Top 50 Best Associate Degree Programs in Minnesota by ROI

Every Associate Degree program in Minnesota ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Minnesota

285

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$5,844

Across all Minnesota programs

Average Annual Cost

$18,756

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Normandale Community College Grad rate: 18.7%	Computer Science.	+$551,426	$72,391	$17,594	$15,708	Full ROI →
2	Hennepin Technical College Grad rate: 38.1%	Precision Metal Working.	+$537,020	$70,434	$15,830	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Lake Superior College Grad rate: 36.0%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$516,742	$69,842	$20,049	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Normandale Community College Grad rate: 18.7%	Engineering, General.	+$512,012	$69,360	$17,594	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Hennepin Technical College Grad rate: 38.1%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$504,252	$69,907	$15,830	$16,465	Full ROI →
6	Ridgewater College Grad rate: 45.0%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$445,295	$67,045	$16,195	$17,196	Full ROI →
7	Hennepin Technical College Grad rate: 38.1%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	+$444,380	$67,152	$15,830	$20,000	Full ROI →
8	Dakota County Technical College Grad rate: 49.5%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$417,136	$65,246	$15,792	$12,000	Full ROI →
9	Minneapolis Community and Technical College Grad rate: 15.1%	Computer Programming.	+$406,998	$65,758	$18,826	$22,600	Full ROI →
10	Rochester Community and Technical College Grad rate: 25.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$405,207	$65,628	$17,814	$23,500	Full ROI →
11	Inver Hills Community College Grad rate: 18.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$404,558	$65,503	$15,612	$25,391	Full ROI →
12	St Catherine University Grad rate: 64.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$393,856	$67,536	$58,432	N/A	Full ROI →
13	North Hennepin Community College Grad rate: 14.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$372,532	$63,931	$14,293	$27,779	Full ROI →
14	Minneapolis Community and Technical College Grad rate: 15.1%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	+$361,908	$63,328	$18,826	$20,000	Full ROI →
15	Central Lakes College-Brainerd Grad rate: 47.2%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$360,174	$61,809	$18,003	N/A	Full ROI →
16	Dakota County Technical College Grad rate: 49.5%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$345,516	$60,855	$15,792	N/A	Full ROI →
17	Minnesota State College Southeast Grad rate: 42.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$343,364	$63,667	$20,158	$36,785	Full ROI →
18	St Cloud Technical and Community College Grad rate: 37.6%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$342,562	$61,823	$15,374	$17,148	Full ROI →
19	North Hennepin Community College Grad rate: 14.3%	Computer Science.	+$342,450	$61,615	$14,293	$15,751	Full ROI →
20	Anoka-Ramsey Community College Grad rate: 22.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$342,227	$62,625	$16,110	$28,187	Full ROI →
21	Normandale Community College Grad rate: 18.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$339,593	$62,435	$17,594	$25,125	Full ROI →
22	St Cloud Technical and Community College Grad rate: 37.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$330,807	$62,138	$15,374	$30,522	Full ROI →
23	Minneapolis Community and Technical College Grad rate: 15.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$327,783	$61,993	$18,826	$25,500	Full ROI →
24	St Cloud Technical and Community College Grad rate: 37.6%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$314,414	$60,805	$15,374	$22,917	Full ROI →
25	Century College Grad rate: 21.0%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	+$313,867	$59,978	$15,084	$11,500	Full ROI →
26	Century College Grad rate: 21.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$309,629	$60,728	$15,084	$25,750	Full ROI →
27	South Central College Grad rate: 27.4%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	+$306,740	$58,877	$15,400	N/A	Full ROI →
28	South Central College Grad rate: 27.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$306,562	$60,763	$15,400	$28,072	Full ROI →
29	Central Lakes College-Brainerd Grad rate: 47.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$304,016	$60,915	$18,003	$28,354	Full ROI →
30	Pine Technical & Community College Grad rate: 34.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$296,041	$60,467	$15,534	$31,282	Full ROI →
31	Alexandria Technical & Community College Grad rate: 60.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$287,451	$59,673	$18,962	$20,803	Full ROI →
32	Rasmussen University-Minnesota Grad rate: 50.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$279,133	$60,421	$24,056	$30,500	Full ROI →
33	Northland Community and Technical College Grad rate: 43.6%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$277,714	$57,675	$17,893	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Dunwoody College of Technology Grad rate: 54.6%	Computer Software and Media Applications.	+$276,372	$60,652	$34,834	$20,000	Full ROI →
35	Minnesota North College Grad rate: 38.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$271,712	$58,844	$16,231	$24,226	Full ROI →
36	Ridgewater College Grad rate: 45.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$264,756	$58,414	$16,195	$23,062	Full ROI →
37	North Hennepin Community College Grad rate: 14.3%	Management Information Systems and Services.	+$260,734	$56,466	$14,293	N/A	Full ROI →
38	Minnesota West Community and Technical College Grad rate: 41.6%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$259,670	$57,514	$17,205	$12,000	Full ROI →
39	Minnesota West Community and Technical College Grad rate: 41.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$258,347	$58,781	$17,205	$31,750	Full ROI →
40	Dakota County Technical College Grad rate: 49.5%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$257,077	$57,307	$15,792	$12,947	Full ROI →
41	Northwest Technical College Grad rate: 42.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$255,976	$58,722	$18,271	$31,053	Full ROI →
42	Dunwoody College of Technology Grad rate: 54.6%	Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians.	+$254,916	$59,215	$34,834	$14,604	Full ROI →
43	Hennepin Technical College Grad rate: 38.1%	Engineering-Related Technologies.	+$247,720	$55,969	$15,830	N/A	Full ROI →
44	Dunwoody College of Technology Grad rate: 54.6%	Precision Metal Working.	+$244,212	$58,504	$34,834	$12,000	Full ROI →
45	Dunwoody College of Technology Grad rate: 54.6%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$242,508	$59,387	$34,834	$26,343	Full ROI →
46	Minnesota State Community and Technical College Grad rate: 44.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$234,743	$57,007	$15,570	$25,375	Full ROI →
47	Northland Community and Technical College Grad rate: 43.6%	Fire Protection.	+$233,414	$55,460	$17,893	N/A	Full ROI →
48	Century College Grad rate: 21.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$232,202	$56,525	$15,084	$20,837	Full ROI →
49	Dunwoody College of Technology Grad rate: 54.6%	Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR).	+$225,407	$57,935	$34,834	$17,500	Full ROI →
50	Dunwoody College of Technology Grad rate: 54.6%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$224,607	$57,724	$34,834	$14,966	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.