity, and where the degree leads. This list covers the Twin Cities, so many schools sit in Saint Paul or the suburbs; the city of each is shown in the table. Every figure is drawn from federal IPEDS and BLS data, and no school pays for placement.
Key Takeaways on the Best MBA Programs in Minneapolis
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks first among MBA programs in Minneapolis with a 90.8 Hakia Score and an 85% graduation rate.
- Tuition across the 12 ranked MBA programs in Minneapolis spans $8,571 to $52,820 a year, a $44,249 gap for the same credential.
- The 12 ranked MBA programs in Minneapolis graduate 57% of students on average, from 20% to 85%.
- 2 of the 12 ranked schools are public, where the in-state rate is what Minnesota residents actually pay.
- 8 of the 12 offer a confirmed online option, which matters in a city where commuting time is the real cost.
- National median pay in the field is $105,770 (BLS), the same benchmark whichever Minneapolis school a student picks.
Hakia analyzed 12 accredited MBA programs in Minneapolis and the surrounding metro reported to IPEDS, scoring each on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes, then ranked one entry per school on its strongest program. No school is rewarded for sticker price alone, and none pays for inclusion.
The 12 Best MBA Programs in Minneapolis, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN | Public | $15,148 | 85% | 80% | 90.8 |
| 2 | University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN | Nonprofit | $52,820 | 76% | 85% | 85.7 |
| 3 | Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN · online option | For-profit | $10,542 | NR | NR | 78.7 |
| 4 | Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN · online option | Nonprofit | $44,050 | 71% | 88% | 76.8 |
| 5 | Concordia University-Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN · online option | Nonprofit | $25,600 | 46% | 79% | 74.7 |
| 6 | Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MN | Nonprofit | $48,784 | 60% | 88% | 74.6 |
| 7 | Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis, MN | Nonprofit | $44,652 | 52% | 82% | 73.2 |
| 8 | Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN · online option | For-profit | $14,400 | 20% | NR | 70.9 |
| 9 | St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul, MN · online option | Nonprofit | $37,534 | 61% | 92% | 70.5 |
| 10 | University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN · online option | Nonprofit | $36,980 | 68% | 93% | 70.3 |
| 11 | Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN · online option | Nonprofit | $30,470 | 45% | 23% | 69.3 |
| 12 | Metropolitan State UniversitySaint Paul, MN · online option | Public | $8,571 | 44% | 99% | 64.4 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
The Top MBA Programs in Minneapolis at a Glance
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Inside the Top MBA Programs in Minneapolis
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
- Grad rate
- 85%
- Admit rate
- 80%
- In-state
- $15,148
- Out-of-state
- $36,296
At $15,148 a year in-state, Minnesota-Twin Cities is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 90.8 Hakia Score on an 85% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 90.8, #1 of 12
- 85% graduation rate
- $15,148 in-state vs $36,296 out-of-state
- Top graduation rate on this list
Based in Minneapolis, MN, Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public institution. Its MBA program lands at #1 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 90.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 75 group average. The program graduates 85% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. Minnesota-Twin Cities admits 80% of applicants, more selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 56,666 students.
On cost, Minnesota-Twin Cities charges $15,148 a year in-state, roughly 2.4x the $36,296 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. The spread makes the program a clearer value for MN residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
University of St Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 76%
- Admit rate
- 85%
- In-state
- $52,820
- Out-of-state
- $52,820
St Thomas graduates 76% of its students, above the 57% average across this ranking, on an 85.7 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 85.7, #2 of 12
- 76% graduation rate
- $52,820 tuition
- Admits just 85% of applicants
St Thomas is a private, nonprofit institution in Saint Paul, MN. Its MBA program ranks #2 of the 12 analyzed here with an 85.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 75 group average, in the top third of the 12 ranked programs, 5.1 points behind top-ranked Minnesota-Twin Cities. The program graduates 76% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. St Thomas admits 85% of applicants, less selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. The university enrolls 9,410 students overall.
