Hamline University Guide

Overview of this St. Paul, Minnesota Liberal Arts College

Sep 10, 2007

if you're looking for a student-friendly, liberal arts college in an urban environment, check out Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.

Where is Hamline University? Hamline is located in the northeastern part of St. Paul, Minnesota, just a mile or so south of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. .Since it's kind of at the outskirts of the city, it's urban, but not in a chaotic, downtown kind of way. The diverse neighborhood surrounding the school has coffee shops and international restaurants, and a short drive or bus ride away is Grand Avenue, a funky part of town with cafes, shops, and lots of character. Students can also easily get to downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul and to the many cultural attractions in the Twin Cities, including the Mall of America.

What basic information should I know about Hamline

Enrollment: About 2500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, and approximately 2000 more at the school's satellite campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Type of school: Liberal arts college, private
Religious affiliation: United Methodist Church
Student/Faculty Ration: 13:1
Tuition: As of 2007, about $33,000, including room, board, fees, and other expenses.

What's life at Hamline like?

Hamline prides itself as being a student-friendly place. Professors are easily accessible and often want to be called by their first names. In most cases, students feel comfortable seeking out their professors for help. Classes at Hamline tend to be small and discussion based.
As far as private schools go, there's an impressive socioeconomic mix of students. Many students receive financial aid and work part time to help pay for their expenses. A significant percentage of students are the first in their families to go to college.
Most Hamline students take their academics seriously, and classes are fairly rigorous. It's not a cut-throat academic atmosphere, but students tend to be studious and want to be challenged.
In recent years, Hamline has put a good deal of effort into developing extracurricular activities, so there's lots to do on campus-- everything from choir to Habit for Humanity to the cycling club. Most students are involved with campus activities.
About 14% of the students at Hamline are students of color--which doesn't sound very high, but for a Minnesota school, that's an impressive number. Hamline places a good deal of emphasis on the importance of diversity.

What areas of study is Hamline best known for? Hamline is known throughout the region for its excellent school of law, and Hamline has a program where qualified students can transition directly from an undergrad major to the law school. Well-known undergraduate majors include biology, anthropology, and forensics.

What's special about Hamline?

U.S. News and World Report magazine ranked Hamline ninth out of 145 midwestern universities.
Hamline has quite a history. It was founded in 1854 and is Minnesota's oldest institution of higher learning.
Hamline is very easily accessible by city bus. Students can easily do without a car.