The Best Business Schools in Minneapolis for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Minneapolis
- Walden University ranks #1 in the Minneapolis area on a 94.4 Program Score, with a 100% graduation rate.
- The hardest to get into is Crown College (#7), which admits 23% of applicants.
- Every school on this list is private.
- The #1 program is also the lowest-tuition program on the list, so the best value and the best score are the same school.
- Programs analyzed
- 141
- Schools ranked
- 8
- Tuition range
- $14,400-$52,820
- Average graduation rate
- 54%
We analyzed 141 accredited business programs in Minneapolis and the surrounding metro and ranked 8 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 8 ranked schools runs from $10,542 to $52,820 a year, a $42,278 spread for the same credential.
Walden University leads with a 94.4 Program Score, at $10,542 a year. Across all 8 ranked business schools in Minneapolis the average graduation rate is 54%, ranging from 20% to 100%. All 8 are private, which is most of why the price runs as high as it does.
The Top Business Schools in Minneapolis at a Glance
Walden leads at 94.4, and Academy College closes the chart at 56.3. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Business Schools in Minneapolis Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 8 Best Business Schools in Minneapolis, Ranked for 2027
The 8 best Business Schools in Minneapolis, ranked by outcomes.
Walden UniversityOnline Program
Minneapolis, MN · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 100%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Walden University's online MHA is CAHME accredited and can be finished in as few as 18 months across 53 quarter credits.
- 100% graduation rate
- Program Score 94.4
- Open admission
- Online, finish in as few as 18 months
Walden University offers an online Master of Healthcare Administration that the school says is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. The program totals 53 quarter credits and can be completed in as few as 18 months. Students choose a schedule-driven course-based format with weekly deadlines or Tempo Learning, a self-paced format with a personal academic coach. Featured courses include Healthcare Finance, Healthcare Operations and Law and Ethics in Healthcare, covering financial statements, budgeting, value-based operations and regulation. The page says the curriculum aligns with National Center for Healthcare Leadership guidelines and stresses skills that can be applied at work right away.
Walden is an open admission school, and its reported graduation rate is 100%. The Program Score is 94.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The program fits working healthcare professionals who need a flexible online path and a management credential, particularly those who prefer to set their own pace. Prospective students should confirm how the graduation figure is measured for their own cohort and check start dates with an enrollment specialist.
University of St Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 76%
- Admit rate
- 85%
- In-state
- $52,820
- Out-of-state
- $52,820
The University of St. Thomas pairs its Leadership and Management major with real project management work for a local organization.
- Program Score 86.2
- 76% graduation rate
- $52,820 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Real project work for a local organization
The University of St. Thomas offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Leadership and Management. The page says students develop the skills and mindset to lead people, processes and projects, and study how organizational change affects managing people and reaching goals. To make the learning practical, the program combines classroom study with real project management work for a local organization. Beyond the business core, courses cover leadership from individual and organizational perspectives, tools for setting long-term vision and goals, improving daily operations, and leading change. Students also complete the liberal arts core and allied courses in economics, math and statistics, and the four-year plan leaves room for study abroad in the second or third year. Small classes and an assigned faculty advisor are highlighted.
St. Thomas graduates 76% of its students and admits 85% of applicants. Tuition is $52,820 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 86.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a broad management degree with applied project experience and strong completion odds, and who are prepared for private university tuition.
Capella UniversityOnline Program
Minneapolis, MN · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 20%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $14,400
- Out-of-state
- $14,400
Capella University's online BS in Business, Management and Leadership offers FlexPath, where the school says the fastest 25% of students finish in 14 months.
- Program Score 77.4
- 20% graduation rate
- $14,400 in-state tuition
- FlexPath and GuidedPath formats
Capella University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Management and Leadership specialization, delivered fully online. The degree totals 180 quarter credits in the GuidedPath format, or 90 program points in FlexPath. The structure includes 8 to 15 general education courses, 10 core courses, 8 specialization courses, 7 to 13 electives and one capstone. Students can transfer up to 135 credits, and Capella points students to no-cost general education courses from its affiliate, Sophia Learning. The school says FlexPath students in the fastest 25% finish the bachelor's in 14 months, and it notes that actual length varies with transfer credits and pace. Specialization coursework covers topics such as virtual team collaboration and leadership in organizations.
Capella is open admission, and its federal graduation rate is 20%. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $14,400, which reflects a single online rate. The program's ranking rests on its Program Score of 77.4 out of 100. The self-paced FlexPath option and the large transfer allowance suit working adults who already hold credits and want to complete a business degree on their own schedule, though the low graduation rate means students should plan carefully for the discipline that self-paced study demands.