On cost, St Thomas charges $52,820 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $10,542
- Out-of-state
- $10,542
At $10,542 a year in-state, Walden is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 78.7 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 78.7, #3 of 12
- $10,542 tuition
- Online option available
Walden is a private, for-profit institution in Minneapolis, MN. Its MBA program ranks #3 of the 12 analyzed here with a 78.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 75 group average, in the top third of the 12 ranked programs. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 49,441 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Walden charges $10,542 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- 88%
- In-state
- $44,050
- Out-of-state
- $44,050
Bethel graduates 71% of its students, above the 57% average across this ranking, on a 76.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 76.8, #4 of 12
- 71% graduation rate
- $44,050 tuition
- Online option available
Based in Saint Paul, MN, Bethel is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #4 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 76.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 75 group average, in the top third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 71% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. Bethel admits 88% of applicants, less selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,603 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Bethel charges $44,050 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 46%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $25,600
- Out-of-state
- $25,600
At $25,600 a year in-state, Concordia-Saint Paul is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 74.7 Hakia Score on a 46% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 74.7, #5 of 12
- 46% graduation rate
- $25,600 tuition
- Online option available
Based in Saint Paul, MN, Concordia-Saint Paul is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #5 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 74.7 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the middle third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 46% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. Concordia-Saint Paul admits 79% of applicants, more selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. The university enrolls 6,003 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Concordia-Saint Paul charges $25,600 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with genuine selectivity.
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 88%
- In-state
- $48,784
- Out-of-state
- $48,784
Hamline graduates 60% of its students, above the 57% average across this ranking, on a 74.6 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 74.6, #6 of 12
- 60% graduation rate
- $48,784 tuition
- Admits just 88% of applicants
Based in Saint Paul, MN, Hamline is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #6 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 74.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the middle third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 60% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. Hamline admits 88% of applicants, less selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,565 students.
On cost, Hamline charges $48,784 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- 82%
- In-state
- $44,652
- Out-of-state
- $44,652
Augsburg ranks #7 of the 12 mba programs in this analysis, with a 73.2 Hakia Score and a 52% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 73.2, #7 of 12
- 52% graduation rate
- $44,652 tuition
- Admits just 82% of applicants
Based in Minneapolis, MN, Augsburg is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #7 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 73.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the middle third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 52% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. Augsburg admits 82% of applicants, less selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,249 students.
On cost, Augsburg charges $44,652 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. It earns its place in the top 12 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 20%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $14,400
- Out-of-state
- $14,400
At $14,400 a year in-state, Capella is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 70.9 Hakia Score on a 20% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 70.9, #8 of 12
- 20% graduation rate
- $14,400 tuition
- Online option available
Based in Minneapolis, MN, Capella is a private, for-profit institution. Its MBA program lands at #8 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 70.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the middle third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 20% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 47,761 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Capella charges $14,400 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 92%
- In-state
- $37,534
- Out-of-state
- $37,534
St Catherine graduates 61% of its students, above the 57% average across this ranking, on a 70.5 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 70.5, #9 of 12
- 61% graduation rate
- $37,534 tuition
- Online option available
Based in Saint Paul, MN, St Catherine is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #9 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 70.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the lower third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 61% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. St Catherine admits 92% of applicants, less selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,651 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, St Catherine charges $37,534 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.
University of Northwestern-St Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 68%
- Admit rate
- 93%
- In-state
- $36,980
- Out-of-state
- $36,980
Northwestern-St Paul graduates 68% of its students, above the 57% average across this ranking, on a 70.3 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 70.3, #10 of 12
- 68% graduation rate
- $36,980 tuition
- Online option available
Northwestern-St Paul is a private, nonprofit institution in Saint Paul, MN. Its MBA program ranks #10 of the 12 analyzed here with a 70.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the lower third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 68% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. Northwestern-St Paul admits 93% of applicants, less selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,234 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Northwestern-St Paul charges $36,980 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 45%
- Admit rate
- 23%
- In-state
- $30,470
- Out-of-state
- $30,470
Crown College ranks #11 of the 12 mba programs in this analysis, with a 69.3 Hakia Score and a 45% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 69.3, #11 of 12
- 45% graduation rate
- $30,470 tuition
- Most selective program here
Based in Saint Bonifacius, MN, Crown College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #11 of the 12 ranked here, earning a 69.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the lower third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 45% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. Crown College admits 23% of applicants, more selective than the 81% average for the group. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 1,846 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Crown College charges $30,470 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is genuine selectivity paired with an online option.
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 44%
- Admit rate
- 99%
- In-state
- $8,571
- Out-of-state
- $8,571
At $8,571 a year in-state, Metropolitan State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 64.4 Hakia Score on a 44% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 64.4, #12 of 12
- 44% graduation rate
- $8,571 tuition
- Lowest in-state tuition here
Metropolitan State is a public institution in Saint Paul, MN. Its MBA program ranks #12 of the 12 analyzed here with a 64.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 75 group average, in the lower third of the 12 ranked programs. The program graduates 44% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. Metropolitan State admits 99% of applicants, less selective than the 81% average for the group. That is more open than the 23% rate at Crown College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 20% to 85%. The university enrolls 6,660 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Metropolitan State charges $8,571 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,571 at Metropolitan State to $52,820 at St Thomas. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
What MBA Programs in Minneapolis Cost
Tuition across the 12 ranked schools runs from $8,571 to $52,820 a year. Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul anchors the low end at $8,571 a year, while University of St Thomas in Saint Paul sits at the top at $52,820. The cheapest public option among the MBA programs in Minneapolis is Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul at $8,571; the cheapest private is Walden University at $10,542.
