Minnesota Schools

Prospective students who like more options than they know what to do with will be happy to know that Minnesota is replete with options. In a state with a population just under 6 million people, the state has one of the highest number of post-secondary institutions in the country: just around 200. While the some of these are not colleges and universities in the traditional sense, the vast majority of them are. Almost every school in the state is accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, while several of them are accredited through the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Many of the schools are old institutions, having existed since the 1800s.

minneapolis downtown near campus

Many more were founded in the early to mid-1900s, and have long, successful histories in providing academic excellence and rigor. Students looking into programs in Minnesota’s schools will find a wide range of academic programs available across the state, in what is a veritable buffet of educational options.

Within the public realm for the state, there are 24 community, technical and comprehensive colleges and 7 state universities. The state universities, which can be found across the state, are: Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University-Mankato, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Metropolitan State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University, and Winona State University. Most of the public universities in the state were founded in the 1800s, with Winona State University (founded in 1858), holding the honor of being the oldest post-secondary school in the state. Meanwhile, St. Cloud University (founded in 1869), Minnesota State University-Moorhead (founded in 1888), and Minnesota State University-Mankato (founded in 1868) each have a long and respected history of providing valuable, rigorous education to students from across the state and the country. Most of these schools also have sizable endowments, most in the 10s of millions of dollars.

Interestingly, the University of Minnesota, which is the oldest public institution in the state (founded in 1851) is not directly connected to the Minnesota University System. Instead, it exists as an independent public university system in an of itself, with 5 separate campuses across the state. The largest of these, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, is also the most popular and the highest ranked public institution in the state. The university is also nationally ranked, at #69 in the nation. The sister campuses, University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of Minnesota-Morris, and the University of Minnesota-Crookston, are each ranked high on U.S.News and World Report’s rankings for Midwestern colleges and universities and liberal arts colleges. Duluth comes in at #39, Crookston at #48, and Morris at #136 for national liberal arts colleges.

While the public institutions in the state are well-respected, the most popular, and highest ranking colleges are the private institutions. Carleton College, Macalester College, Gustavus Adolphus College and College of Saint Benedict, all of which are liberal arts colleges, top the list of the best colleges in Minnesota. Among the top 10 list of the best ranked colleges in the state, the only public institution to make the list is the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Among the private institutions, Carleton College ranks impressively at #8 for national liberal arts colleges, and Macalester College ranks at #23 in the same category.

Students looking for alternative or preliminary colleges and schools will find many religious, technical and art options across the state. The American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine prepares students for alternative medical careers. The Art Institutes of Minnesota prepare students for careers across the creative and artistic world. The many religious institutions, such as the University of St. Thomas, Augsburg College, Bethany Lutheran College and Bethel University all have a religious focus for students seeking a more faith-based educational experience.

Colleges in Minnesota – Traditional

Augsburg College

Site – www.augsburgcollege.edu
Phone – 800-788-5678
Admissions – admissions@augsburg.edu
Financial Aid – johnsonh@augsburg.edu

Bethany Lutheran College

Site – www.blc.edu
Phone – 800-944-3066
Admissions – admiss@blc.edu
Financial Aid – johnsonh@augsburg.edu

Bethel University

Site – www.bethel.edu
Phone – 800-255-8706
Admissions – bcoll-admit@bethel.edu
Financial Aid – finplan@bethel.edu

Carleton College

Site – www.carleton.edu
Phone – 800-995-CARL
Admissions – admissions@acs.carleton.edu
Financial Aid – admissions@acs.carleton.edu

College of St. Benedict

Site – www.csbsju.edu
Phone – 800-544-1489
Admissions – mruble@cbsju.edu
Financial Aid – csbfinaid@csbsju.edu

College of St. Scholastica

Site – www.css.edu
Phone – 800-447-5444
Admissions – admissions@css.edu
Financial Aid – admissions@css.edu

Concordia College

Site – www.cord.edu
Phone – 800-699-9897
Admissions – n/a
Financial Aid – n/a

Crown College

Site – www.crown.edu
Phone – 800-68-CROWN
Admissions – info@crown.edu
Financial Aid – info@crown.edu

Globe University

Site – www.globeuniversity.edu
Phone – 877-303-6060
Admissions – info@crown.edu
Financial Aid – info@crown.edu

Gustavus Adolphus College

Site – www.gustavus.edu
Phone – 800-487-8288
Admissions – admission@gac.edu
Financial Aid – kcarlson@gustavus.edu

Hamline University

Site – www.web.hamline.edu
Phone – 800-753-9753
Admissions – cla-admis@gw.hamline.edu
Financial Aid – finaid@gw.hamline.edu

