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System facts

  • The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has 32 institutions on 53 campuses in 46 communities.
  • The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is the fifth-largest system of two- and four-year colleges and universities in the country, based on student enrollment.
  • All of the system's two-year community and technical colleges have an open admissions policy, which means that anyone with a high school diploma or GED may enroll.
  • Tuition at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is lower than tuition at private colleges, private trade schools or the University of Minnesota.
  • More than 53,200 students took online courses during the 2005-2006 academic year. A complete list of online courses, programs and services can be found at www.minnesotaonline.org.
  • An appropriation by the state of Minnesota helps keep the tuition as low as possible. For every $1 paid in tuition, the state pays $1.07 to support a student's education.
  • More than 87 percent of graduates get jobs related to their field of study.
  • More than 82 percent of graduates stay in Minnesota to work or continue their education.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities educate:

  • More than half of the state's new teaching graduates.
  • 82 percent of the state's new nursing graduates.
  • 89 percent of the state's law enforcement officers.
  • 89 percent of new graduates in the construction trades.
  • 92 percent of new mechanics graduates.
  • 41 percent of the state's new business graduates.
  • 9,000 firefighters and emergency first responders each year.

In addition, the state colleges and universities:

  • Serve 381,400 students each year in credit and noncredit courses.
  • Produce 33,860 graduates each year.
  • Serve more students of color than any other higher education provider in Minnesota - more than 32,862 in 2007.
  • Provide career education to 6,000 employers and 151,000 employees each year.
  • Offer more than 3,700 degree programs.
  • Offer 200 programs and 8,200 course sections completely or predominantly online.
  • Educate 64 percent of the state's undergraduates.
  • Return $10.87 to the state's economy for every $1 of net state appropriation.
  • Place more than 87 percent of graduates in jobs related to their field of study.
  • Employ more than 19,500 full-time and part-time faculty and staff.

For more system facts, view our 2007 system facts booklet (PDF)

Last updated: 3/07

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