University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is an American public research university founded in 1851 and located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive campus in the University of Minnesota system. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 39,556 (Fall 2023) on a 1,204-acre campus located in the city. The university operates on a semester-based academic calendar. The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is ranked as the 54th national university in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges. In-state tuition and fees are $17,214 and out-of-state tuition and fees are $38,362.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities straddles a major city - two major cities, to be exact. Minneapolis and St. Paul are known as the Twin Cities and are often recognized for their sports, cleanliness and volunteerism. The school has a campus in each city, but the Minneapolis campus is considered the main campus of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but more than 80% have the option of living in traditional residence halls or in one of more than two dozen living-learning communities, such as Healthy Foods, Healthy Living House, and La Casa De Español.There are also more than 600 student organizations on campus, including more than 30 fraternities and sororities. The Minnesota Golden Gophers compete in the NCAA Division I (Big Ten Conference), and all athletic events are held near Stadium Village on the Minneapolis campus. The school's mascot, the Golden Gopher, energizes thousands of student fans who chant "Ski-U-Mah" (meaning "Victory UM! "). Under the Four-Year Graduation Plan, the university ensures that students are provided with all the necessary courses to complete their studies on time. If an undergraduate student does not have a course in his or her four-year program, the university pays for the additional credits.

The university's Carlson School of Management, School of Education and Human Development, and School of Law all rank among the top. This public research university attracts students from the undergraduate level. Some university applicants are even guaranteed the opportunity to pursue research when they receive their acceptance letter, and undergraduate researchers are paid for their work. For off-campus learning experiences, U of M students can study at about 200 other schools in the U.S. and Canada through the National Student Exchange Program, or they can further their education abroad with the university's large-scale Global Learning Program. Notable alumni of the University of Minnesota include former U.S. Vice Presidents Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale, pianist Janni and journalist Rick Sanchez.