These Minnesota Colleges Have the Lowest Acceptance Rates In 2025

MINNESOTA — The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is the best college in Minnesota, according to new 2025 rankings released Monday by Niche, a college ranking and review platform.

But while the state’s flagship university took the top overall spot, some private schools in Minnesota are much harder to get into. Carleton College and Macalester College admit fewer than 3 in 10 applicants, making them the most selective campuses in the state.

Here’s how the hardest colleges to get into in Minnesota stack up, based on acceptance rate:

• Carleton College (Northfield) —
  • Acceptance rate: 22%
  • SAT range: 1430–1550
  • Net price: $29,434
• Macalester College (St. Paul)
  • Acceptance rate: 28%
  • Net price: $38,571
  • SAT range: 1350–1510
• Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato)
  • Acceptance rate: 51%
  • Net price: $19,456
  • SAT range: 1000–1260
• St. Olaf College (Northfield)
  • Acceptance rate: 52%
  • Net price: $27,282
  • SAT range: 1260–1470
• University of Minnesota Crookston (Crookston)
  • Acceptance rate: 59%
  • Net price: $13,442
  • SAT range: 1000–1180
• Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter)
  • Acceptance rate: 62%
  • Net price: $28,805
• University of Minnesota Morris (Morris)
  • Acceptance rate: 71%
  • SAT range: 1040–1250
  • Net price: $9,539
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis)
  • Acceptance rate: 77%
  • Net price: $16,730
  • SAT range: 1310–1480

Other Minnesota colleges, including the University of St. Thomas, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Duluth, admit more than 80 percent of applicants, making them far less selective.

Niche’s annual rankings weigh acceptance rates, academics, campus life, and student reviews to create a comprehensive look at the best schools nationwide.

Check out the entire list here.