Last Updated: October 09, 2021
Minnesota - The North Star State
Minnesota is situated in the north-central part of the United State, bordered by the states of North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The population of Minnesota is estimated to be about 5.7 million, which makes it the 22nd most populous state in America. The capital city of Minnesota is St. Paul, and Minneapolis is the largest city. Minnesota's climatic conditions are not extremely favorable when compared to other states in the US. The state experiences a continental climate, characterized by hot and humid summers and extremely cold winters. The state was originally inhabited by the Native American tribes such as the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Iowa, Omaha, Winnebago, Dakota Sioux, and so on, and was later colonized by the British. Minnesota received its statehood in the year 1858.
Major Cities in Minnesota
Minneapolis
With a population of around 436,000, Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota. It was established as a city in 1867 and is situated in Hennepin County. The city was founded by John H. Stevens and Franklin Steele. The city is a major commercial and cultural epicenter. The most reputed institution in the state, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, is situated in this city. The most fascinating tourist attractions in this city are Minneapolis Institute of Art, Walker Art Center, Minnehaha Falls, Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Mill City Museum, Bell Museum, and so on.
St. Paul
St. Paul has an estimated population of around 316,000 and is the second-largest city in the state. St. Paul officially became the capital city of Minnesota in 1849. It was established as a city on March 4, 1854, and is situated in Ramsey County. Macalester College, University of St Thomas, St Catherine University, Bethel University, etc., are some of the popular educational institutions in the city. Top tourist destinations in the capital city are the Victorian Buildings on Summit Avenue, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Minnesota History Center, Cathedral of St. Paul, Science Museum of Minnesota, State Capitol, Mississippi National River, and Recreation Area, and so on.
Rochester
With a population of roughly 120,000, Rochester is the third-largest city in Minnesota. The city was founded in 1854 by George Head and is situated in Olmsted County. The University of Minnesota-Rochester and Mayo Medical School are popular higher education institutions in this city. The Mayo Clinic is a popular healthcare organization situated here. The Rochester Art Center, Downtown Peace Plaza, Quarry Hill Nature Center, Plummer House, Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial, Douglas State Trail, History Center of Olmsted County & Mayowood Mansion, etc., are some of the most popular centers for tourism in this city.
Bloomington
Bloomington has a population of over 90,000 and is the fourth-largest city in Minnesota. Situated in Hennepin County, it was founded in 1843 and established as a city in 1960. The city is home to America's largest shopping complex called the 'Mall of America' which is also a major tourist attraction. Other well-known tourist centers include Nickelodeon Universe, Lego Imagination Center, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Normandale Japanese Garden, Amazing Mirror Maze, and so on.
Economy/Job Market
- The major industries in Minnesota are manufacturing (metal, automobile, medical devices, processed food, etc.), healthcare services, information technology, bioenergy, and agriculture.
- Corn, soybeans, apples, potatoes, peas, hay, sugar beets, wheat, barley, flaxseed, etc. are the diverse crops grown in the state of Minnesota.
- Target, UnitedHealth Group, Cargill, Mayo Clinic, Best Buy, Lucas, U.S. Bancorp, 3M, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, etc., are some of the largest companies situated in Minnesota.
- Trade, transportation, healthcare, and education sector, government services, manufacturing, and business services are the leading economic sectors currently.
- Despite the issues that persisted during the covid-19 pandemic, the state gradually emerged stronger. The unemployment rate in the state has declined to 3.8%, making it lesser than the country's overall unemployment rate.
Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Minnesota
The cost of living in the state of Minnesota is slightly lower than the national average. The state's housing costs are costlier than the nation's average, whereas healthcare is the least expensive. Little Canada, Minnetonka, North Oaks, Minneapolis, and Hopkins are some of the most expensive cities in Minnesota.
Some of the most affordable places in the state are Hibbing, New Ulm, Montevideo, Kasson, and so on. The cost of education is moderate in the state. However, a few public and private institutes may be on the more expensive side. For instance, the tuition cost in the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (public) is higher than the national average, costing about $17,000 for in-state students and around $36,000 for out-of-state students.
