St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University, located on the banks of the Mississippi River 70 miles northwest of Minneapolis, has a 139-year tradition of excellence and opportunity. In keeping with the needs of a new century, St. Cloud State is an affordable university where students benefit from nationally accredited, top-rated academic programs and cutting-edge technology.

While it started as a state normal school and remains one of the top 15 producers of teachers in the nation, nationally recognized programs such as Business, Mass Communications and Applied Psychology provide career preparation for many of today's St. Cloud State graduates. With about 17,000 students from Minnesota, 45 states and 80 foreign countries. St. Cloud State is the largest institution in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the second largest university in the state of Minnesota.

The university offers more than 175 majors, minors and pre-professional programs and is one of the few universities in the Upper Midwest with programs in such diverse fields as Aviation, Meteorology and Geographic Information Systems. The university also offers more than 50 master's degrees and has begun offering doctoral degrees.

St. Cloud State is committed to being at the forefront in academic excellence and technology. To that end, SCSU has built or renovated several buildings on campus over the last decade - including the 235,000-square-foot Miller Learning Resource Center, the addition of the Wick Science Building and the relocation of the G.R. Herberger College of Business into the recently renovated Centennial Hall.

The university's physical master plan is turning the campus into a more inviting environment, with the addition of a river walk along the Mississippi and trees and clearly marked entryways along the campus perimeter. The university's strategic plan provides the blueprint to make St. Cloud State a top university while remaining a school where students receive the same personal attention they would at a small college.

St. Cloud State brings significant benefits to its home community. St. Cloud residents, as well as students, benefit from a wide array of opportunities for educational and cultural enrichment, as well as athletic and entertainment events. According to a recent economic impact survey conducted by the St. Cloud State Department of Economics, the university has a $369 million annual impact on local retail business.

Here are some other facts about St. Cloud State:

  • St. Cloud State is accredited by the North Central Accrediting Agency, and nearly every one of its services and programs -- including Business, Mass Communications, Theater, Computer Science, Education, Aviation, and Electrical Engineering -- has been recognized by national accrediting agencies in their fields.
  • While 90 percent of St. Cloud State students are from Minnesota, the campus also is home to more than 1,000 international students and students from 45 states.
  • St. Cloud State has more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs of study geared toward career and life preparation.
  • St. Cloud State students may choose to join any of nearly 250 organizations, many of which stress campus and community volunteer activities.
  • St. Cloud State offers opportunities for overseas study in 20 countries and a variety of practical internships.