10 Best Colleges and Universities Near Rochester, MN

Rochester is a city in southern Minnesota. It's the third-largest city in the state and best known for being the home of the Mayo Clinic.

The city was founded in the 1850s and has some of the oldest colleges and universities in Minnesota.

Keep reading to discover universities and colleges near Rochester, Minnesota.

Featured Colleges in Rochester, Minnesota

While the Rochester metro has over 200,000 people, it's far from any other metropolitan area. This means that while there are a few colleges in the area, other schools are a little ways away.

We've listed some of the best colleges within an hour's drive of Rochester, Minnesota, below in alphabetical order.

1. Carleton College

Carleton College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, a city just under an hour's drive north of Rochester. It offers bachelor's degrees.

Over 60 majors and minors are available in fields such as:

• biological sciences
• computer and information sciences
• physical sciences
• social sciences

Carleton College was founded in 1866 and today enrolls around 2,000 students from across the country and the world.

2. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is a health sciences college in Rochester that is run by the Mayo Clinic. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs.

Students can focus on areas of study like:

• diagnostic imaging
• medicine and medical science
• pharmacy
• phlebotomy

The college was founded in 2003. It currently enrolls about 1,200 students in health science and medicine programs.

3. Minnesota State College Southeast

Minnesota State College Southeast is a public technical and community college. It has two campuses, one in Red Wing, about 45 minutes north, and one in Winona, about 50 minutes east.

Associate degrees and certificates are available on campus and online in fields such as:

• business
• engineering
• health sciences
• liberal arts

The two campuses of Minnesota State College Southeast were originally separate colleges that came together in 1992. Today, it enrolls about 2,500 students between the campuses and online programs.

4. Riverland Community College

Riverland Community College is a public community college with three campuses, the closest of which is about 45 minutes southwest of Rochester in Austin.

It offers associate degrees and certificates as well as select bachelor's degrees through partnerships with other colleges and universities. Students can focus on areas of study like:

• business
• construction
• health sciences
• liberal arts

The college was established in 1940 and currently enrolls just under 3,200 undergraduate students through its three campuses and online programs.

5. Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester Community and Technical College is a public community college in Rochester. It offers associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas in person and online.

Programs are available in fields such as:

• business
• criminal justice
• health sciences
• liberal arts

Rochester Community and Technical College was founded in 1915 and is the oldest community college in the state. Today, it enrolls about 6,800 students.

6. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private Catholic university based in Winona, about 50 minutes east of Rochester. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs on campus and online.

Students can earn degrees through four schools within the university:

• John C. Parmer School of Sciences
• School of Business and Technology
• School of Education
• School of Health and Human Services

The university was originally established in 1912 as a men's college. It currently enrolls over 4,000 students, both men and women.

7. South Central College

South Central College is a public community college with one campus in Faribault, a little less than an hour northwest, and another about an hour and 20 minutes west in North Mankato.

Associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates are available in person and online in fields such as:

• agriculture
• business
• health sciences
• liberal arts

Originally founded as a technical college, South Central College expanded to offer more programs in 2005. Today, it enrolls about 2,600 students.

8. St. Olaf College

St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. It only Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees.

Students can earn degrees in fields like:

• cultural studies and languages
• fine arts
• history
• social sciences

The university was founded in 1874 and currently enrolls about 3,000 students.

9. University of Minnesota, Rochester

The University of Minnesota Rochester is a public college in Rochester. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

The following degrees are available from the university:

• Bachelor of Science in health professions
• Bachelor of Science in health sciences
• Master of business administration
• Master or PhD in bioinformatics and computational biology
• Master of PhD in occupational therapy

The University of Minnesota, Rochester was founded in 2006 as part of the University of Minnesota system. Today, it enrolls a little over 600 students.

10. Winona State University

Winona State University is a public university based in Winona, Minnesota, with an additional campus in Rochester. It offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Students can earn degrees through the five colleges within the university:

• College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• College of Science and Engineering

The university was founded in 1858 and is the oldest in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. It currently enrolls over 6,000 students.

What Is the Biggest School Near Rochester, Minnesota?

The largest college near Rochester, Minnesota is the Rochester Community and Technical College, with about 6,800 students.

How To Choose the Right College Near Rochester, Minnesota

Choosing the right college can be hard. To help narrow your options, ask yourself questions like:

• Which colleges are best for my intended program of study?
• Which colleges are most conveniently located?
• Which colleges offer classes in the format I prefer?
• Which colleges have extracurriculars that I might enjoy?
• Which colleges fit my budget?
• Which colleges offer financial aid that I qualify for?

Paying for Your Degree Near Rochester, Minnesota

Most students use financial aid like grants, scholarships, student loans, and work-study opportunities to help pay for their education.

To find out what financial aid you qualify for, start by filling out your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).

Start Your Degree Near Rochester, Minnesota Today

There are many excellent schools in Rochester, and many nearby the city as well. Check out the featured colleges near Rochester, Minnesota to find the right college for you today.