Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Minnesota

Christian colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.

Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Minnesota3 schools

3 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.

How this list is made

Schools in Minnesota.
Christian undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
- Pays back in about 6.4 years
- Earnings $59,871 ten years out
2
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
- Pays back in about 7.4 years
- Earnings $63,764 ten years out
3
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
- Pays back in about 46.3 years
- Earnings $50,755 ten years out

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Concordia University-Saint Paul	$18,462	$17,832	$59,871	46%
Bethel University	$28,556	$21,500	$63,764	71%
University of Northwestern-St. Paul	$27,705	$21,325	$50,755	68%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.