The Best Small Colleges and Universities in Minnesota
Macalester College, MacNally Smith College of Music, St. Olaf College
Those who love nature find themselves quite at home in Minnesota, land of a thousand lakes where finding a peaceful meadow or inviting forest often involves only a short drive from big cities or small towns. While a majority of residents today might find themselves living in either Minneapolis or Saint Paul, just as many tend to find themselves drawn to a more rustic lifestyle. For college students seeking a university town atmosphere or small city experience, there are more than enough opportunities to take advantage of midwestern friendliness in an urban area. An engaged population, those in Minnesota tend to find themselves participating in their communities, and the state acts as a beacon for those interested in studying public policy or for anyone who has considered pursuing a career that might involve politics.
For those students seeking a truly diverse student body with an eye for the international, there is no better Minnesota college to choose than Macalester College. Located in Saint Paul, Macalester has existed as a post-secondary educational institution since the 1870s, when it was initially founded. Today, it boasts one of the highest populations of international students on-campus in the United States, meaning that those attending can be expected to interact with students from around the world. A number of notable alumni have attended Macalester College, including Kofi Annan, Ari Emanuel, and Walter Mondale. With less than 2,000 undergraduate students, individual attention from professors is a given, rather than an exception to the rule. Students can expect to spend a great deal of time having input into their major programs, as well as participating in numerous different student groups and organizations. Popular on-campus organizations include those centered around politics and justice.
With just over 500 students on-campus, MacNally Smith College of Music is an intense music college that provides incredible instruction to those talented enough to attend. In addition to training on traditional instruments, the college also offers a recording program, a well as focus on readying students for today’s popular music industry. Whether it is training for the Broadway stage or the sort of instruction necessary to become an esteemed engineer or producer, MacNally Smith College of Music offers a course of study designed to meet those needs. The school also boasts the country’s first accredited diploma program focused entirely on the study and production of hip-hop, showing that traditional music colleges are capable of branching out and embracing the times. A number of graduates have found success in popular culture, and just as many are working professionally in various orchestras and philharmonics around the world.
Located in Northfield, Minnesota, St. Olaf has been one of the state’s foremost liberal arts colleges since 1874. Ranked nationally as the 47th best liberal arts college in the country by U.S. News and World Report, St. Olaf is regularly cited as one of the best picks for inquisitive young minds, and is touted as a college that is known for changing lives. As far as graduate studies go, students who attend St. Olaf College rank in the country’s top 10 of colleges that produce students who attend graduate school. Graduates of St. Olaf are also known for going on to receive doctoral degrees in a variety of subjects, including foreign languages and the physical sciences. The college is known for its vigorous academics, with ten Rhodes Scholars to date and a number of acclaimed faculty members lending a hand at educating young minds. A traditional campus incorporates a number of buildings that are registered as historic in the National Register of Historic Places, and students are required to take part in a foundations program that focuses on a core involving not just other languages, but also traditional mathematical reasoning and theological studies. The school is also well-known nationally for its incredible offerings for those interested in studying abroad.
Founded in 1886, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design has been offering intensive art-oriented instruction for longer than a number of other similar institutions in the country. With under a thousand graduate and undergraduate students, studio space and work spaces are available for all of those attending, making it easier to practice the crafts being taught in the classroom. As one of the first major art schools to offer the Comic Art major, MCAD shows that it is as willing to embrace the latest developments in the world of art as it is to tout the more traditional areas of focus. Students can chose between concentrating on graphic design, sculpture, liberal arts study, furniture design, and sustainable design. The backdrop of Minneapolis itself makes for the ideal environment to take learning outside of the classroom, with various museums and galleries to engage with off-campus.
Consistently praised as one of the country’s top liberal arts colleges, Carleton offers an excellent learning experience for those who are motivated to pursue specific majors after completing a rigorous core program. Located in Northfield, there are none of the distractions that come with attending college in a busy city. A classic and small campus provides the environment needed to excel academically, while on-campus activities provide the opportunity for the school’s two thousand students to get to know one another outside of the classroom. Founded in the 1860s, the school has enrolled more students participating in the National Merit Scholarship Program than any other liberal arts institution in the entire country. A large number of undergraduate students go on to pursue graduate studies immediately after completing their education at Carleton.
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