School highlights

Bemidji State University is a lakeside campus offering arts, sciences and professional programs in a personal learning atmosphere focused on the environment, service and the global family.

• Top tier – Ranked as a “top-tier” Midwest university for the fourth consecutive year by U.S. News and World Report.
• Nationally recognized – Named one of the nation’s 322 most eco-friendly campuses by The Princeton Review.
• New on campus – New regional event center and home for Beaver hockey now open; the President’s Commission, a competitively selected student group, studied the university’s role in helping students choose careers and get jobs.
• Major opportunities – More than 50 majors and preprofessional programs, often customizable by adding an emphasis area, concentration or specialization; many Web-based options, including 400 courses and six online degree options.
• Service-minded – All undergraduates take an environment class related to their major. Students may obtain a development transcript detailing their co-curricular involvement.
• Small classes – Nearly half of the university’s classes have 20 or fewer students; only 5 percent of classes have 50 or more students.
• Personal attention – Low 20-to-1 ratio of students to faculty. Professors are readily available outside of class.
• Affordable tuition – Students may take 12 to 18 credits for the same rate. Resident or reciprocity tuition rates are available for all undergraduates. Some classes and programs apply differential tuition rates. About 83 percent of students receive some type of financial aid.
• Athletic-academic champions – Nationally competitive men’s hockey team earned a berth in the NCAA’s Frozen Four in 2009 and made the WCHA semifinals in 2011. In past six years, the track and field program produced 16 All-America honorees, including three NCAA Division II individual championships. Nine Bemidji State University athletes have received Academic All-America honors since 2000.
• Outdoor adventures – With a lakeside facility, the Outdoor Program Center offers an array of adventures, from canoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking locally to backpacking and rock climbing in the western United States.

Admissions

Admissions requirements

Bemidji State University generally will accept you as a first-year student if you can answer “yes” to at least one of these questions:

• Did you graduate in the top half of your high school graduating class?
• Did you score 21 or higher on the ACT standardized test?
• Did you receive a combined score of 1,000 or higher on the SAT standardized test?

Check with the admissions office for details. Even if you don’t meet the minimum requirements, you may be considered for admission under special provisions.

What courses do I need to take in high school?

You should have completed these courses in high school:

• Four years of English, including composition, literature and speech
• Three years of math, including two years of algebra, one of which is intermediate or advanced algebra, and one year of geometry
• Three years of science, including one year each of a biological and a physical science, all with significant laboratory experience
• Three years of social studies, including one year each of geography and U.S. history
• Two years of a single world language, including non-English native languages and American Sign Language
• One year of arts (visual arts and the performing arts of theater, music, dance and media arts)

When should you apply?
Apply early in 12th grade for the best chance of being admitted. Some programs do not have room for all qualified applicants.
 

Tuition & finance

Tuition and Fees (2012-2013): $7,846

FAFSA Code: 002336

How to apply for financial aid

Your key to receiving financial aid to help pay your college costs is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA form. Many students don’t realize they could qualify for grant money and federally guaranteed loans, so be sure to find out by filling out the form.

Complete the FAFSA after Jan. 1 of your senior year. Find the form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or pick up the form at your school counselor’s office. For help with completing the form, go to your high school counselor or the financial aid office at the college or university you plan to attend.

The FAFSA determines your eligibility for one or more of the following types of financial aid:

Scholarships
Scholarships are a great source of aid, and you do not need to pay them back. Many scholarships are available for students with special interests and backgrounds. Talk to your guidance counselor about what kind of scholarships you can get.

Grants
You may be eligible to receive federal and state grants of $300 to more than $7,000 per year. You do not need to pay these back.

Work study
Work study programs give you the opportunity to work on campus or with approved off-campus employers to earn money to pay for college. Work study jobs are often very flexible, allowing you to work around your classes and personal schedules.