# Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system *Public higher education system of Minnesota, headquartered in Saint Paul* The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is the public higher education system of 26 state colleges and 7 state universities, operating 54 campuses across [[Minnesota]]. It has used the brand Minnesota State since 2016 and was earlier branded MnSCU.[^1] Wikipedia ranks it as the state's largest higher education system, separate from the [[University of Minnesota]] system, and the third largest in the country, serving more than 300,000 students a year.[^1] A board of 15 trustees appointed by the [[governor]] holds broad authority over the system.[^2] Its system office is in the Wells Fargo Place building in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]].[^3] The Board of Trustees adopted the shortened brand Minnesota State in 2016. Critics objected that the name was already widely used as the nickname of Minnesota State University, Mankato. The change did not alter the organization's legal name as set in state statute. Media now generally refer to the system as the Minnesota State system and to the Mankato university as Minnesota State.[^4] The system was created by legislation in 1991 that merged three predecessor systems.[^5] The record assembled here consists only of the Wikipedia article. It does not establish the session law or statute sections for that legislation, the legislators or governor who enacted it, or the statute that fixes the system's legal name. ## History In 1991 the [[Minnesota Legislature]] passed legislation establishing the system. The legislation merged the state university system, the community college system and the technical college system.[^5] The merger was meant to be complete by 1995. According to Wikipedia, statewide opposition delayed it: a Central Office was not formed until 1997, and only then did individual institutions begin operating under central direction.[^5] The legislature could not fold the University of Minnesota into the new system. The university had sued for constitutional autonomy from legislative oversight, and Wikipedia states that the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] affirmed that autonomy after statehood.[^6] Wikipedia attributes the differences in how the two systems operate and teach students to this gap in independence and power.[^7] Under the 1991 legislation, the State system took on the ad hoc role of educating all students outside the doctoral research mission of the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus.[^7] By comparison with University of Minnesota campuses, the system's individual colleges and universities have smaller endowments and receive less funding from the state government.[^7] State appropriations were intended to cover 66% of the cost of educating students. As of 2014, the state covered about 50%.[^8] ## Operations The system's degrees range from associate degrees to applied doctorates.[^9] Every one of its two-year community and technical colleges admits openly, so a high school diploma or an equivalent credential is enough to enroll.[^9] Its online courses are reached through Minnesota Online, a collaborative gateway. More than 150 academic programs are offered fully or mostly online, and about 93,300 students took online courses in the 2009–2010 academic year.[^10] Wikipedia reports an estimated economic impact of $8 billion a year for the system, or twelve dollars returned for each dollar invested. The article does not name the source of that estimate.[^11] It also reports three further figures: - tuition below that of the University of Minnesota, private universities and private trade schools; - more than 80 percent of graduates remaining in Minnesota to work or continue their education; - an 88.0 percent rate in 2006, the latest data cited, at which two-year college graduates found jobs in their chosen fields.[^11] The record here does not carry the underlying reports for these figures. No campus has been officially designated as the system's flagship. Minnesota State University, Mankato and [[St. Cloud State University]] have each been called the flagship at various points.[^12] ## Enrollment and state policy initiatives According to Wikipedia, Minnesota has had a net loss of college students to out-of-state institutions since 2001. Its net student migration has been consistently negative and was reported at −7,886 for the 2022–23 school year.[^13] The same article describes declining enrollment at the state's postsecondary institutions over the preceding 14 years. It reports that the decline was especially sharp at Minnesota State two- and four-year institutions between 2018 and 2022.[^13] After the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the state government took steps to reinvest in higher education. The One Minnesota Budget, signed into law by Governor [[Tim Walz]] in May 2023, included a $650 million investment in the [[Minnesota Office of Higher Education]].[^14] The budget's higher education portion included the North Star Promise Scholarship Program. The program pays tuition and fees for Minnesota resident students with a family adjusted gross income under $80,000 who attend a public or tribal institution.[^14] The National Student Clearinghouse estimated a 1.2% rise in undergraduate enrollment at Minnesota postsecondary institutions for 2023–24, a positive trend that Wikipedia describes as long absent.[^15] North Star Promise was scheduled to take effect with the fall 2024 semester at public colleges and universities. The Office of Higher Education estimated that it would have a positive financial impact for more than 15,000 students statewide.[^15] The record here does not report enrollment or award figures after the program began. The Office's other initiatives include Direct Admissions Minnesota.[^15] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System* (revid 1381813928, retrieved 2026-10-27) — lead: 26 colleges, 7 universities, 54 campuses; former MnSCU branding; largest in Minnesota and third largest in the U.S.; more than 300,000 students annually. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System* (retrieved 2026-10-27) — lead: 15-member board of trustees appointed by the governor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System* (retrieved 2026-10-27) — lead: system office in Wells Fargo Place, Saint Paul. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System* (retrieved 2026-10-27) — lead: 2016 rebranding, criticism, legal name unchanged, media usage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, History (retrieved 2026-10-27) — 1991 legislation merging three systems; 1995 target; Central Office formed 1997. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, History (retrieved 2026-10-27) — University of Minnesota's constitutional autonomy, affirmed by the Minnesota Supreme Court. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, History (retrieved 2026-10-27) — the system's educational role, endowments and state funding relative to the University of Minnesota. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, History (retrieved 2026-10-27) — intended 66% state share of cost; about 50% as of 2014. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, Operations (retrieved 2026-10-27) — degree range; open admissions at two-year colleges. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, Operations (retrieved 2026-10-27) — Minnesota Online; more than 150 online programs; about 93,300 online students in 2009–2010. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^11]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, Operations (retrieved 2026-10-27) — $8 billion economic impact estimate; tuition comparison; 80 percent retention; 88.0 percent placement in 2006. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^12]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, Operations (retrieved 2026-10-27) — no official flagship; Mankato and St. Cloud State referred to as flagship. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^13]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, Enrollment and state policy initiatives (retrieved 2026-10-27) — net student migration since 2001; −7,886 in 2022–23; 14-year enrollment decline; 2018–2022 decline at Minnesota State. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^14]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, Enrollment and state policy initiatives (retrieved 2026-10-27) — One Minnesota Budget signed May 2023; $650 million to the Office of Higher Education; North Star Promise terms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System [^15]: Wikipedia contributors, *Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System*, Enrollment and state policy initiatives (retrieved 2026-10-27) — 1.2% enrollment increase in 2023–24; fall 2024 start; more than 15,000 students; Direct Admissions Minnesota. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Colleges_and_Universities_System