Minnesota State Sees Third Year of Enrollment Increases

ST. PAUL, Minn., October 13, 2025 – For the third year in a row, enrollment at the colleges and universities of Minnesota State is up over the previous year. The increase is driven largely by initiatives focused on keeping the cost of college affordable for all Minnesotans while delivering in-demand programs and quality instruction that prepares students for the workforce. As of the 30^th day of Fall term 2025, credit headcount enrollment for Minnesota State:

• Increased 5.2% at Minnesota State colleges
• Increased 2.3% at Minnesota State universities
• Increased 4.2% for the system as a whole.

This follows an increase of 7.7% for the system as a whole in 2024 and 2.3% in 2023.

“A number of factors have driven this increase again this year,” said Scott Olson, chancellor of Minnesota State. “Quality academic programs taught by outstanding faculty, keeping our colleges and universities the most affordable, most accessible higher education options in the state, support from the state of Minnesota, and strong relationships with the communities we serve are among the keys.”

North Star Promise

Fall 2025 marks the second year of the North Star Promise, a scholarship program that provides free college tuition for Minnesota students with a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) below $80,000. The North Star Promise scholarship is available to Minnesotans attending any of the 26 colleges and seven universities of Minnesota State who are registered for as little as one credit and don’t already have a bachelor’s degree. Preliminary data shows that 9,639 students are benefiting from the program for this Fall term.

In addition to the North Star Promise scholarship, other factors that may have contributed to the increase in enrollment include:

• Workforce Development Scholarships which encourage students to enter programs in high demand by employers. Some of the many fields that qualify for these $2,500 scholarships include education, energy, health care, public safety, construction, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, information technology, and transportation.
• The Direct Admissions Program has made it easier and faster for Minnesota’s high school seniors to enroll at the colleges and universities of Minnesota State.
• Strategic efforts by the colleges and universities of Minnesota State to adjust their programmatic mix and class schedule in response to student and employer demand, as well as new promotional programs to attract new students, such as waiving application fees and to encourage students who have stopped-out to return.
• The colleges and universities of Minnesota State offer the lowest tuition and fees in Minnesota, giving students access to first-rate education options throughout the state.
• Public concern about student debt and the cost of higher education may be driving enrollment at Minnesota State as an accessible, high value alternative to more expensive options. Depending on the academic award received, 40% - 70% of Minnesota State students graduate with no debt at all.

Olson continued, “Enrollment at Minnesota State is vital to the state because our colleges and universities educate and train the talent needed for Minnesota businesses and communities to grow and prosper.”

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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.