Macalester College

Site – www.macalester.edu
Phone – 800-231-7974
Admissions – admissions@macalester.edu
Financial Aid – finaid@macalester.edu

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Site – www.mnsu.edu
Phone – 800-722-0544
Admissions – admissions@mnsu.edu
Financial Aid – campushub@mnsu.edu

North Central University

Site – www.northcentral.edu
Phone – 800-289-6222
Admissions – info@northcentral.edu
Financial Aid – finaid@northcentral.edu

Saint Cloud State University

Site – www.stcloudstate.edu
Phone – 877-654-SCSU
Admissions – scsu4u@stcloudstate.edu
Financial Aid – financialaid@stcloudstate.edu

Saint John’s University

Site – www.csbsju.edu
Phone – 800-544-1489
Admissions – admissions@csbsju.edu
Financial Aid – mdehler@csbsju.edu

St. Mary’s University

Site – www.smumn.edu
Phone – 800-635-5987
Admissions – admissions@smumn.edu
Financial Aid – jwobig@smumn.edu

Saint Olaf College

Site – www.stolaf.edu
Phone – 507-646-2222
Admissions – admissions@stolaf.edu
Financial Aid – finaid@stolaf.edu

University of Minnesota

Site – www.umn.edu
Phone – 800-752-1000
Admissions – admissions@tc.umn.edu
Financial Aid – osfa@tc.umn.edu

University of Minnesota, Crookston

Site – www.crk.umn.edu
Phone – 800-862-6466
Admissions – UMCinfo@umn.edu
Financial Aid – dingmann@umn.edu

University of Minnesota, Duluth

Site – www.d.umn.edu
Phone – 800-232-1339
Admissions – umdadmis@d.umn.edu
Financial Aid – umdhelp@d.umn.edu

University of Minnesota, Morris

Site – www.mrs.umn.edu
Phone – 800-992-8863
Admissions – admisfa@mrs.umn.edu
Financial Aid – admisfa@mrs.umn.edu

University of Northwestern – St. Paul

Site – www.unwsp.edu
Phone – 800-827-6827
Admissions – admissions@unwsp.edu
Financial Aid – financialaid@unwsp.edu

University of St. Thomas

Site – www.stthomas.edu
Phone – 800-328-6819
Admissions – admissions@stthomas.edu
Financial Aid – financialaid@stthomas.edu

Community Colleges – Minnesota

water fall in minnesota, near campus

Leech Lake Tribal College

Site – www.lltc.edu
Address – 6945 Little Wolf Rd NW, Cass Lake, MN 56633
Phone – (218) 335-4200

Alexandria Technical & Community College

Site – www.lltc.edu
Address – 1601 Jefferson St, Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone – (320) 762-0221

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Site – www.anokaramsey.edu
Address – 11200 Mississippi Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Phone – (763) 433-1100

Anoka Technical College

Site – www.anokatech.edu
Address – 1355 US-10, Anoka, MN 55303
Phone – (763) 576-4700

Central Lakes College

Site – www.clcmn.edu
Address – 501 W College Dr, Brainerd, MN 56401
Phone – (218) 855-8000

Century College

Site – www.century.edu
Address – 3300 Century Ave N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Phone – (651) 779-3200

Dakota County Technical College

Site – www.dctc.edu
Address – 1300 145th St E, Rosemount, MN 55068
Phone – (651) 423-8000

Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College

Site – www.fdltcc.edu
Address – 2101 14th St, Cloquet, MN 55720
Phone – (218) 879-0800

Hennepin Technical College

Site – www.hennepintech.edu
Address – 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Phone – (952) 995-1300

Hibbing Community College

Site – www.hcc.mnscu.edu
Address – 1515 E 25th St, Hibbing, MN 55746
Phone – (218) 262-7200

Inver Hills Community College

Site – www.inverhills.edu
Address – 3367 76th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
Phone – (651) 450-3000

Itasca Community College

Site – www.itascacc.edu
Address – 1851 E US Hwy 169, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone – (218) 322-2300

Lake Superior College

Site – www.lsc.edu
Address – 2101 Trinity Rd, Duluth, MN 55811
Phone – (218) 733-7600

Mesabi Range Community & Technical College

Site – www.mr.mnscu.edu
Address – 1001 Chestnut St, Virginia, MN 55792
Phone – (218) 741-3095

Minneapolis Community & Technical College

Site – www.minneapolis.edu
Address – 1501 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone – (612) 659-6000

