POPULATION (2021): 5.7 million
CAPITAL: Saint Paul
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MINNESOTA: the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN MINNESOTA: Walden University
Minnesota is a large Midwestern state that shares a border with Canada to the north, and the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis serve as commerce hubs for the entire region. Around those two cities, colleges are aplenty, and both cities are a patchwork of different neighborhoods all with different cultural influences and overall vibes.
The college landscape is also very diverse and has something for everyone. Here is a closer look!
Universities in Minnesota – 4-Year Colleges and Online
For a state with a relatively low population, Minnesota has a large offering of both public and private universities, and they are spread out throughout the state. Here is a closer look!
Public Universities in Minnesota
The largest public university in Minnesota, by a landslide, is the University of Minnesota’s main campus in Minneapolis. There are several other campuses of the University of Minnesota, with the second-largest being Duluth. Here is a list of other public universities in Minnesota that offer 4-year degrees:
- St. Cloud State University
- Minnesota State Univesity-Mankato
- Century College
- Winona State University
- Metropolitan State University
- Minnesota State-Moorhead
- Southwest Minnesota State University
- Saint Paul College
- Bemidji State University
- Lake Superior College
- Central Lakes College
- Ridgewater College
- South Central College
- Minnesota State-Southeast
Private Universities in Minnesota
Private universities are also in high supply in Minnesota. The University of St. Thomas is the largest by enrollment, with 10,000 students at its Minneapolis campus. Saint Mary’s University and Saint Catherine University are two of the many religious-affiliated private universities in the state.
Community Colleges in Minnesota
Minnesota has a very robust community college system, with some of the schools serving more than 10,000 students. The three largest are Minneapolis Community and Technical Collge, Normandale Community College, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
Prominent Online Colleges in Minnesota
St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota are considered two of the best online colleges in Minnesota, but all of the public schools have online offerings. As far as private universities in Minnesota with online programs, Bethel University, Concordia University, and St. Mary’s University all received very high reviews from students regarding their online programs.
Universities in Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a large city and one of the “Twin Cities” alongside Saint Paul. There are several universities in the biggest city in Minnesota:
- Augsburg University
- Capella University
- Dunwoody College of Technology
- Institute of Production and Recording
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- North Central University
- Walden University
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Universities in Saint Paul
Here is a list of schools in the other Twin City, Saint Paul:
- Bethel University
- Concordia University
- Hamline University
- Macalester College
- Metropolitan State University
- Saint Catherine University
- University of Northwestern
- University of St. Thomas
Get to Know Minnesota
Minnesota is a beautiful state and is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. If you’re a fan of the outdoors, there is endless wilderness to explore in Minnesota… when it’s warm out. It is also one of the coldest states in the country, so having some indoor hobbies is a must for students going to college in Minnesota.
The Twin Cities are famous in the Midwest for their arts and music scenes, and if you attend one of the many colleges in the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area, you can rest assured that you’ll get the full college experience. There are several opportunities for students in the cities, no matter the area of study, and the cost of living is also relatively low compared to many other big cities!