Time to say “See You Later”

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities booth had many fairgoers who received good information about our 25 two-year and seven four-year institutions. They wanted to know about the 3,800 programs that are offered and how to pick the best school for their children.

Also, we were surprised that so many grandparents are helping to pay college costs for their grandchildren. One grandfather told me he had helped all seven of his grandchildren. What a wonderful thing to be able to do. I think Minnesota will be better off if more individuals complete some higher education program.

This year we promoted programs and careers related to STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math. In recent years, the United States has fallen behind on producing graduates from these disciplines. As part of the display, students from the engineering program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, one of our institutions, constructed a 20-foot steel bridge that was in the booth. Another example of STEM-related programs came from Century College in White Bear Lake, which has a “Fab Lab,” a fabrication lab where students can design and “print” prototypes in 3-D.

Although the State Fair is over and it will be another year before the Great-Minnesota Get-Together, you don’t have to wait another year to learn more about higher education.

Whether you are looking for a two-year or four-year degree, a graduate program, a diploma, or a specific training program, we have many opportunities. With 54 campuses in the state, we are closer to home than you think.

Visit the website www.mnscu.edu and learn more about what the Minnesota State College and Universities have to offer you.

Transferring from a Two-Year College to a Four-Year State University

Erin Eichten, an admissions counselor at Southwest Minnesota State University

I always thought transferring was difficult, but when I did transfer, I discovered how easy it is. I attended Ridgewater College, a community and technical college, and graduated with two-year degrees in liberal arts, and marketing and sales management.

Then I transferred to Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. All of my liberal art courses transferred and most of my marketing courses did, too. The professors worked with me so I didn’t have to take the same marketing courses twice. Now, I am about to complete a four-year degree in marketing.

Sue Collins, president of the Northeast Higher Education District, a consortium of Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, Rainy River Community College and Vermilion Community College, says: “We have advising, counseling and support services all devoted to helping students make decisions that prepare them for transfer. We encourage students to take the Minnesota transfer curriculum. With that package of coursework, transfer is guaranteed to any state university in Minnesota.”

Erin Eichten, an admission counselor at Southwest Minnesota State, knows the importance of making transferring easy for students to go from a two-year college to a four-year university. “This fall, over 200 students are transfer students who came from a two-year community college. Something that’s nice about going to a community college is that you can get your liberal arts or generals out of the way, especially if you are undecided.

That way you can save money and when you transfer to a four-year university you can focus on your major and finish it in two years.”

For more information visit www.mnscu.edu or stop by our booth at the State Fair in the Education building.

Choosing the Perfect College

Who said choosing the right college was easy? Sometimes it is, but there are a few things you need to know to pick the perfect college for you.

Knowing what you want to study always helps to find the best fit. A good first step is to find out whether a college or university offers a program that you want to study and what degrees they offer.

Another thing to consider is whether you want to attend a big or small college, and one that is private, public or for-profit. President Sue Hammersmith from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul and Minneapolis, says: “If you are going to go to college, you will be investing a lot of time and money. You want to make sure you are getting value for that investment. Do a campus visit and see if you feel comfortable. Different campuses have different atmospheres and that makes a big difference to students.”


The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities offer the best value. How do I know? I went to two public institutions – Ridgewater College, which has campuses in Willmar and Hutchison and Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. For me, the investment was definitely worth the education.

The 32 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities offer a broad range of programs. Thousands of programs are available that lead students to become engineers, scientists, technicians, mechanics, artists, musicians, teachers, nurses, to name a few. The 25 two-year colleges offer degrees, diplomas and certificates that can be completed in two years or less. Most of them also offer the first two years of a four-year degree. Then you can transfer to a state university to complete a bachelor’s degree. With 54 campuses located throughout Minnesota, the colleges and universities are accessible. You can attend a campus close to home or venture to another part of the state.

For more information visit www.mnscu.edu or stop by our booth at the State Fair in the Education building.