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 88%
- In-state
- $48,784
- Out-of-state
- $48,784
A Bachelor of Business Administration with five concentrations, an online completion option and a student-run Piper investment club.
- 77.3 Program Score
- 60% graduation rate
- $48,784 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Five concentrations plus online completion
Hamline University's Bachelor of Business Administration pairs business disciplines with a liberal studies core. Students choose concentrations in accounting, business analytics, finance, management or marketing, and an online degree-completion version is offered. Learning extends beyond the classroom through academic research projects, certification exam preparation, business analytics competitions, a Marketing Analytics Clinic and the Piper investment club. The school lists internships for business majors, with past placements in audit, finance, marketing and risk management, and a Career Mentor Program that matches students with professionals. Students graduate with hands-on experience on their resumes.
Hamline admits 88% of applicants and graduates 60% of its students. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $48,784. The program earns a Program Score of 77.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small-campus business degree with internships built in and the option to specialize early. The finance and accounting concentrations suit those aiming at certification or analyst roles, while the online completion route helps students who started elsewhere and need to finish on their own schedule.
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 46%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $25,600
- Out-of-state
- $25,600
A 90-credit accelerated bachelor's path in business administration that can finish in as little as one year with transferred credits.
- 77.2 Program Score
- 46% graduation rate
- $25,600 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Online B.A. or B.S., 90 or 120 credits
Concordia University, St. Paul offers its online business administration bachelor's through CSP Global as either a B.A. or a B.S., each in a 120-credit or an accelerated 90-credit version. The B.A. includes 30 credit hours in the major covering marketing, project management, finance and organizational behavior. The B.S. adds 45 credit hours in the major, with entrepreneurship, social intelligence and innovation. The school says students can transfer 60 to 90 credits, and that transfer can cut completion to as little as one year. Embedded certificates cover data analysis, digital marketing and e-commerce, and conflict resolution. The page reports that 94.5% of students are employed a year after graduation.
Concordia admits 79% of applicants and graduates 46% of its students. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $25,600. The program earns a Program Score of 77.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits adult learners who already hold college credits, working professionals who need a fully online format, and students who want a general or a specialized business degree. The 90-credit option suits those who want to finish in three years or less and can give up some electives.
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- 82%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
An evening MBA with a leadership concentration, 42 credits, finished in 26 months with a Mayo Clinic innovation option.
- 75.9 Program Score
- 52% graduation rate
- 82% admit rate
- Leadership concentration; 26-month evening cohort
This listing is Augsburg University's Master of Business Administration, a 42-credit degree completed in 26 months with classes one evening per week. The school reports accreditation from ACBSP. Students move through the program in a small cohort and can specialize in leadership, which the school describes as a credential for leading and managing an organization, or in business analytics, entrepreneurship or finance. Hands-on work includes business simulations, field studies with active companies, a Management Consulting Project, and an Innovation Scholars Program that combines business and biomedical research with the Mayo Clinic. International travel courses in Europe are optional.
The university admits 82% of applicants and graduates 52% of its students. The program's Program Score is 75.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The format suits working professionals in the Twin Cities who want evening classes and a steady cohort rather than an online program. It also fits managers who want to build leadership skills alongside others in similar roles. Students who prefer self-paced online study should weigh the fixed evening schedule before applying, since the 26-month path assumes steady weekly attendance.
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 45%
- Admit rate
- 23%
- In-state
- $30,470
- Out-of-state
- $30,470
Crown College combines accounting and finance in one Bachelor of Science, with three dedicated finance courses alongside auditing, tax, cost accounting and systems.
- Program Score 75.6
- $30,470 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- 23% admit rate
- Accounting plus finance in one degree
Crown College offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Financial Management through its School of Business. The page describes one degree covering two disciplines: finance depth in investments, banking and performance management, plus a technical accounting core. Upper-level accounting coursework includes intermediate accounting, auditing, tax, cost accounting, systems and advanced accounting, and three dedicated finance courses sit alongside it. The plan maps four years across the general core, business core and major, with leadership and spiritual development built in and every class taught from a biblical worldview. Listed careers include staff accountant, tax associate, auditor, financial analyst and banking or credit analyst. The page also names the MBA, Master of Science in Finance and Master of Accountancy as follow-on degrees, and cites a faculty to student ratio of 17:1.
Crown graduates 45% of its students and admits 23% of applicants. Tuition is $30,470 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 75.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to prepare for both accounting and analyst roles in a small, faith-based setting, and who value close faculty contact over a large campus.
