A good value in the face of California’s rapidly rising tuition costs
Over 150 majors across its 7 colleges
Two campuses spread along the Mississippi River
Undergraduate experience with Honors Program, Research Opportunities, and Study Abroad Program
If you’re willing to sacrifice the Mediterranean climate of California for the seasonally snowy plains of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) might warrant a review. The Twin Cities campus is, with 33,000 undergraduates, greater than Berkeley, UCLA, or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. For out of state students, its cost of attendance (COA) is less than the in-state price of Berkeley or UCLA. As part of the Big Ten, and with its seven colleges offering over 150 majors, ranging from Russian to Kinesiology, the University of Minnesota might be worth weathering the winter storms.
The campus is actually two campuses with one in St Paul, where the agricultural school resides, and the other in Minneapolis, about five miles away. The two are connected by bus, but soon will be by light rail. The Minneapolis campus is split, east and west by the Mississippi River. The university also contains a 695-acre arboretum, which is used for research projects. Each of the freshman admitting colleges has its own library, with the entire library system containing over 5 million volumes, making it the 14th largest in the nation.
One concern many parents might have about any big state university is its four-year graduation rate. 46% of this year’s undergraduates finished their bachelors in four years. Though better than Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s 26%, it is well below UCLA’s 68% and Berkeley’s 69%. To address this issue, the university has instituted a ‘Four Year Guaranteed Graduation Plan.’ http://www.academic.umn.edu/fouryear/ Should you join the plan, accept guidance from your counselors (all undergraduates are assigned both an academic and career counselor who will meet and advise you throughout your career at Minnesota), pull together a plan for achieving your degree in four years, and fail to get the classes necessary to graduate on time, the University of Minnesota will provide these classes to you at no cost, until you attain your degree.
The University of Minnesota is sensitive to the needs of its undergraduates and has implemented a number of programs, in addition to the guarantee mentioned above. First, week long orientation programs are offered by all the colleges to their entering freshmen. Additionally, an Honors College offers opportunities in interdisciplinary study, along with special research opportunities, and special housing for members in the program. Further, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) gives stipends to 450 students each year to assist faculty or propose student research projects under faculty supervision.
The professors are noted for being accessible and focused on teaching undergraduates. Most have open office hours where they are willing to meet and explain concepts or elucidate points. Distinguished teaching is rewarded by bonuses of up to $15,000. Moreover, you might actually get to know some of your professors as 80% of the classes have fewer than 50 students, and even the larger lectures break down into manageable discussion groups of 15 or fewer students.
One other area worthy of mention is the Study Abroad program, which features over 300 programs across 60 countries: it is the largest program in the nation. The College of Management requires all its students spend time abroad in one of the programs which can be for as little as a month, or as long as a year.
All told, the University of Minnesota has features that might attract discriminating students who are searching for alternatives to the UC system. Certainly the cost of attendance is appealing. The school has the advantages of a big school: an extensive range of majors, huge libraries, and an extensive Study Abroad Program, coupled with features of a smaller school with its colleges, first year orientation, honors program, attentive counseling, and undergraduate research opportunities. If you’re interested, the application fee for California residents is waived for this year, and there is no essay on the application. Applying is a no-risk venture. The University of Minnesota has rolling admissions with a deadline of December 15th. But, be prepared to buy a parka.