Minnesota State College/Southeast Technical

Site – www.southeastmn.edu
Address – 308 Pioneer Rd, Red Wing, MN 55066
Phone – (651) 385-6300

Minnesota State Community & Technical College

Site – www.minnesota.edu
Address – 1414 College Way, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Phone – (877) 450-3322

Minnesota West Community & Technical College

Site – www.mnwest.edu
Address – 1450 College Way, Worthington, MN 56187
Phone – (507) 372-3400

Normandale Community College

Site – www.normandale.mnscu.edu
Address – 9700 France Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55431
Phone – (952) 358-8200

North Hennepin Community College

Site – www.nhcc.edu
Address – 7411 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Phone – (763) 424-0702

Northland Community & Technical College

Site – www.northlandcollege.edu
Address – 1101 State Hwy 1, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Phone – (218) 683-8800

Northwest Technical College

Site – www.ntcmn.edu
Address – Grant Ave SE, Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone – (218) 333-6600

Pine Technical College

Site – www.pinetech.edu
Address – 900 4th St SE, Pine City, MN 55063
Phone – (320) 629-5100

Rainy River Community College

Site – www.rrcc.mnscu.edu
Address – 1501 US-71, International Falls, MN 56649
Phone – (218) 285-7722

Ridgewater College

Site – www.ridgewater.edu/Pages/home.aspx
Address – 2101 15th Ave NW, Willmar, MN 56201
Phone – (320) 222-5200

Riverland Community College

Site – www.riverland.edu
Address – 1900 8 Ave NW, Austin, MN 55912
Phone – (507) 433-0600

Rochester Community & Technical College

Site – www.rctc.edu
Address – 851 30th Ave SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Phone – (507) 285-7210

Saint Cloud Technical & Community College

Site – www.sctcc.edu/prospective-students
Address – 1540 Northway Dr, St Cloud, MN 56303
Phone – (800) 222-1009

Saint Paul College

Site – www.saintpaul.edu
Address – 235 Marshall Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Phone – (651) 846-1600

South Central College

Site – southcentral.edu
Address – 1920 Lee Blvd, North Mankato, MN 56003
Phone – (507) 389-7200

Vermilion Community College

Site – www.vcc.edu
Address – 1900 E Camp St, Ely, MN 55731
Phone – (218) 365-7200

White Earth Tribal & Community College

Site – www.wetcc.org
Address – 2250 College Rd, Mahnomen, MN 56557
Phone – (218) 935-0417

Minnesota Career, Vocational, Trade

Online Degrees and Programs In Minnesota

Minnesota has one of the most extensive online degree focuses of any state in the country. Indeed, the state sponsors several online degree and learning initiatives. The Minnesota Online Quality Initiative and the e-learning Consortium’s Distance Minnesota each attempt to bring the rigor of traditional colleges and universities directly to the individuals who are either place-bound or require more freedom of choice in access to quality education.

Formed in 2004, Distance Minnesota has as its mission “s to provide a satisfying, effective and affordable online college experience.” The institutions that are a part of Distance Minnesota include 3 community colleges and one state university: Alexandria Technical Community College, Northland Community and Technical College, Northwest Technical College and Bemidji State University. Bemidji University follows the 2:2 model, meaning that students can complete the first two years at a state community college, and the last two years online at the university. Because students can transfer credits directly from a 2-year degree at a community college, prospective students can conceivably earn a 2-year degree online with one of the 3 technical community colleges that offer online degrees, and finish the final two years online at Bemidji University. This allows students who are interested and inclined to complete a 4-year degree online, to do so completely through the state’s public institutions. Those students who desire to complete their degree at Bemidji will several degree options available in: Accounting, Applied Engineering, Biology, Metro Area Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Marketing Communication, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work and Technology Management. The university also has 3 Master’s degrees in Business Administration, Education and Special Education, and several other programs for earning licenses in various careers.

A 2012 National Council for Educational Statistics report found that as of 2012, 26.2% of Minnesota’s students enrolled in Title IV institutions were enrolled in fully-online programs. This number is significantly higher than most other states, and is a testament to just how significantly Minnesota is pushing to increase online educational options for its students. There are over 90 fully-accredited colleges and universities offering degrees or certificate programs in the state, and many of these are either state public colleges or community colleges. Indeed, the most affordable of these can be found at several of the state’s public universities: Minnesota State University-Moorhead ($287 per credit), Metropolitan State University ($292 per credit) and Bemidji State University ($328 per credit). Among the most highly ranked of the state’s colleges offering online degrees are Metropolitan State University, Crown College, Bemidji State University, Concordia University-Saint Paul and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Minnesota Colleges And Universities