University of Minnesota

Overview

The University of Minnesota (UMN) is a public research university with a flagship campus in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota, United States. Established in 1851, UMN is recognized as one of the country’s top public universities. The UMN motto is, “A common bond for all the arts,” and is driven by its mission to provide world-class education and groundbreaking research with community-engaged outreach.

UMN is classified as one of the “R1: Doctoral Universities,” which signifies that it’s an institution with a high level of research activity. It offers a wide range of academic programs that cater to diversified interests. From bachelor’s programs to master’s and doctorate degrees, the university offers many options to students.

For example, in Biological Sciences, students can choose from courses such as Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, and Neuroscience. In Engineering, programs on Astrophysics, Environmental Geosciences, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics are also available.

Under the College of Design, students can major in Housing Studies, Product Design, Human Factors and Ergonomics, and Retail Merchandising. Majors in law, medicine, public health, education, and management also prove how varied UMN’s academic programs are.

The University of Minnesota also has one of the largest study abroad programs in the country. About 4,000 students participate every year in exchange programs that comprise more than 200 study options in over 60 countries.

UMN’s rise as a preeminent research university was not without struggles. Its history reveals how it faced financial woes and relied on donations. It temporarily closed during the Civil War in 1861 before receiving land grant status in 1867 through the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act.

In 1868, flour miller and philanthropist, John S. Pillsbury reopened Old Main—UMN’s first permanent building erected in 1858—which paved the way for the resumption of the university’s operations. It produced its first graduates in 1873 and awarded its first master’s degree in 1880.

Some of UMN’s notable alumni include Arthur Fry, who co-founded Post-It Notes; Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Father of the Green Revolution; and F. John Lewis who performed the first successful open-heart surgery.

UMN celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2001. With its faculty being known for life-changing inventions like the retractable seat belt, pacemaker, and biodegradable plastics, UMN remains committed to its mission to bring people together to foster new discoveries that can make the world a better place.