About the University

Fast Facts About Minnesota State Mankato

From its founding in 1868 as Mankato Normal School, serving 27 students, this has been an institution where big ideas meet real-world thinking.

The school became Mankato State Teachers College in 1921, Mankato State College in 1957 and Mankato State University in 1975. In 1998, it took the name that stands today—Minnesota State University, Mankato. Although our first graduates earned one-or two-year degrees to become teachers, the University has been granting four-year degrees in a growing number of disciplines since 1927. The first master’s degrees were awarded in 1954, and the first doctorate was conferred in 2009.

Minnesota State Mankato is led by Dr. Edward Inch, who became the 13th president of the University on July 1, 2021. President Inch and the faculty, students and staff are committed to solving problems, finding solutions and making life better for people throughout our state, our region and our global society.

The Place

  • Approximately 85 miles southwest of the Twins Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota State Mankato sits atop 303 acres overlooking the Minnesota River Valley. The Greater Mankato area has a population of 101,927.
  • Minnesota State Mankato also serves students in the metropolitan area with more than 25 programs available at locations in the Twin Cities, including graduate education in business, educational leadership and nursing. At least 50 programs (degree and certificate) are also available either completely online or paired with some classroom study.
  • Minnesota State Mankato adds $781 million annually to the Mankato economy (2019 Minnesota State system study.)

The People

  • More than 14,000 students, including more than 1,170 international students from 89 countries.
  • Nearly 1,600 faculty and staff, including more than 700 teaching faculty. More than 90 percent of the full-time instructional faculty have terminal degrees.
  • 12.4 percent faculty of color and an institutional commitment to welcoming underrepresented populations.
  • More than 125,000 alumni worldwide.

The Leadership:

The Programs

  • The University offers more than 130 undergraduate programs of study, including 13 pre-professional programs, and more than 85 graduate programs, including master’s, specialist and doctoral programs. These programs are offered through six academic colleges:  Allied Health and Nursing; Arts and Humanities; Business; Education; Science, Engineering and Technology; and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Several of the programs, or portions of them, are also offered through various University Extended Education venues, including the facility at 7700 France in Edina and at the Normandale Partnership Center.
  • The University’s academic quality is recognized through its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. 90 academic programs also hold specialized accreditation, certification and or recognition from 24 different recognized accrediting agencies; six non-academic programs also hold specialized accreditation, certification or recognition. 
  • The University’s aviation program partners with both Delta Air Lines and Sun Country Airlines to provide students with job opportunities immediately upon graduation.
  • Minnesota State Mankato is recognized by the Council on Undergraduate Research as one of the top 20 universities in undergraduate research in the United States.
  • Applied research opportunities abound through the Organizational Effectiveness Research Group; Chelsey Center on Aging; Mankato Area Lifelong Learners; Center for School-University Partnerships; International Renewable Energy Technology Institute; Kessel Institute for the Study of Peace and Change; Minnesota Center for Automotive Research; MN Center for Automotive Research Facilities; Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence; Minnesota Center for Transportation Research; Minnesota Modeling and Simulation Center; the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; the Andreas Observatory; Center for Rural Policy and Development; Center for Transportation Research and Implementation; Minnesota Center for Rural Policy and Development; Organizational Effectiveness Research Group (OERG); Southern Minnesota Historical Center; Standeford Observatory; Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI); WALTER Weather Analysis Lab; Small Business Development Center; Strategic Business, Education and Regional Partnerships; the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium; and the Water Resources Center.
  • Donors in 2020 stepped up in three fundraising efforts focusing on student needs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic: the “We Are in This Together” campaign from Spring, 2020; the Campus Cares campaign; and the University’s fall Campus Drive, supported by faculty, staff, and a $15,000 match challenge provided by the Foundation Board. The drives exceeded their targets, securing over $100,000 in additional donations. From those, a section of scholarships was created for students financially affected by the pandemic, with more than 50 students receiving scholarships of $1,500 each in FY21.
  • A centralized scholarship application program, Scholarship Finder provides student applicants a one-stop-shop process of applying for scholarships, where their needs and strengths are matched with scholarship criteria.
  • The University provides for global learning through international partnerships with universities, businesses and organizations.
  • International lectures and cultural events on campus include the annual International Festival as well as student-run Signature Nights, showcasing the cultures, cuisine and stories of nations from which the University’s student population continues to grow.
  • Three of the Minnesota Department of Education’s TRIO programs (Upward Bound, Student Support Services and Educational Talent Search) serving both underrepresented pre-college and college students.
  • The University plays NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey (Western Collegiate Hockey Association); NCAA Division II (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, track and wrestling; and NCAA Division II women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and volleyball, all serving nearly 600 student athletes. 
  • In sports, the University ranked 24th for the 2018-19 season national standings in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, which recognizes institutions with broad-based programming and success in men’s and women’s sports. The Mavericks have finished in the top 25 in the country for 17 consecutive years.
  • A decade-long, dedicated response to hunger happens through Campus Kitchen, which gathers community-wide food donations, turns them into meals and delivers to community groups to serve the area’s hungry. Since its start in 2005, Campus Kitchen and its student volunteers have provided more than 89,700 meals.
  • A vibrant campus life includes more than 200 academic student groups, intramural sports, leadership and religious organizations, honorary and professional fraternities and sororities, and special interest groups; a Women’s Center; an LGBT Center that helped earn Minnesota State Mankato’s status as one of the 100 Best Campuses for LGBT students by The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students. 
  • Strong ties to alumni are maintained through the print and online editions of TODAY and Maverick Nation magazines, as well as regular events including the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards, Mankato Breakfast in the Cities speakers, Maverick Movement corporate events, reunions, Homecoming, the Legacy Brunch during Family Weekend and other gatherings near and far. 

The Numbers

  • Estimated 2019-2020 operating budget: $240 million.
  • Annual tuition and fees: $8,566 (undergraduate in-state; room and board not included).
  • Approximately $133 million in scholarships, grants, work-study and other support was received by more than 15,300 students in 2019-20; this includes federal, state and private loans and the opportunity to receive funds from federal and state work-study positions.

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Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544

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