School Spotlight: The University of Minnesota
There are many great colleges and universities located throughout Minnesota. We’re highlighting some awesome local colleges and universities that we think students should know about and what exactly makes these schools so great. Today, we’re taking a closer look at classes and life at the University of Minnesota.
University of Minnesota
Key Statistics:
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota & St. Paul, Minnesota
Year Founded: 1851
Mascot: Golden Gophers
Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,455
Number of Undergraduate Degree Programs: 150 major and minor offerings
Graduate Enrollment: 16,038
Number of Graduate Degree Programs: over 200 graduate degree programs are offered
Average ACT Score of Student Body: 26-31 (For a more detailed breakdown by college, visit the UMN website here.)
School History
The U of M was founded in 1851, which is seven years before Minnesota would become a state in 1858. The school was created as a college preparatory school and was closed briefly during the Civil War, reopening its doors again in 1867. Two years later in 1869, the school reorganized as a university.
Over the next 50 years, the University would open many locations, including in Rochester, Crookston, Morris, and Duluth. The Rochester location was established in 1915 with the help of the Mayo brothers, who created the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research and created one of the most prestigious hospital systems in the world.
Today the University offers many programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students from all around the country and around the world come to Minnesota to pursue their undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota.
Key Specializations
The main Twin Cities campus offers many undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Some undergraduate specializations that the University of Minnesota is well-known for include the following:
As with most big schools, the University of Minnesota offers an incredible number of different majors and minors for students to choose from. This can be a big perk compared to going to a smaller school, where there are generally fewer options that tend to be broader specializations.
Student Life
The University of Minnesota is a very big school. There is bound to be something that any student can find to be involved in, regardless of student interests. Here are some quick statistics about how students get involved at the U of M:
The University of Minnesota has 23 Varsity athletic teams. Whether you’re an athlete considering playing at the Division I level or a sports fan looking to cheer on your classmates, University of Minnesota sports are an exciting part of campus life. Events and parties are often scheduled around important football, basketball, and hockey games, and students can be spotted in their maroon and gold striped overalls in masses going up and down University Avenue in Minneapolis.
Of the University of Minnesota’s approximately 31,000 undergraduate students, approximately 3,400 of them are members of Greek Life. As with other large schools throughout the country, fraternities and sororities pull in a large number of students and are organizations that students become a part of.
With an undergraduate student body that’s as big as the U of M’s, you can bet that just about every student organization you can think up has been created. The University of Minnesota offers over 900 Student Organizations. With that many organizations to pick from, any student is bound to find an organization where they feel at home.
The University of Minnesota’s campus is as gigantic as its student enrollment. The main campus in Minneapolis alone covers more than 300 acres. Students spend a lot of time getting from place to place during their time at the U, mainly just because of the sheer size of the campus and the time it takes to get from one class to another. Many students will elect to live off-campus, particularly in the later years of their undergraduate studies. In fact, 90% of first-year students currently live on campus. This is a great opportunity for new students to spend time in close connection with new people that will go on to become their close friends and classmates.
Students come from all over the world to attend classes at the University of Minnesota. Approximately 21% of students currently enrolled are students of color and students represent over 50 countries.
Estimated Costs
Undergraduate:
Estimated cost for in-state tuition plus room and board for 2019 is $28,626
Graduate:
Estimated cost for in-state tuition plus room and board for 2019 is $18,583
Fun Facts
The Weather: Lets take a minute to talk about the weather. If you’re from Minnesota, you get it. Winters are rough. If you’re not from Minnesota or the Midwest, you should at least know what you’re getting yourself into. It gets COLD in Minnesota in the winter, and winters can last a long time in Minnesota, too. The great news about the University of Minnesota campus is that you can get to and from most campus buildings without ever actually going outside through a system of tunnels that runs under the main Twin Cities campus buildings.
Historic Places: There are thirteen buildings that make up the “Old Campus Historic District.” This group of buildings is over 100 years old and they are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Famous Alums: Many students have passed through the University of Minnesota. A few well-known alums includes 42nd Vice President Walter Mondale, 38th Vice President Herbert Humphrey, and musician Bob Dylan.
College Rankings: In 2016 the University of Minnesota was ranked as the 33rd best university in the WORLD by Academic Rankings of World Universities.
Famous for Apples: The Honeycrisp apple was invented at the U of M .
Legendary Hockey Coach: Herb Brooks (yes, the hockey coach from the movie Miracle) led the Golden Gophers hockey team to 3 NCAA championships in the 1970s.
Undergraduate Application Requirements & Deadlines
Considering applying to the University of Minnesota? Here are the pieces you’ll need to include with your application and specific submission deadlines.
When applying to the U, students are required to include the following pieces with their applications:
Self-reported high school academic record
ACT or SAT scores
$55 application fee
Application deadline:
Early Action: November 1
Regular Deadline: January 1
To apply to the U of M, students can use any one of these three methods: directly through the University of Minnesota website Golden Gopher application system, via the Common App, or via the Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success.
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Learn More
To learn more about the University of Minnesota and becoming a gopher, visit the UMN admissions website.