University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus

About the University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minnesota; locally known as the U of M or simply the U) is a public research universityin Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses are approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) apart, and the Saint Paul campus is actually in neighboring Falcon Heights. It is the oldest and largest campus within the University of Minnesota system and has the sixth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 51,147 students in 2013–14. The university is organized into 19 colleges and schools, and it has sister campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Rochester. UMN is categorized as an R1 Doctoral University with the highest research activity in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Minnesota's athletic teams at the Twin Cities campus are known as the Minnesota Golden Gophers and compete in the NCAA's Division I as members of the Big Ten Conference. They have won 20 national championships as of 2015.

History and Traditions

• Established in 1851 in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul).
• Minnesota's flagship, land grant university
• Between 1947 and 2006, four additional campuses joined the U of M: in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Rochester.
• Colors: maroon and gold
• Twin Cities mascot: Goldy Gopher
• Nickname: Golden Gophers

Rankings

• High retention rates, low student debt, and high graduate salaries earned the U of M the top ”rising star college“ title from Forbesmagazine in 2014.
• The University is consistently named a “Best Value” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, USA Today, and Princeton Review.
• The U of M was named a “2015 Best College Value in the Midwest” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

The University ranks first among the public universities in the Big Ten in the number of National Merit Scholars.

Basing its study on factors such as Nobel laureates and publications, the Academic Ranking of World Universities places the University of Minnesota Twin Cities ninth among public research universities in the United States, and 28th in the world.

This same study also ranked five academic fields at the U of M:

• Social sciences: 3rd among U.S. public universities
• Medicine and pharmacy: 5th among U.S. public universities
• Engineering, technology, and computer science: 11th among U.S. public universities
• Life and agricultural sciences: 12th among U.S. public universities
• Natural sciences and mathematics: 13th among U.S. public universities

According to “Essential Science Indicators,” the following areas of study are ranked in the top 10 nationally among public universities:

• Mathematics (3rd)
• Environment and ecology (3rd)
• Agricultural sciences (6th)
• Social sciences (9th)
• Chemistry (4th)
• Computer science (7th)

• Economics and business (8th)
• Plant and animal science (9th)
• Psychiatry and psychology (10th)
• Clinical medicine (9th)
• Multidisciplinary (8th)

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities Department of Asian Languages and Literatures has been selected to be the 12th Chinese language department in the nation offering a Chinese Flagship Program. Flagship Program grants are awarded by the Department of Defense and Institute of International Education.

• The University of Minnesota ranked tenth among public research universities and 13th among all U.S. universities in the 2008 National Science Foundation Survey of Research and Development Expenditures.
• The University of Minnesota ranks sixth in the world for technology and transfer commercialization according to the Milken Institute of Technology. This means that students and faculty are bringing their research to real-world business applications.
• According to the “Top American Research Universities” report, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities ranks fifth for annual giving, tenth for faculty awards received, and eighth for research expenditures.
• The University of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked ninth among U.S. public research universities and 26th in the world in Newsweek’s most recent “Top 100 Global Universities” report.
• The University of Minnesota ranks fourth among U.S. research universities among patents earned, according to Scientist Magazine’s “Patent Powerhouses.”

Student Life @the University of Minnesota Twin Cities

If you are inspired by a big challenge, you've come to the right place! Set on the banks of the Mississippi River and surrounded by a vibrant metropolitan community with agricultural roots, the U of M's Twin Cities campus is a place for seekers in all fields.

Living on Campus

Ninety percent of first-year University of Minnesota students live on campus. You'll meet new people and develop long-lasting friendships while being near classes, the student union, libraries, and recreation centers. Housing options range from residence halls to groups of students with similar academic or cultural interests living together in tight-knit Living Learning Communities.

Student Groups and Activities

Our students come together to socialize and learn from each other in more than 800 student groups, from the Alpine Ski Team and the Black Student Union, to the Bass Fishing Team and the Capoeira Club. We also have an active Fraternity and Sorority community.

In addition, you can develop your strengths and leadership skills through service learning and other community engagement opportunities.

Who Are Our Students?

The University of Minnesota is a diverse and inclusive environment, with students from all 50 states and 142 countries. Here you'll encounter people and ideas from around the world that will challenge your thinking and take you down unexpected paths.

Arts and Culture

The Twin Cities believe in art and artists. The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Guthrie Theater, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts —these are just a few examples. The University of Minnesota’s arts programs are connected to all these creative communities.

Our campus offers the magnificence of Northrop, the Weisman Art Museum, the Bell Museum of Natural History, the Goldstein Museum of Design, and the West Bank Arts Quarter.

Stay Healthy

At the University of Minnesota, your health matters. With top notch medical care and insurance, we’ve got everything you need to stay healthy, right here on campus.

Stay Fit

Centered in a vibrant urban area, the U of M is also a world in itself—with more than 10,000 trees, miles of bike paths, and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area right in the heart of campus. You'll also have access to state-of-the-art recreation and wellness centers.

Safe Campus

The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is incredibly important to all of us at the University of Minnesota, and the Twin Cities campus is among the safest in the country. Students can receive real-time safety alerts via text message by signing up for TXT-U, and alarm buttons and emergency phones are located throughout campus. Parking facilities, skyways, and tunnels are monitored 24 hours a day with the aid of security cameras, and campus escorts are available to bike and walk with you to and from campus locations and nearby neighborhoods—just call 612-624-WALK.

Getting Around Campus

The University of Minnesota is centered in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation. You can pedal your own wheels or hop on a Nice Ride rental.

Not a cyclist? Free Campus Connector shuttles will carry you everywhere on campus, while buses and light rail guide you swiftly around the Twin Cities. Or join a car-sharing program. And don’t worry about staying warm in winter—we’ve literally got you covered with an underground tunnel system.

Why Minnesota?

At the U of M, you’ll have...

• World-renowned professors. So you’ll learn from the best as you carve out a path for your future.
• Research opportunities. So your curiosity can take you beyond textbooks and towards solutions to the world’s grand challenges.
• 140+ majors to pick from. So you’ll have a lot of options if you have a variety of interests.

Just minutes away, you’ll find...

• Live performances of everything from “Pompeii” to Black Swan. So you can take advantage of the vibrant Twin Cities arts scene.
• 17 Fortune 500 companies like Target and 3M. So you can take another step toward your dream career.
• Famous festivals, like the largest Renaissance Fair in the nation, and Northern Spark, a modern art festival. So you can connect with your community—or discover a new one.

On our campus, the curious can...

• Go ice climbing. The Center for Outdoor Adventure goes several times a year.
• Work in politics. Student government works on local, state, and federal policies, and U of M students intern at offices on all levels.
• Explore the world. The Learning Abroad Center has programs in 80+ countries, so you’ll have plenty of options on where to go.

The U of M is an exceptional value. You can count on...

• Advisers with answers, from orientation to graduation. So you get the guidance you want while you achieve your dreams.
• Professional financial aid counselors. So you and your family can make a plan for college and beyond.

As a Golden Gopher, you might...

• Shout “Ski-U-Mah!” as you cheer on 23 Division I teams.
• Learn the true meaning of “Pride and Spirit” during Welcome Week.
• Fall in love with one of the nation’s top mascots, Goldy.

You’ll prepare for life in a global society by...

• Exploring student communities, like the nine cultural centers in Coffman Memorial Union.
• Engaging with a kaleidoscope of cultures in the Twin Cities.
• Expanding your knowledge of tradition and revolution.