Best Innovation Schools Near Winona, MN (2026)

Updated August 31, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Winona, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering innovation programs, with tuition ranging from $6,146 to $18,552 per year for indexed programs. Winona has a population of about 25,998. Median household income is $56,163 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 34.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning innovation-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $176,380 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Innovation Schools to Winona

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer innovation programs near Winona, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Winona city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Winona. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN 93.4 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
60.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,705
Avg net price $16,863/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 62

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN 97.0 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,739
Avg net price $29,155/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 109

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN 100.1 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
83.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 83%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $69,020
Avg net price $16,778/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 250

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

North Central University

Minneapolis, MN 100.9 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,064
Avg net price $25,817/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minneapolis, MN 100.9 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
44.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,873
Avg net price $29,926/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 16

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN 115.8 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,922
Avg net price $19,139/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 142

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN 160.0 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,813
Avg net price $13,529/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 123

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN 192.2 miles from Winona
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
68.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,616
Avg net price $18,743/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 94

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota innovation page.

Innovation Wages Near Winona

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide)
General and Operations Manager$99,340
Management Analyst$100,790
Marketing Manager$173,300
Computer and Information Systems Manager$176,380

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Winona at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population25,998Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,163Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+34.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Winona-Area Cities With Innovation Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited innovation schools are near Winona, MN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering innovation programs near Winona. The closest is Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, WI (52.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Metropolitan State University (93.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying innovation roles in Minnesota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying innovation-related roles in Minnesota are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($176,380), Marketing Manager ($173,300), Management Analyst ($100,790). Wages for Winona workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in La Crosse instead of Winona?

La Crosse, WI is 27.0 miles from Winona and has its own set of local innovation programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Winona an affordable place to study innovation?

Winona’s median household income of $56,163 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Winona while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Innovation Programs

Other Programs Available in Winona

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Winona:

Data verified: August 31, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Innovation Schools in Minnesota: Online Programs (2026)