Best Public Policy Schools Near Winona, MN (2026)

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

Winona, Minnesota has 2 accredited schools offering public policy programs, with tuition ranging from $25,600 to $37,239 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 public policy-related role is Economists at a median $105,120 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Public Policy Schools to Winona

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer public policy 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

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Saint Paul, MN 96.0 miles from Winona
  • 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

#2

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN 96.0 miles from Winona
  • 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

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#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

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN 101.5 miles from Winona
  • 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

Walden University

Minneapolis, MN 101.6 miles from Winona
  • 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

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

Public Policy Wages Near Winona

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide)
Political Scientists N/A
Management Analysts $100,790
Economists $105,120
Social and Community Service Managers $84,220
Survey Researchers $104,220
Compliance Officers $85,920
General and Operations Managers $99,340
Financial and Investment Analysts $102,990

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

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

Other Winona-Area Cities With Public Policy Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited public policy schools are near Winona, MN?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering public policy programs near Winona. The closest is Concordia University-Saint Paul in Saint Paul, MN (96.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is St Catherine University (96.0 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying public policy roles in Minnesota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying public policy-related roles in Minnesota are: Economists ($105,120), Survey Researchers ($104,220), Financial and Investment Analysts ($102,990). 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 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 Winona an affordable place to study public policy?

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 Public Policy Programs

Other Programs Available in Winona

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

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.

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