University of Minnesota Guide
Summary of the U of M Twin Cities in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN
If you're looking for an exciting urban campus located in the center of a large metro area, check out the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Where is The University of Minnesota Twin Cities? In the Twin Cities, the U of M has two locations. The first is located in Minneapolis, just east of downtown. There's actually two campuses here that are separated by the Mississippi River: the original East Bank and the newer West Bank. This busy urban campus contrasts to the St. Paul campus, a pretty and largely agricultural campus that's actually located in the tiny suburb of Falcon Heights. The campuses are connected by an efficient and free bus system.
What basic information should I know about the U of M?
- Type of school: State university
- Enrollment: About 55,000 undergraduate and graduate students (the fourth largest university in the United States)
- In state tuition: $9173 annually. With room, board, and fees, about $17,000.
- Out of state tuition: $20,803 annually. With room, board, and fees, about $29,000.
What's life at the U of M like?
- The school is so big that it really does feel like a city. There are advantages to this, as there's something for everybody academically and socially, and thousands of of people to meet. There are also disadvantages: lots of lecture halls classes, lots of classes taught by TAs, and definitely the sense sometimes that you're a number. This atmosphere is terrific for some students, but not for everybody.
- The U of M is centrally located in the middle of a huge metro area and a major city-- so there's so much to do! Downtown is a short drive, bus ride, or walk away, and many students hang around Uptown, a hip, youthful neighborhood with many restaurants, bars, and shops. Minneapolis and St. Paul are known for beautiful lakes and cultural attractions-- and don't forget the Mall of America. If going to school in a big city sounds like fun, this might be the place for you.
- The St. Paul campus has a more rural atmosphere, but it's also very close to downtown Minneapolis and centrally located in the Twin Cities. It's a nice compromise between country and city life.
- Because the campus is in the middle of the metro area, there are lots of commuter students. But there's lots of students that live on and near campus as well.
- Winter is beautiful, but really, really cold, despite what Minnesota natives sometimes say about Minnesota winters. Bundle up with warm winter clothes. Happily, some of the campus is connected by a tunnel system, but not all of it.
- Campus is more diverse than it used to be. The Twin Cities are becoming more racially diverse, so there's a growing population of Southeast Asians, African Americans, and Somalian students on campus. The Twin Cities are pretty gay-friendly, and the U of M was recently named as one of the top 20 gay-friendly campuses in the United States. What's most diverse about campus is the huge variety of different kinds of people-- with 55,000 students, you'll meet all types!
- Politically, the campus veers to the left, but there are so many students and faculty members that conservative students won't feel isolated.
What areas of study are the University of Minnesota best known for? Top ranked departments include chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, geography, psychology, economics, and German. The Carlson School of Management is an acclaimed business school, and both the School of Law and the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs are well known.
What's special about the U of M?
- The Mississippi River runs throughout campus, and it's a beautiful sight. You can stand in the back of the newly renovated Coffman Memorial Union (the student center) and watch the river.
- Just north of campus is Dinkytown, a fun, student dominated neighborhood filled with coffee shops, bars, student centered shops, and inexpensive restaurants.
- The school newspaper, The Minnesota Daily, is one of the best in the United States.
- The bus system in Minneapolis and St. Paul is pretty decent, and campus is connected to several bus routes and an express bus service to many locations. You can definitely get by without a car-- and perhaps you should, since traffic is awful in that part of town. Sadly, the ill-fated 35W bridge was the main though-way between campus and downtown, so traffic is going to be a nightmare for the next few years.
- Minnesota has reciprocity with Wisconsin and the Dakotas, which means students from those states can attend the U of M and get in state tuition.
The copyright of the article University of Minnesota Guide in College Reviews is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish University of Minnesota Guide must be granted by the author in writing.
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