Best Public Policy Schools Near Duluth, MN (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Duluth, Minnesota is home to about 86,863 residents. Median household income is $66,263 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 42.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning public policy-related role is Economists at a median $105,120 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Public Policy Schools to Duluth

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer public policy programs near Duluth, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Duluth 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 Duluth. 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

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN 135.6 miles from Duluth
  • 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

#2

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Saint Paul, MN 135.7 miles from Duluth
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
58.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 79%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,871
Avg net price $18,462/yr
Tuition
In‑state$25,600
Out‑of‑state$25,600
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 67%
  • Programs offered: 65

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Walden University

Minneapolis, MN 135.7 miles from Duluth
  • 4 year
  • Exclusively online
19.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,810
Avg net price $33,817/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 12%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN 136.0 miles from Duluth
  • 4 year
  • Exclusively online
  • Accredited
29.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 27%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,189
Avg net price $17,956/yr
Tuition
In‑state$14,400
Out‑of‑state$14,400
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 37%
  • Programs offered: 74

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN 137.8 miles from Duluth
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
61.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,282
Avg net price $19,764/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 81

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Public Policy Wages Near Duluth

Duluth is part of the Duluth, MN-WI metro area (BLS area code 20260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Minnesota statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Political Scientists N/A MN statewide –
Management Analysts $88,610 Duluth, MN-WI $99,786
Economists $105,120 MN statewide $118,378
Social and Community Service Managers $75,410 Duluth, MN-WI $84,921
Survey Researchers $104,220 MN statewide $117,365
Compliance Officers $75,190 Duluth, MN-WI $84,673
General and Operations Managers $85,930 Duluth, MN-WI $96,768
Financial and Investment Analysts $89,590 Duluth, MN-WI $100,890

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.

Duluth at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 86,863 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $66,263 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 42.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 88.8 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Duluth-Area Cities With Public Policy Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying public policy roles near Duluth?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying public policy-related roles near Duluth are: Economists ($105,120), Survey Researchers ($104,220), Financial and Investment Analysts ($89,590). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Minnesota statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Superior instead of Duluth?

Superior, WI is 6.4 miles from Duluth and has its own set of local public policy programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Duluth an affordable place to study public policy?

Duluth’s median household income of $66,263 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Duluth 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 Public Policy Programs

Other Programs Available in Duluth

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

Data verified: September 5, 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 Public Policy Schools in Minnesota (2026)