Best BSW Colleges in Minnesota 2026

Coming in at #13 nationally, The College of Saint Scholastica is a strong contender among BSW programs for 2026. Students here benefit from a program that performs above average on key outcome measures.

A 82.0% retention rate shows that students at The College of Saint Scholastica are finding the support they need to persist. At $39,530 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The College of Saint Scholastica produced 45 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

At #24 in our 2026 rankings, Winona State University offers a BSW program that stands out from the pack. If you're weighing your options, this school deserves consideration.

With a retention rate of 79.0%, Winona State University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition sits at $8,388 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Winona State University produced 72 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Ranked #35 among BSW programs for 2026, St Olaf College holds a solid mid-range position. For students who value factors beyond just rankings, there's a lot to consider here.

With a retention rate of 92.0%, St Olaf College clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $56,970 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 14 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #101, St Catherine University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

With a retention rate of 80.0%, St Catherine University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $36,694 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 26 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Concordia College at Moorhead sits at #136 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 84.0% retention rate shows that students at Concordia College at Moorhead are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $29,400 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Only 7 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Augsburg University sits at #137 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 72.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. Tuition runs $43,142 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. With 25 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Minnesota State University Moorhead ranks #138 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

A 75.0% retention rate shows that students at Minnesota State University Moorhead are finding the support they need to persist. At $8,838 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 44 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

University of Minnesota-Duluth ranks #172 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

A 81.0% retention rate shows that students at University of Minnesota-Duluth are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $12,766 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. The program graduated 35 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Bethel University sits at #183 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 86.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. Tuition runs $42,760 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. The program is smaller, with 7 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

Bemidji State University sits at #216 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 73.0% retention rate shows that students at Bemidji State University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $8,994 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Bemidji State University produced 39 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Minnesota State University-Mankato sits at #230 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 80.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $8,356 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Minnesota State University-Mankato produced 55 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Coming in at #268, Metropolitan State University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The school retains 68.0% of its first-year students — a solid number that suggests most students are getting what they need here. In-state tuition sits at $8,571 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 54 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

University of St Thomas ranks #303 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

A 88.0% retention rate shows that students at University of St Thomas are finding the support they need to persist. At $50,788 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 13 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #330, Saint Cloud State University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

A 71.0% retention rate shows that students at Saint Cloud State University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $8,811 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Saint Cloud State University produced 55 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Southwest Minnesota State University sits at #340 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 74.0% retention rate shows that students at Southwest Minnesota State University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $8,840 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Southwest Minnesota State University produced 32 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

North Central University ranks #343 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

The school holds onto 82.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition of $28,500 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Only 7 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Walden University sits at #490 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

At 0.0% retention, Walden University loses more students than most programs. It's worth asking why and whether the school is addressing it. You'll pay $10,313 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Walden University produced 208 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.