Academy College
Bloomington, MN · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 36%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $17,812
- Out-of-state
- $17,812
A 180-quarter-credit Bachelor of Science in Business Administration that runs on campus, hybrid or online, with classes held to a 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
- 36% graduation rate
- Program Score 56.3
- $17,812 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Aviation Management concentration; on-campus, hybrid or online
Academy College offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration that students can take on campus, hybrid or fully online, full time or part time. The degree totals 180 quarter credits, about 48 months of full-time study, and the school says it has quarterly start dates. Students complete general education, core business classes and advanced coursework in a chosen concentration. The page lists three: Project Management, Human Resources and Aviation Management. Sample courses include Principles of Accounting I and II, Financial Management, Business Strategy, Law and Ethics of Business Management and Managing Human Resources. The school reports a student-to-instructor ratio of 10:1 and accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Academy College is an open-admission school, and its graduation rate is 36%. Tuition is $17,812 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 56.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits adult career changers, working professionals who need flexible scheduling, and recent high school graduates who want small classes and a defined concentration. Students who hope to finish in four years should check how many credits will transfer in, since the graduation rate shows many students take longer or do not complete.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Minneapolis
The median school on this list graduates 49% of its students. The highest rates belong to Walden University (100%) and University of St Thomas (76%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Walden University100% graduation rate
- #2 University of St Thomas76% graduation rate
- #4 Hamline University60% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Minneapolis?
On this list, 3 of 8 schools are open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Crown College at 23%.
- #7 Crown College23% admitted
- #5 Concordia University-Saint Paul79% admitted
- #6 Augsburg University82% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Minneapolis
Of the 8 schools ranked here, 3 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Walden University, at #1.
- #1 Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN
- #3 Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN
- #5 Concordia University-Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Minneapolis
Enrollment on this list runs from 56 at Academy College to 49,441 at Walden University. Of the 8, 2 enroll 20,000 students or more and 4 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Minneapolis Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Walden UniversityWalden | $79,613 | $29,899 |
| #2 | University of St ThomasSt Thomas | $82,396 | $31,532 |
| #3 | Capella UniversityCapella | $87,997 | $18,458 |
| #4 | Hamline UniversityHamline | $72,945 | $22,756 |
| #5 | Concordia University-Saint PaulConcordia-Saint Paul | $77,037 | $16,222 |
| #6 | Augsburg UniversityAugsburg | $108,125 | $23,390 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $72,945 at Hamline to $108,125 at Augsburg.
The highest-ranked school in the table, Walden (#1), reports $79,613, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Concordia-Saint Paul, $16,222 a year, and most at St Thomas, $31,532.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Minneapolis Cost
Tuition across the 8 ranked schools runs from $10,542 to $52,820 a year. Walden University anchors the low end at $10,542 a year, while University of St Thomas in Saint Paul sits at the top at $52,820. All 8 of the business schools in Minneapolis on this list are private, and the cheapest is Walden University at $10,542.
Over the four years the credential takes, that is roughly $42,168 in tuition at Walden University against about $211,280 at University of St Thomas. Every school here charges the same rate in and out of state, so where a student lives does not change the cheap end of this list.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Minneapolis
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Minneapolis do not all offer the same ones. Across the 141 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Minneapolis are business administration (16 schools), accounting (14 schools), marketing (12 schools), finance (10 schools), human resources (7 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 14 of the schools analyzed in Minneapolis run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Minneapolis
None of the 8 ranked business schools in Minneapolis is public and all 8 are private, which is most of why tuition runs as high as it does. With no public option on the list, residency does not change the price: Walden University charges $10,542 in-state and $10,542 out of state, and University of St Thomas in Saint Paul $52,820 either way, so the school a student picks changes this ranking more than where they live.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Minneapolis
The 8 ranked schools sit across 4 towns in the metro, among them Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Saint Bonifacius and Bloomington, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 3 of the 8 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Minneapolis: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Minneapolis?
By Program Score, Walden University ranks first among the 8 ranked business schools in Minneapolis, with a 94.4 score. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Minneapolis?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Minneapolis, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Minneapolis?
Tuition among the ranked Minneapolis schools runs from $8,571 to $52,820 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Minneapolis living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Minneapolis does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 141 accredited business programs across Minneapolis and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 8 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Twin Cities, so many schools sit in Saint Paul or the suburbs; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Minneapolis instead of online?
3 of the 8 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Minneapolis this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $17,812, Academy College in Bloomington is what that proximity costs at the low end among the campus-based schools here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.