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2026 Best Trade Schools in Minnesota
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Minnesota? We have ranked 95 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Trade College analyzed 76 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Minnesota
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Bemidji State University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Minnesota. Bemidji State University is a public school based in Bemidji, MN. Bemidji State University graduates 46% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans. Get the full Bemidji State University report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on this year's Trade ranking in Minnesota. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
University Of Minnesota Crookston came in at #3 on this year's Trade ranking in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a public school based in Crookston, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $13,288 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $26,661. More on University Of Minnesota Crookston
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in Minnesota. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Bethel University Minnesota graduates 71% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $44,226 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full Bethel University Minnesota report
The strong Trade programs at Dunwoody College Of Technology earned it the #5 place in Minnesota. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $27,477. Dunwoody College Of Technology Trade students take on a median of $18,973 in debt. Get the full Dunwoody College Of Technology report
St Catherine University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. St Catherine University graduates 61% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $38,428. Typical Trade student debt is $29,883. Get the full St Catherine University report
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public school based in Alexandria, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,236 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $14,054 in student loans. More on Alexandria Technical And Community College
Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #8 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Located in St. Cloud, MN, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,199. Graduates carry a median of $28,723 in student loans. Get the full Rasmussen College Minnesota report
Metropolitan State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Saint Paul, MN, Metropolitan State University is a public institution. Metropolitan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $30,822. More on Metropolitan State University
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #10 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete their Trade program here. More on Minnesota State University Mankato
Minnesota State University Moorhead did well this year, earning the #11 position. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public school based in Moorhead, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Students from in state pay about $10,428 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,447 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Minnesota State University Moorhead
Rochester Community And Technical College placed #12 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Based in Rochester, MN, Rochester Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,389. Students borrow a median of $20,291 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Rochester Community And Technical College profile
Anoka Technical College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Anoka, MN, Anoka Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,267 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,408 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Anoka Technical College profile
North Hennepin Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Brooklyn Park, MN, North Hennepin Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,061. The median Trade program debt is $21,241. Read the full report on North Hennepin Community College
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Saint Paul posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,600. Graduates carry a median of $29,026 in student loans. Get the full Concordia University Saint Paul report
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #16 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Based in Brainerd, MN, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,249. Typical Trade student debt is $14,479. More on Central Lakes College Brainerd
Century College placed #17 among Trade schools in Minnesota. This public school is set in White Bear Lake, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $21,332. Get the full Century College report
Saint Cloud State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Saint Cloud State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. The median Trade program debt is $25,076. Get the full Saint Cloud State University report
St Cloud Technical And Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Saint Cloud, MN, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. More on St Cloud Technical And Community College
Hennepin Technical College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Brooklyn Park, MN, Hennepin Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Typical Trade student debt is $17,887. Read more about Hennepin Technical College
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public school based in Saint Paul, MN. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College Trade students take on a median of $17,650 in debt. Read more about Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Northland Community And Technical College placed #22 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Based in Thief River Falls, MN, Northland Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,289 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,550 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Northland Community And Technical College profile
Ridgewater College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Willmar, MN, Ridgewater College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,121. The median Trade program debt is $15,556. Read more about Ridgewater College
Dakota County Technical College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Rosemount, MN, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,679. Dakota County Technical College Trade students take on a median of $13,474 in debt. Get the full Dakota County Technical College report
Northwest Technical College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Bemidji, MN, Northwest Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,254 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,053 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Northwest Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Minnesota
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College placed #26 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a public school based in Hibbing, MN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022. The median Trade program debt is $17,029. Read more about Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Inver Hills Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Inver Grove Heights, MN, Inver Hills Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,146. Typical Trade student debt is $20,160. See the full Inver Hills Community College profile
South Central College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in North Mankato, MN, South Central College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. The median Trade program debt is $13,139. More on South Central College
Minnesota West Community And Technical College landed the #29 spot in Minnesota this year. Located in Granite Falls, MN, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,491. Graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans. Read more about Minnesota West Community And Technical College
Minnesota State Community And Technical College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Based in Fergus Falls, MN, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,908. Graduates carry a median of $18,197 in student loans. More on Minnesota State Community And Technical College
Anoka Ramsey Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Coon Rapids, MN, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,682 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $22,593 in student loans. Read the full report on Anoka Ramsey Community College
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #32 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Based in Winona, MN, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,080. Typical Trade student debt is $27,081. More on Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,161. The median Trade program debt is $24,036. Read more about Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Lake Superior College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Based in Duluth, MN, Lake Superior College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785. Students borrow a median of $17,156 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Lake Superior College
Pine Technical College placed #35 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Set in Pine City, MN, Pine Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,738. Typical Trade student debt is $22,454. See the full Pine Technical College profile
Normandale Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Bloomington, MN, Normandale Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,329 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $20,162 in student loans. More on Normandale Community College
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical placed #37 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Located in Winona, MN, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,432. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical Trade students take on a median of $22,522 in debt. Read more about Minnesota State College Southeast Technical
Augsburg College
Augsburg College placed #38 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Read more about Augsburg College
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College
Crescent Training Dba Crescent Career Center did well this year, earning the #40 position. More on Crescent Training Dba Crescent Career Center
St Olaf College
St Olaf College placed #41 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Read more about St Olaf College
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #42 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Minnesota Duluth
White Earth Tribal And Community College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on White Earth Tribal And Community College
Carleton College
Carleton College placed #44 among Trade schools in Minnesota. Get the full Carleton College report
Oak Hills Christian College did well this year, earning the #45 position. More on Oak Hills Christian College
Townsend Barber Institute landed the #46 spot in Minnesota this year. Read more about Townsend Barber Institute
Macalester College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Macalester College
Northwestern College Minnesota did well this year, earning the #48 position. More on Northwestern College Minnesota
University Of Minnesota Rochester placed #49 among Trade schools in Minnesota. See the full University Of Minnesota Rochester profile
Mayo Medical School ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Mayo Medical School
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 76 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 95 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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