List of Few Major Universities/Colleges
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Situated in the largest city of Minnesota, Minneapolis, this is one of the most reputed institutions of higher learning. It is a public university that was founded in 1851. The university is popular for its excellent academic quality, spirited student life, as well as some of the best faculty members. With roughly 62,000 students and more than 3,500 faculty members, the student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1. Some of the most popular majors offered here are Computer Science, Psychology, Economics, and Journalism. The tuition fee for in-state undergraduate students is around $17,000 and about $36,000 for out-of-state students.
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine This is one of the most popular institutions in the state and is situated in the city of Rochester. It is one of the best medical schools in the country and is known for its high research activity. It was established in 1972 and was originally known as Mayo Medical School. It is a part of the Mayo Clinic With around 1,300 students, the student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1. The tuition fee is roughly $13,000 for all undergraduate students.
- Carleton College Founded in 1866, Carleton College is situated in Northfield. It is a private Liberal Arts College. The college has more than 2,000 students and over 200 faculty members, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1. The college is known for its excellent academic quality, student diversity, and stellar faculty. The college holds the 9th position in the Best Liberal Arts Colleges nationally in 2022, according to USNews. The tuition fee for all undergraduate students in this college is around $60,000.
- Macalester College This is a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1874. It is situated in the capital city of Saint Paul. The college is known for offering the best educational experience for its students. It promotes the importance of student-centered teaching and learning. The college has around 2,200 students and roughly 200 faculty members, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10:1. The tuition fee for all undergraduate students in this college is around $61,000.
Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students
- Minnesota State Grant: This is a grant provided by the State based on financial need. To be eligible for the program, the student must be a US citizen, a permanent resident of Minnesota, and must plan to pursue a degree from an accredited institution on a full-time or part-time basis. The student should also demonstrate economic need, and submit the FAFSA. The Minnesota State Grant program works in association with the Federal Pell Grant Program to cover almost 50% of the overall education cost. The award amount for a full-time student is about $1,900 per academic year.
- Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program: This is a scholarship program for American-Indian candidates of Minnesota. To be qualified for the program, the student must be "one-fourth or more American Indian", be a US citizen, be a legal resident of the state of Minnesota, should pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution in Minnesota, and demonstrate financial need. The student should also be eligible for the Pell Grant or the State Grant. The award amount will be up to $4,000 for undergraduate students and up to $6,000 for graduate students.
- Minnesota GI Bill: This is a grant program to assist Veterans, National Guard Members, or their spouse/children. To be qualified for the program, the candidate must be a legal resident of Minnesota, should pursue a degree from an accredited institution in Minnesota, and not be more than 62 years of age. The candidate is required to be either a Veteran who once served the US military or a Non-Veteran who has served the US Army as a member of the Minnesota National Guard (5 years or more) or is a spouse/child of the military members. Members may have to submit proof of service along with the application form. The award amount provided in this program is $3,000 per academic year.
- Pfund Scholarship Program: In their journey to do away with transphobia and homophobia, the Pfund Foundation initiated a scholarship program that helps students belonging to the LGBTQIA community. To be eligible for the program, the student must not be less than 17 years of age, attend a 2-year or 4-year program from an accredited institution, and belong to the community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied individuals. The students must be permanent residents of Minnesota, display leadership qualities, actively participate in uplifting minority communities, and submit essays, letters of recommendation (except a family member), along with the application form. The award amount will vary from $1,000 to $10,000.
Tourism
The North Star State is widely known for its enchanting beauty and is also popularly called the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' due to the abundant number of lakes in this state. Minnesota is a place that has various landscapes with its rivers, lakes, forests, and parks which makes it an ideal location for tourists to explore. Minnesota also has countless numbers of tourist attractions that also give visitors the chance to engage in various fun activities.
Some of the best tourist destinations in this state are Superior National Forest, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, North Shore Scenic Drive, Mall of America, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Cathedral of Saint Paul, Paddle Voyageurs National Park, International Wolf Center, Minnesota State Capitol Building, Minnehaha Falls, Munsinger Clemens Gardens, Itasca State Park, and more. Some of the most iconic foods served here are the Bent River, Swedish Meatballs, Polish Sausage, Glorified Rice, Walleye Sandwich, Gravlax, and Blueberry Walnut Pancakes.
Universities & Colleges in Minnesota
*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
- Recommended program (Top 250)
