2026 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota

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College Raptor’s Hidden Gem rankings highlight under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names, but they're bringing serious academic heat. Hidden Gems are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings and must meet the following criteria:

Receive fewer than 5,000 applications a year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students enrolled.
Have an acceptance rate higher than 10%.
Have 5 or more unique majors.
Rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings.

For more information on methodology behind our college rankings, check out our ranking methodology breakdown.

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Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	College of Saint Benedict	88.87	1,040 – 1,280	29720	54567	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, MN Partnered with Saint John’s University for men, the College of Saint Benedict is exclusively for women. The school got its start in 1913 with only six students. Since 1955, the two campuses have shared resources. CSB has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 86% first year retention rate, and 74% four year graduation rate. Acceptance Rate 88.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $29,720 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,567
2	Gustavus Adolphus College	61.8	1,210 – 1,400	28805	51546	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN Psychology, General is the most popular major at Gustavus Adolphus College. A fairly selective school, it received 4,450 applications during the last admissions cycle and accepted 2,750 of them. The college has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 84% first year retention rate. Acceptance Rate 61.8% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $28,805 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,546
3	Saint Johns University	77.43	1,080 – 1,280	29473	59843	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota Saint Johns University Collegeville, MN Saint John’s University is an all-male school that has a partnership with the College of Saint Benedict, the women’s college. They share curriculum and access to resources. Saint John’s has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 85% first year retention rate. Acceptance Rate 77.4% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $29,473 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,843
4	Bethel University	87.8	1,110 – 1,310	30375	55145	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota Bethel University Saint Paul, MN At Bethel University, 27% of accepted students will decide to attend. Business Administration and Management, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse are two popular undergraduate majors. The school has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 85% first year retention rate. Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $30,375 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,145
5	Concordia College at Moorhead	63.06	1,080 – 1,280	25488	48225	#5 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, MN Concordia College at Moorhead has an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 80% first year retention rate. It’s home to a robust music program with several choirs, bands, and orchestras. Students are known as the Cobbers and compete in the NCAA Division III with football Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Acceptance Rate 63.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $25,488 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,225
6	University of Northwestern-St Paul	93.47	1,030 – 1,310	26779	47544	#6 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul, MN Out of 1 available programs and majors, andLiberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies are the most popular at University of Northwestern, St. Paul. The school got its start as the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School in 1902, becoming a university in 2013....Read more Acceptance Rate 93.5% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $26,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,544
7	The College of Saint Scholastica	93.89	1,080 – 1,280	23913	62332	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, MN A Roman Catholic school founded by the Benedictine Sisters, the College of St. Scholastica’s motto is “All her paths are peace” in Latin. It’s non selective, and 23% of those accepted during the last admissions cycle enrolled....Read more Acceptance Rate 93.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $23,913 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,332
8	Bethany Lutheran College	38.97	1,080 – 1,240	19456	40652	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota Bethany Lutheran College Mankato, MN Bethany Lutheran College has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 72% first-year retention rate. 53% of students will graduate within 4 years. The school offers generous aid packages. In fact, 100% of students who attend receive grant aid, $20,192 on average. Acceptance Rate 39.0% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $19,456 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,652
9	Hamline University	89.83	1,040 – 1,250	22759	47139	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Based in Saint Paul, Hamline University accepts 90% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Hamline University currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more Acceptance Rate 89.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $22,759 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,139
10	Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	92.78	1,080 – 1,310	22518	54549	#10 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN Found in Winona, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota accepted 93% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students attending Saint Mary's University of Minnesota currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college......Read more Acceptance Rate 92.8% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $22,518 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,549
11	St Catherine University	91.85	1,040 – 1,230	22357	52795	#11 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN Based in Saint Paul, St Catherine University’s acceptance rate is 92%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 99% of students attending St Catherine University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more Acceptance Rate 91.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $22,357 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,795
12	North Central University	90.82	970 – 1,180	23694	37688	#12 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota North Central University Minneapolis, MN Located in Minneapolis, North Central University’s acceptance rate is 91%. They request $25 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 92% of students attending North Central University currently receive grant aid from the school. At North Central University, there is a 76% first......Read more Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $23,694 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,688
13	University of Minnesota-Morris	74.93	1,080 – 1,310	9539	43163	#13 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota University of Minnesota-Morris Morris, MN Based in Morris, the University of Minnesota-Morris’s acceptance rate is 75% and charges $30 for undergraduate applications. About 95% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 74.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $9,539 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,163
14	University of Minnesota-Crookston	87.81	1,010 – 1,180	13442	51905	#14 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Minnesota University of Minnesota-Crookston Crookston, MN Based in Crookston, the University of Minnesota-Crookston’s acceptance rate is 88%. They request $30 for undergraduate applications and . About 87% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school....Read more Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $13,442 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,905