Minnesota Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
Aspiring teachers in Minnesota must complete a state-approved educator preparation program to earn licensure. This guide is designed to help prospective educators explore their options for teaching schools and degrees in Minnesota. Below you’ll find a table of accredited programs along with curated lists of top-rated and affordable education schools to support your school search.
Table of Contents
- MN Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 15 Affordable MN Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked Minnesota Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- US News Best Graduate Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of Minnesota Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 29 Minnesota teacher preparation programs across key factors. All listed institutions are not-for-profit and approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a nationally respected accreditor whose standards are recognized or accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our Minnesota traditional certification guide and our Minnesota alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates—tuition, books, room and board—minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment 2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augsburg University | No | 265 | 67 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $24,306 |
| Bemidji State University | No | 387 | 105 | 88% | 179 | 39 | 90% | $14,924 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | No | 64 | 8 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,968 |
| Bethel University | No | 329 | 105 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $29,107 |
| College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University | No | 178 | 54 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $27,960 |
| College of St. Scholastica | No | 191 | 58 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $23,215 |
| Concordia College-Moorhead | No | 243 | 69 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $24,096 |
| Concordia University-St. Paul | Yes | 247 | 77 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,521 |
| Crown College | No | 31 | 10 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $25,977 |
| Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College | No | 5 | — | 97% | — | — | — | $9,336 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | No | 153 | 33 | 87% | — | — | — | $26,701 |
| Hamline University | Yes | 210 | 53 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $21,528 |
| Martin Luther College | No | 585 | 111 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $21,396 |
| Metropolitan State University | No | 269 | 26 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $15,941 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | Yes | 539 | 171 | N.Av. | 36 | 8 | N.Av. | $15,201 |
| Minnesota State University-Moorhead | Yes | 503 | 151 | 47% | — | — | — | $17,324 |
| North Central University | No | 42 | 19 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $22,259 |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | No | 344 | 81 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $14,340 |
| St. Catherine University | No | 116 | 40 | 100% | — | — | — | $18,912 |
| St. Cloud State University | No | 806 | 212 | 90% | — | — | — | $13,697 |
| St. Mary’s University of Minnesota | No | 195 | 58 | 97% | — | — | — | $22,021 |
| St. Olaf College | No | 110 | 31 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $27,838 |
| University of Minnesota-Crookston | No | 46 | 17 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $12,010 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | No | 269 | 114 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $18,211 |
| University of Minnesota-Morris | No | 59 | 23 | 100% | — | — | — | $11,147 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | No | 436 | 215 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $17,729 |
| University of Northwestern-St. Paul | No | 172 | 31 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $23,967 |
| University of St. Thomas | No | 376 | 110 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $31,799 |
| Winona State University | No | 725 | 201 | N.Av. | 89 | 25 | N.Av. | $17,185 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Minnesota
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 15 most affordable schools have a net price under $20,000.
- Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College ($9,336)
- University of Minnesota-Morris ($11,147)
- University of Minnesota-Crookston ($12,010)
- St. Cloud State University ($13,697)
- Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,340)
- Bemidji State University ($14,924)
- Minnesota State University-Mankato ($15,201)
- Metropolitan State University ($15,941)
- Concordia University-St. Paul ($16,521)
- Bethany Lutheran College ($16,968)
- Winona State University ($17,185)
- Minnesota State University-Moorhead ($17,324)
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ($17,729)
- University of Minnesota-Duluth ($18,211)
- St. Catherine University ($18,912)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in Minnesota
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Minnesota
Our list of the top seven bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- St. Catherine University (100%)
- University of Minnesota‑Morris (100%)
- Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College (97%)
- St. Mary’s University of Minnesota (97%)
- St. Cloud State University (90%)
- Bemidji State University (88%)
- Gustavus Adolphus College (87%)2
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2025
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (#24 tie)
- University of St. Thomas (#169)
- Concordia University-St. Paul (#234-258)
- St. Cloud State University (#234-258)4
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The 27 Minnesota schools below offer associate degrees in education.3 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Alexandria Technical & Community College
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College
- Central Lakes College-Brainerd
- Century College
- Concordia University-Saint Paul*
- Crown College
- Dakota County Technical College
- Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
- Hennepin Technical College
- Inver Hills Community College
- Itasca Community College
- Leech Lake Tribal College
- Mesabi Range College
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College
- Minnesota State College Southeast
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College
- Normandale Community College
- North Hennepin Community College
- Northland Community and Technical College
- Oak Hills Christian College
- Ridgewater College
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- South Central College
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College
- St. Paul College
- Vermilion Community College
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2025: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings