Legislative Information
Minnesota State is the most powerful and effective resource that the state has to ensure opportunity and prosperity for its citizens and communities. Across our great state, the 54 campuses of the Minnesota State system - containing nearly 22.5 million square feet of academic buildings - serve Minnesotans by providing hope and opportunity through higher education. Our 26 colleges and 7 universities contribute to an engaged, equitable, and productive society and serve as catalysts for social and economic vibrancy. They are places of hope and opportunity for Minnesotans who strive to create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
In 2023, the colleges and universities of Minnesota State generated an economic impact of $8.4 billion in the state: $4.7 billion direct and $3.7 billion indirect and induced. This impact is the result of operational spending, capital spending (10-year average), payroll and benefits paid to employees, student spending, and visitor spending. Based upon this impact, $1 out of every $49 in the Minnesota economy is supported by Minnesota State.
Most of all, Minnesota State is proud of its students and their success stories.
Our FY2024-2025 Biennial Budget Request
We seek $350 million in funding in the 2023 legislative session for budget support:
$125 million to directly support our students’ critical needs with a focus on affordability- $77 million: freeze tuition and expand free textbook offerings
- $26 million: expand student support services
- $12 million: transfer scholarships
- $10 million: emergency grants
- $49 million: upgrade college and university equipment and learning environments
- $25.5 million: increase workforce development scholarships
- $25.5 million: develop and expand industry sector programming
$125 million to maintain academic programs and keep tuition affordable
Our Capital Request
We seek $348.7 million in funding in the 2023 legislative session for a capital program for:
Asset Preservation (HEAPR funding): $173.7 million
- Provides for campus projects across the state addressing the most basic needs for updated roofs, windows, and exterior walls, as well as efficient and effective mechanical and utility systems.
Major capital project funding:$175 million
- Funding for 19 major, campus-specific capital projects. Some of these projects are ready to begin construction, having received design funding in prior legislative sessions; the other projects will execute design and construction together or embark on the design process for construction to be funded in the future.
Together, the requested HEAPR and major capital project funding will:
- Improve campus teaching and learning environments and improve student outcomes
- Reduce operating expenses and ease pressure on campus operating budgets
- Enhance science, technology, engineering, math, allied health, technical, business, and education classrooms and labs
- Streamline student support services to increase student success
Other Reference Materials:
Chancellor Devinder Malhotra embarked on a series of Partnership Tours throughout Minnesota during 2018 and 2019 in support of our legislative requests. During these stops the chancellor and college and university leadership met with local business leaders, employer partners, legislators, K-12 leaders, and community partners. They discussed developing the region’s talent pipeline and how current college or university efforts are achieving results and how further partnerships can be developed. Below are some media stories.
The below data reports provide the information required in Minnesota Statutes, Section 135A.031. The report is to be considered part of the system’s biennial budget proposal to the legislature and provides information on systemwide expenditures, revenues, how state appropriations are allocated, how resources are reallocated within the system, tuition and fees, graduation rates, underrepresented students, research and workforce development activities, consulting contract information and student demographics.
