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Fort Snelling National CemeteryFort Snelling National Cemetery · Photo: Kozarrj · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Mendota

The University of St Thomas is 4.1 miles from Mendota

No college sits inside Mendota’s boundary, but the University of St Thomas’s campus in Saint Paul, with 8,486 students on campus, is 4.1 miles from the center of town, and Saint Paul College is 5 miles away in Saint Paul. About 4% of Mendota’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota (6%).

St Catherine UniversityMacalester CollegeMitchell Hamline School of LawUniversity of St ThomasConcordia University-Saint PaulSaint Paul College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Mendota. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
27
112,407 students on campus
Nearest college
2.8 mi
St Catherine University
Residents in college
4%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
5 mi
Saint Paul College · $6,326 tuition
Nearest public university
6.4 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$111K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Mendota

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Six colleges within 5 milesSt Catherine University admits 92% of applicants; Macalester College admits 29%; University of St Thomas admits 85%. Together they have 21,499 students on campus.A community college 5 miles awaySaint Paul College in Saint Paul: tuition and fees $6,326 a year for Minnesota residents.In-state price at Metropolitan StateLiving in Minnesota, Metropolitan State University charges $9,840 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 4% of residentsAbout the same as Minnesota (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Mendota

19 private colleges within 13.4 miles, two public colleges within 6.9 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity of St ThomasNormandaleMendota
University or collegeCommunity college
St Catherine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,461 on campus · 2.8 mi · Saint Paul92%admitted$20knet price61%graduate$59kearningsMacalester CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,142 on campus · 3.5 mi · Saint Paul29%admitted$32knet price87%graduate$64kearningsMitchell Hamline School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,167 on campus · 3.9 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of St ThomasUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,486 on campus · 4.1 mi · Saint Paul85%admitted$29knet price76%graduate$74kearningsConcordia University-Saint PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,243 on campus · 4.3 mi · Saint Paul79%admitted$18knet price46%graduate$60kearningsSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,000 on campus · 5 mi · Saint Paul$11knet price40%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $6,326 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hamline UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,064 on campus · 5.4 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$61kearningsMetropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 3,156 on campus · 6.4 mi · Saint Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearningsInver Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,321 on campus · 6.6 mi · Inver Grove Heights$12knet price24%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Augsburg UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,107 on campus · 6.7 mi · Minneapolis82%admitted$24knet price52%graduate$59kearningsUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity or college · Public · 52,981 on campus · 6.9 mi · Minneapolis80%admitted$17knet price85%graduate$69kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Luther SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 258 on campus · 6.9 mi · Saint PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Academy CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 117 on campus · 7.1 mi · Bloomington$29knet price36%graduate$48kearningsMinneapolis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 748 on campus · 7.3 mi · Minneapolis48%admitted$30knet price51%graduate$41kearningsBethlehem College & SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 194 on campus · 7.3 mi · Minneapolis70%graduateNorth Central UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 754 on campus · 7.5 mi · Minneapolis99%admitted$26knet price66%graduate$45kearningsNorthwestern Health Sciences UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 969 on campus · 7.8 mi · Bloomington$36knet price0%graduate$49kearningsMinneapolis Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,006 on campus · 8.4 mi · Minneapolis$14knet price20%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $6,161 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Dunwoody College of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,225 on campus · 8.7 mi · Minneapolis99%admitted$27knet price66%graduate$62kearningsNormandale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,023 on campus · 9.3 mi · Bloomington$13knet price27%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,329 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Northwestern-St PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,001 on campus · 10.1 mi · Saint Paul93%admitted$28knet price68%graduate$51kearningsDakota County Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,068 on campus · 11.1 mi · Rosemount$14knet price58%graduate$52kearningsTuition and fees: $6,679 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,500 on campus · 11.8 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$29knet price71%graduate$64kearningsBethany Global UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 117 on campus · 12.1 mi · Bloomington93%admitted$38knet price56%graduateAdler Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 245 on campus · 12.2 mi · MinnetonkaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Herzing University-MinneapolisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 571 on campus · 13.4 mi · St. Louis Park94%admitted$17knet price47%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · 13.8 mi · White Bear Lake$11knet price31%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $6,214 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Mendota’s median household income ($111,250) falls.

Century College13.8 mi · White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$15,710a year
Inver Hills Community College6.6 mi · Inver Grove Heights · sticker $17,103 · tuition $6,146$16,272a year
Saint Paul College5 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $18,261 · tuition $6,326$17,428a year
Dakota County Technical College11.1 mi · Rosemount · sticker $18,552 · tuition $6,679$18,089a year
Normandale Community College9.3 mi · Bloomington · sticker $18,694 · tuition $6,329$18,510a year
Minneapolis Community and Technical College8.4 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $19,683 · tuition $6,161$19,137a year
Metropolitan State University6.4 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $25,172$21,905a year
Concordia University-Saint Paul4.3 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $37,239$23,295a year
Herzing University-Minneapolis13.4 mi · St. Louis Park · sticker $26,163$24,347a year
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities6.9 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $30,061$27,008a year
St Catherine University2.8 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $60,476$27,021a year
Hamline University5.4 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,110$27,196a year
North Central University7.5 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $44,475$30,213a year
University of Northwestern-St Paul10.1 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $51,325$31,348a year
Augsburg University6.7 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $62,303$32,123a year
Bethel University11.8 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,569$33,155a year
University of St Thomas4.1 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $66,116$33,232a year
Dunwoody College of Technology8.7 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $36,587$33,568a year
Academy College7.1 mi · Bloomington · sticker $33,874$33,874a year
Minneapolis College of Art and Design7.3 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $59,972$34,345a year
Bethany Global University12.1 mi · Bloomington · sticker $43,216$37,796a year
Macalester College3.5 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $82,991$44,880a year
Northwestern Health Sciences University7.8 mi · Bloomington · sticker $39,863—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Mendota: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of St ThomasSaint Paul CollegeUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis Community and Technical CollegeNormandaleCentury College
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities85% graduate$69k earnings*$20k typical debt
University of St Thomas76% graduate$74k earnings$23k typical debt
Normandale Community College27% graduate$50k earnings$12k typical debt
Century College31% graduate$46k earnings$14k typical debt
Minneapolis Community and Technical College20% graduate$40k earnings$18k typical debt
Saint Paul College40% graduate$38k earnings$11k typical debt
Concordia University-Saint Paul46% graduate$60k earnings$18k typical debt
Metropolitan State University44% graduate$65k earnings$17k typical debt
Augsburg University52% graduate$59k earnings$25k typical debt
Bethel University71% graduate$64k earnings$22k typical debt
St Catherine University61% graduate$59k earnings$24k typical debt
Inver Hills Community College24% graduate$50k earnings$14k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2); Herzing University-Minneapolis (11).

Questions about college near Mendota

Is Mendota a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Mendota residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The nearest campus, St Catherine University, is 2.8 miles away in Saint Paul.

What colleges are near Mendota?

27 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (6.9 miles, 52,981 students on campus), the University of St Thomas (4.1 miles, 8,486) and Normandale Community College (9.3 miles, 6,023).

What is the closest community college to Mendota, and what does it cost?

Saint Paul College in Saint Paul, 5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,326 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $11,495, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Metropolitan State University cost if we live in Minnesota?

Tuition and fees are $9,840 a year in-state and $9,840 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,238 (under $30,000 income) to $21,905 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Mendota. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →