Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to St. Paul

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
James J. Hill House 2013Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near St. Paul

St. Paul is home to nine colleges, with about 27,000 students on campus

The University of St Thomas (8,486 students on campus) and Saint Paul College (4,000) are inside the city. About 8% of St. Paul’s residents are enrolled in college, above Minnesota (6%).

Saint Paul CollegeMetropolitan State UniversityMitchell Hamline School of LawConcordia University-Saint PaulMacalester CollegeHamline UniversityUniversity of St ThomasSt Catherine University

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 St. Paul. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
25
112,045 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
Saint Paul College
Residents in college
8%
Above MN (6%)
Nearest community college
0.3 mi
Saint Paul College · $6,326 tuition
Nearest public university
1.6 mi
Metropolitan State · $9,840 in-state
Median household income
$73K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in St. Paul

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

Eight colleges within 4.2 milesMetropolitan State University admits 99% of applicants; Concordia University-Saint Paul admits 79%; Macalester College admits 29%. Together they have 26,719 students on campus.A community college 0.3 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 8% of residentsAbove Minnesota (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of St. Paul

17 private colleges within 14.8 miles, two public colleges within 6.6 miles, and six community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity of St ThomasNormandaleSt. Paul
University or collegeCommunity college
Saint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,000 on campus · In St. Paul$11knet price40%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $6,326 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Metropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 3,156 on campus · In St. Paul99%admitted$17knet price44%graduate$65kearningsMitchell Hamline School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,167 on campus · In St. PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Concordia University-Saint PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,243 on campus · In St. Paul79%admitted$18knet price46%graduate$60kearningsMacalester CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,142 on campus · In St. Paul29%admitted$32knet price87%graduate$64kearningsHamline UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,064 on campus · In St. Paul88%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$61kearningsUniversity of St ThomasUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,486 on campus · In St. Paul85%admitted$29knet price76%graduate$74kearningsSt Catherine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,461 on campus · In St. Paul92%admitted$20knet price61%graduate$59kearningsLuther SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 258 on campus · In St. PaulGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity or college · Public · 52,981 on campus · 6.6 mi · Minneapolis80%admitted$17knet price85%graduate$69kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.University of Northwestern-St PaulUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,001 on campus · 6.6 mi · Saint Paul93%admitted$28knet price68%graduate$51kearningsAugsburg UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,107 on campus · 6.8 mi · Minneapolis82%admitted$24knet price52%graduate$59kearningsBethlehem College & SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 194 on campus · 7.5 mi · Minneapolis70%graduateNorth Central UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 754 on campus · 7.8 mi · Minneapolis99%admitted$26knet price66%graduate$45kearningsBethel UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,500 on campus · 8 mi · Saint Paul88%admitted$29knet price71%graduate$64kearningsMinneapolis College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 748 on campus · 8.4 mi · Minneapolis48%admitted$30knet price51%graduate$41kearningsInver Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,321 on campus · 8.6 mi · Inver Grove Heights$12knet price24%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,483 on campus · 8.8 mi · White Bear Lake$11knet price31%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $6,214 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,006 on campus · 9 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 · 9.3 mi · Minneapolis99%admitted$27knet price66%graduate$62kearningsAcademy CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 117 on campus · 11.5 mi · Bloomington$29knet price36%graduate$48kearningsNorthwestern Health Sciences UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 969 on campus · 12.2 mi · Bloomington$36knet price0%graduate$49kearningsNormandale Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,023 on campus · 13.9 mi · Bloomington$13knet price27%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,329 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Dakota County Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,068 on campus · 14.7 mi · Rosemount$14knet price58%graduate$52kearningsTuition and fees: $6,679 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Herzing University-MinneapolisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 571 on campus · 14.8 mi · St. Louis Park94%admitted$17knet price47%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.

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 $48–75k, where St. Paul’s median household income ($73,394) falls.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities6.6 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $30,061$9,931a year
Century College8.8 mi · White Bear Lake · sticker $15,983 · tuition $6,214$10,767a year
Macalester CollegeIn St. Paul · sticker $82,991$11,098a year
Inver Hills Community College8.6 mi · Inver Grove Heights · sticker $17,103 · tuition $6,146$11,168a year
Saint Paul CollegeIn St. Paul · sticker $18,261 · tuition $6,326$12,318a year
Dakota County Technical College14.7 mi · Rosemount · sticker $18,552 · tuition $6,679$12,371a year
Normandale Community College13.9 mi · Bloomington · sticker $18,694 · tuition $6,329$12,815a year
Minneapolis Community and Technical College9 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $19,683 · tuition $6,161$13,617a year
Herzing University-Minneapolis14.8 mi · St. Louis Park · sticker $26,163$15,433a year
St Catherine UniversityIn St. Paul · sticker $60,476$15,451a year
Metropolitan State UniversityIn St. Paul · sticker $25,172$16,659a year
Hamline UniversityIn St. Paul · sticker $58,110$16,767a year
Concordia University-Saint PaulIn St. Paul · sticker $37,239$16,826a year
Bethel University8 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $58,569$20,071a year
Augsburg University6.8 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $62,303$21,524a year
University of Northwestern-St Paul6.6 mi · Saint Paul · sticker $51,325$21,689a year
North Central University7.8 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $44,475$23,892a year
Dunwoody College of Technology9.3 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $36,587$24,219a year
University of St ThomasIn St. Paul · sticker $66,116$24,357a year
Academy College11.5 mi · Bloomington · sticker $33,874$24,391a year
Minneapolis College of Art and Design8.4 mi · Minneapolis · sticker $59,972$26,550a year
Northwestern Health Sciences University12.2 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 St. Paul: 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 →Saint Paul CollegeUniversity of St ThomasUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesCentury CollegeMinneapolis Community and Technical CollegeNormandale
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).

Majors

What students study in St. Paul

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across St. Paul’s 7 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 21%Health professions 18%Computer science 6%Psychology 6%Liberal arts 4%Social sciences 4%Everything else 40%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingConcordia University-Saint Paul · 331 graduates a year
$93k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMetropolitan State University · 245 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesSaint Paul College · 202 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSt Catherine University · 163 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of St Thomas · 156 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of St Thomas · 154 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMetropolitan State University · 140 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of St Thomas · 130 graduates a year
$78k4 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 St. Paul

Is St. Paul a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 St. Paul residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Minnesota (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of St Thomas, has 8,486 students on campus.

What colleges are in St. Paul?

The University of St Thomas, Saint Paul College, Concordia University-Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University and 5 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to St. Paul, and what does it cost?

Saint Paul College in Saint Paul, 0.3 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.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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 St. Paul. 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 →