10 Accredited Online Colleges in Minnesota

This article is written for people looking for online colleges in Minnesota to further their studies in a part-time program. We have done our best to include as many colleges as possible to offer you a plethora of options to choose from.

Every international student should consider the opportunity to study in Minnesota because the state is home to some of the top-ranked universities and liberal arts colleges in the US, offering students a myriad of different campuses to choose from.

As a state that houses some of the schools that provide quality and affordable education in the country, Minnesota has been on the radar of most Americans and international students. Everyone loves Minnesota. It has a lot to offer to its residents that one cannot find elsewhere. But that doesn’t mean you as a prospective online student won’t get to take part in that.

In terms of education, Minnesota has so much to offer as well, from fast-track nursing programs to exquisite culinary schools for potential chefs, you name it. You might even want to check out these Minnesota online High Schools for your little ones, they are all accredited.

Studying in one of the online colleges in Minnesota has its own advantages. A lot more than you can possibly imagine. One, you have the opportunity to study in one of the best schools in not just the state but the country at large.

Indigenes and residents of Minnesota have a deep sense of community and are generally kind to people; you are going to find yourself surrounded by a faculty that genuinely cares about you and your academic success.

To the east, the beautiful and happy state of Minnesota is bounded by Wisconsin, a state that is recognized nationwide for its outstanding quality of education. And just like Minnesota, this well-educated state did not fall short in online colleges. We have written about these admirable online colleges and I am including them here because they deserve as many recommendations as they can get.

If you have Minnesota on your radar and aren’t sure about it yet, we have written this article to assure you that you are in good company. Find yourself the online college of your dream and start processing your admission right away.

Maryland has one of the best online colleges and I have written about them too, just in case you are looking to broaden your prospects.

The Average Cost of Online Colleges in Minnesota

  • In-state tuition for a public four-year institution $10,701  
  • In-state tuition for a public two-year institution – $5,332  
  • Out-of-state tuition for a public, four-year institution $18,295   
  • Out-of-state tuition for a public two-year institution  $5,975

These prices are simply average general tuition prices and will vary from institution to institution, especially when other fees are scrapped for online students.

If you want to study on a tight budget, you can explore some of these cost-effective online colleges in the US.

Requirements for online colleges in Minnesota

Prior to getting admitted into one of the online colleges in Minnesota, you must meet the following requirements and eligibility criteria.

  • As an undergraduate applicant, you must have a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent.
  • If you are a postgraduate applicant, you must have completed and earned a bachelor’s degree. To find out how you can earn a bachelor’s degree faster, click here
  • You may be required to take standardized tests like MCAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
  • You should have your letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, an essay, a CV or resume, and an ID in place.
  • You must have your original high school transcripts and transcripts from previously attended institutions.
  • You must meet the required CGPA for their respective degree programs
  • You must complete the application form and pay an application fee if required although some online colleges waive the application fee.
  • You will need to have digital learning devices to take online classes and submit tests and assignments.

Note that these requirements are not fixed and may vary from college to college as the case may be.

Benefits of online college in Minnesota

As I mentioned earlier, Minnesota is one of the best states to study irrespective of your state or country. Asides from the beautiful scenery and its renowned quality of living — which are not the majority of your concern of course — below are some other benefits of studying at one of the online colleges in Minnesota:

  1. Online colleges in Minnesota will provide you with the knowledge and hands-on training necessary to pursue lucrative careers.
  2. Studying online in Minnesota offers you a very flexible and self-paced form of learning
  3. No one gets to control your time and schedule for you
  4. You can comfortably study and work at the same time
  5. You will save a lot of money on housing and commute
  6. You can take your classes from anywhere
  7. Degree programs are faster to complete online. You could earn an associate degree in 6 months instead of 2 years.
  8. You will have easy access to your instructors
  9. You get to focus more on your studies when its time to learn
  10. Networking is easier and faster
  11. Your coursemates might be people from different countries and states, giving you the opportunity to connect with people with different backgrounds and cultures.

online Colleges in Minnesota

10 Accredited Online Colleges in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota is home to 32 public universities and colleges and 20 private institutions. Six of which have been ranked among the country’s top 100 liberal arts colleges according to U.S. News & World Report.

On the list of the top-ranked liberal arts colleges is Carleton College, which is located in Northfield, Minnesota. The college is renowned for its academic excellence with a warm and welcoming campus environment.

Here, you will find the colleges that offer accredited online programs in Minnesota with as many details as you will need to aid you in your decision-making process.

1. University of Minnesota Online

With campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and Twin Cities, the University of Minnesota has provided prospective students the opportunity to choose from 100 of their online programs and learn from anywhere in the world.

Their online programs range from bachelor’s degrees to doctorates, from minors and certificates to licensing programs, and students get to pay in-state tuition fees for most of the programs. How nice is that?

As one of the prominent online colleges in Minnesota, the five University of Minnesota campuses are accredited separately at the institutional level by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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2. Bemidji State University

Accredited by Higher Learning Commission, Bemidji State University may be classified as one of the online colleges in Minnesota that provides affordable and quality education. The institution provides eleven online bachelor’s degrees in fields such as Accounting, Applied Engineering, Applied Management, Business administration, Criminal Justice, Economics, Marketing Communication, Nursing (RN to BS), Project Management, Psychology, and Sociology.

There are also four online certificate programs in Arts Management, Technology Management, Public and Non-Profit Management, and Lean Six Sigma.

Prospective degree students should have the equivalent of their first two semesters of college completed or possess a transferrable 24 college credits in order to begin a program. And everyone gets to pay in-state tuition irrespective of their location. 

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3. Bethel University, Saint Paul

As one of the online colleges in Minnesota, Bethel University is an evangelical school that provides a world-class online education that is deep-rooted in the Christian faith.

Their online programs feature Adult Undergraduate Online Programs, Graduate Programs, and Seminary Online programs which sum up to 35 giving students a variety of options to choose from. Bethel University’s associate degree programs prepare students to transfer to a bachelor’s degree completion program.

There are online bachelor’s programs in Accounting, Business Management, Christian ministries, Nursing, and Human Services. Graduate degrees include Master of Education programs, MBAs, nurse-midwifery, and strategic leadership. Several certificate programs are available also.

Bethel University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees.

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4. St. Catherine University, Saint Paul

St. Catherine University is a private Catholic liberal arts college located in Minneapolis. As one of the top online colleges in Minnesota, it provides online bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and undergraduate certificates through the College for Adults, and online master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificates through the Graduate College.

St. Catherine offers an RN-BSN nursing degree, a master’s in nursing education, and doctorates in public health, occupational therapy, and health informatics.

As a prospective student, you can graduate from any of St. Catherine’s undergraduate online programs in two years if you possess enough transfer credits.

St. Catherine University is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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5. Concordia University-Saint Paul

Concordia University is a Christian liberal arts college located in the Twin Cities. The institution provides over 50 online programs ranging from associate degrees to Doctorate degrees with certificate programs as well.

The university is said to be the most affordable private university in the Twin Cities and it boasts of faculty experts who are passionate about the success of their students.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Concordia University is one of the online colleges in Minnesota where students feel seen and welcomed. There is so much more to learn about this great institution. Check the link below to get started.

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6. Oak Hills Christian College

Oak Hills Christian College is an accredited private college that is deep-rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The college provides online associate and bachelor’s degree programs in different fields.

Additionally, the institution signed an Academic Partnership Agreement with Lancaster Bible College | Capital Graduate School & Seminary (LBC), Lancaster, PA. And the College now offers a wide range of online courses to Oak Hills students.

Students can also transfer credits from their previous Colleges to Oak Hills College. Check the link below for more details.

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7. Crown College

Crown College is a Christian college that started out as a small Bible College in Saint Paul. Now the college boasts as one of the top online colleges in Minnesota offering many undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs that are 100% online.

These programs have been designed to meet all students’ learning needs from anywhere in the world. Crown College cares about their students’ spiritual life as do many other Christian schools, so you should expect growth not just academically but also spiritually.

Crown College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Find more information about the college below.

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8. Metropolitan State University

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Metropolitan State University is a public university that offers several in-demand undergraduate, graduate, and graduate certificate programs that are fully online, and this qualifies it as one of the most sought-after online colleges in Minnesota.

Students will be exposed to an inclusive learning environment where they receive immense support and guidance from advisors and tutors.

The full list of their online programs has been provided on their website which can be accessed through the link below.

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9. The College of Saint Scholastica, Duluth

The College of Saint Scholastica is a private college that offers an individualized form of online learning where students learn in small classes with easy access to their personal advisors and tutors.

Qualifying as one of the most talked-about online colleges in Minnesota, the college offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate online programs in an inclusive virtual space. Students will be introduced to several technological tools which they are to familiarise themselves with prior to the start of their classes.

This great college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

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10. Hamline University

Hamline University is a top-ranked private liberal arts college located in Saint Paul. The college offers relatively cheaper online bachelor’s degree completion programs where students can choose from Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Arts in Education.

Additionally, students can choose from high-demand majors in business, psychology, or education while getting personalized support from their online navigators who will help them at every step of the way.

Hamline University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

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Conclusion

There are other online colleges in Minnesota, but these are a few we think might meet your learning needs. We hope you find the college of your choice here, and if not, feel free to explore some more until you find somewhere that ticks the boxes for you. We wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Online Colleges in Minnesota – FAQs

Are there free online colleges in Minnesota?

Mostly not, but some online colleges in Minnesota provide free courses through learning platforms like Coursera, Tutor.com, and others.

What is the cheapest online college in Minnesota?

The cheapest online college in Minnesota is the Minnesota State Community and Technical College which offers online courses for as low as $199 per credit.

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