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North Mankato Public SchoolNorth Mankato Public School · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near North Mankato

North Mankato is home to South Central College

South Central College (1,762 students on campus) is inside the city, and Minnesota State University-Mankato (12,325) is 3.2 miles from the center, just over the line in Mankato. About 5% of North Mankato’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota (6%).

South Central CollegeMinnesota State University-Mankato

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 North Mankato. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
16,803 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
South Central College
Residents in college
5%
About the same as MN (6%)
Nearest community college
0.7 mi
South Central College · $6,146 tuition
Nearest public university
3.2 mi
Minnesota State University-Mankato · $9,572 in-state
Median household income
$81K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in North Mankato

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

Two colleges within 3.2 milesMinnesota State University-Mankato admits 88% of applicants. Together they have 14,087 students on campus.A community college 0.7 miles awaySouth Central College in North Mankato: tuition and fees $6,146 a year for Minnesota residents.In-state price at Minnesota State University-MankatoLiving in Minnesota, Minnesota State University-Mankato charges $9,572 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,942. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% 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 North Mankato

Two private colleges within 10.3 miles, one public college within 3.2 miles, and South Central College 0.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMinnesota State University-MankatoGustavus Adolphus CollegeSouth Central CollegeNorth Mankato
University or collegeCommunity college
South Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,762 on campus · In North Mankato$9knet price39%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bethany Lutheran CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 765 on campus · 2.7 mi · Mankato39%admitted$20knet price55%graduate$46kearningsMinnesota State University-MankatoUniversity or college · Public · 12,325 on campus · 3.2 mi · Mankato88%admitted$19knet price54%graduate$57kearningsGustavus Adolphus CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,951 on campus · 10.3 mi · Saint Peter61%admitted$23knet price77%graduate$66kearnings

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 $75–110k, where North Mankato’s median household income ($80,791) falls.

South Central CollegeIn North Mankato · sticker $15,401 · tuition $6,146$10,947a year
Minnesota State University-Mankato3.2 mi · Mankato · sticker $23,995$18,921a year
Gustavus Adolphus College10.3 mi · Saint Peter · sticker $67,613$19,015a year
Bethany Lutheran College2.7 mi · Mankato · sticker $41,013$20,099a 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 North Mankato: 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 →South Central CollegeBethany Lutheran CollegeMinnesota State University-MankatoGustavus Adolphus College
Minnesota State University-Mankato54% graduate$57k earnings$21k typical debt
Gustavus Adolphus College77% graduate$66k earnings$27k typical debt
South Central College39% graduate$45k earnings$12k typical debt
Bethany Lutheran College55% graduate$46k earnings$23k 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.

Majors

What students study in North Mankato

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at South Central College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 19%Health professions 18%Precision production 12%Business 11%Computer science 8%Agriculture 6%Everything else 25%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities102 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing49 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions35 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations19 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications14 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians13 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians11 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in North Mankato

Is North Mankato a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 North Mankato residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Minnesota (6). The largest campus in the city, South Central College, has 1,762 students on campus.

What colleges are in North Mankato?

South Central College is inside the city. Minnesota State University-Mankato is 3.2 miles from the center, in Mankato.

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

South Central College in North Mankato, 0.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,146 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $9,082, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $9,572 a year in-state and $18,942 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,339 (under $30,000 income) to $22,798 (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 North Mankato. 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 →