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Known as the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota is also home to some of the best institutions of higher education in the Midwest. The area has valued education since the Minnesota Legislature passed an act to establish a normal school at Winona in 1858. The state was also one of the first to have charter schools. High literacy levels characterize the population, which ranked first in the percentage of people holding high school diplomas. Students also have some of the highest average ACT scores in the country, and many of them go on to attend one of the 32 schools forming part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Affordable local choices that provide students with skills to directly enter the labor force characterize the community colleges throughout the state.

Established in the late 1960s, Century College has become the largest two-year college in the state with over 12,000 students served each year on its located in White Bear Lake. Students select from over 60 areas in liberal arts and occupational-technical programs, working toward associate degree programs in areas as diverse as Advertising and Marketing, Automotive, Business and Management, Nursing, Industry, Law Enforcement, Liberal Arts, Science, and Technology. Century College has received honors in various fields, including the success of the debate team and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Around 1700 students participate in “service learning” experiences and partner with community institutions, helping to create one of the best community-higher education partnerships in the area. A Student Success Day is organized annually to recognize top achievements by the student body, an event that was recognized by the League for Innovation in 2007.

When the Duluth Technical College and the Duluth Community College Center joined forces in 1995, Lake Superior College was established for students in the Duluth area. In addition to providing affordable programs for students aiming to complete the first two of four-year degrees, LSC prepares students for work with vocational skill building. It is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, with around 5800 students enrolled in courses and working towards degrees and certificates in departments including Art, Biology, Chemistry, Business, Sociology, Political Science, Computer Information Systems, Fire Technology and Administration, History, Biology, Economics, Education, Physics, Environmental Science, Statistics, and English. A unique Emergency Response Training Center helps prepare students for the real world with a simulator that is a mock-up of a 757-jet, with 98 computer-manipulated segments.

Nearly four decades ago, the Hennepin Technical College was founded outside of Minneapolis. Currently, around 5500 students are enrolled in more than forty degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Construction and Building, Education, Floral and Landscape, Health, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Media Communications, the Culinary Arts, and Transportation. The two campuses are located in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, in a suburban setting. In 2009, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal placed Hennepin Technical College at the top of their list of state colleges. For students, there are several clubs including Phi Theta Kappa, Hammerhead Social Network, SkillsUSA, Pangea Multicultural Club, and a Student Senate.

Serving just over 7500 students, the Rochester Community and Technical College’s motto is to ‘expect the unexpected.’ RCTC prepared students for a changing world, giving them the opportunity to earn degrees in Associate in Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Science, as well as diplomas and certificates. The most popular programs are in the Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business, Digital Arts, and Law Enforcement. In addition to traditional offerings, students can also select from Equine Science, Human Service, Surgical Technology, Veterinary Technology, Horticulture Technology, and Radiography. Special achievements include establishing a Decision Support Center with IBM Rochester and other four-year institutions, as well as hosting students from ten countries through the Youth for Understanding Program.

A century ago, St. Paul Technical College was founded with the purpose of preparing youth for jobs in the local area. When it changed its name to Saint Paul College, students were given the additional choice of doing an Associate in Arts degree and selecting from a range of liberal arts programs. At the same time, Saint Paul College retained its vocational and technical education programs, and the institution continues to be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Today around 8700 students are served by its urban campus, and many of them go on to complete four-year degrees through transfer and articulation agreements. Saint Paul College offers joint apprenticeship opportunities in seven trade areas, and partners with more than 500 local establishments. Graduates find positions in a range of fields, and the most recent figures show that 82 percent of graduates found work after completing their coursework.