Over the two years the credential takes, that is roughly $17,142 in tuition at Metropolitan State University against about $105,640 at University of St Thomas. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Minneapolis from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
How Selective MBA Programs in Minneapolis Are
Admission odds across the MBA programs in Minneapolis are nowhere near uniform. Crown College in Saint Bonifacius admits 23% of applicants, the tightest on this list, while Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul admits 99%. A candidate with an uneven undergraduate record has real options here without leaving Minneapolis.
That is a 76-point spread, wide enough that the MBA programs in Minneapolis do not form a single tier. A file that is competitive at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul will not necessarily clear Crown College in Saint Bonifacius, so applying across the range rather than within one band is the sensible strategy here. Completion does not follow the same order: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities finishes 85% of its students, the strongest on this list on an 80% admit rate, which is why selectivity is one input to the Hakia Score rather than the score itself.
Accreditation Across Minneapolis Business Schools
The MBA programs in Minneapolis lean private: 10 of the 12 ranked schools are private against 2 public, which is most of why the tuition column above spans what it does. Accreditation is what makes those prices comparable at all. For an MBA the signal employers read is business-school accreditation from AACSB sitting on top of the university's institutional accreditation, and a private school charging $52,820 is not thereby carrying it. Confirm it on the school's own page: Walden University at $10,542 and the priciest name on this list are held to the same standard.
Why Study for an MBA in Minneapolis
The 12 ranked schools sit across 3 towns, close enough that most Minneapolis candidates can reach several of them. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities leads, followed by University of St Thomas in Saint Paul and Walden University, and the table names the town of each. That density is worth using: applying to three schools inside one metro costs application fees and nothing else, and the recruiting calendars overlap.
8 of the 12 also run a confirmed online option, which keeps the credential but gives up most of the local access that justifies studying in Minneapolis in the first place.
Careers and Pay After a Minneapolis MBA
Every one of the MBA programs in Minneapolis points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay for the field at $105,770 a year, a figure that describes the profession rather than any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $8,571 at Metropolitan State University or $52,820 at University of St Thomas. That is the tradeoff this ranking exists to expose: in the federal wage data, a higher price does not buy a higher salary.
Set against a single national benchmark, the 6-fold tuition spread on this page is the reason to look hard at the cheap end before the famous end. Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul and University of St Thomas in Saint Paul feed graduates into the same wage distribution, and nothing in the federal data attaches a higher salary to the higher price. Pay in a metro the size of Minneapolis generally runs above the national median, and so does the cost of living that absorbs it. Full occupational detail, including job-growth projections and metro wage breakdowns, is published by the BLS.
MBA Programs in Minneapolis: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best MBA program in Minneapolis?
By Hakia Score, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks first among the 12 ranked MBA programs in Minneapolis, with a 90.8 score and an 85% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Do MBA programs in Minneapolis require the GMAT?
Fewer of them every year, and the 12 ranked here are not uniform about it. Crown College in Saint Bonifacius is the tightest on this list at 23% and Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul the most open at 99%, so the answer depends on which of them a candidate is applying to. Many programs now waive the GMAT or GRE for applicants with several years of relevant work, and the terms differ program by program, so check them on each school's admissions page before registering for a test. A waiver saves the fee and the study time, and it does not loosen the rest of the file.
How much does an MBA cost in Minneapolis?
Tuition among the ranked Minneapolis schools runs from $8,571 to $52,820 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Minneapolis living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many MBA programs in Minneapolis does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 12 accredited MBA programs across Minneapolis and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 12 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Twin Cities, so many schools sit in Saint Paul or the suburbs; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth doing an MBA in Minneapolis instead of online?
8 of the 12 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Minneapolis this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $8,571 in-state, Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.
What salary can graduates expect?
The BLS reports a national median of $105,770 a year for the field. It is a national benchmark rather than a Minneapolis figure or a promise from any school on this page. Its use is scale: the same median sits behind Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul at $8,571 a year and University of St Thomas in Saint Paul at $52,820, and that is the comparison worth making before committing to the second.
How the MBA Programs in Minneapolis Are Scored
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.