Minneapolis’s 392,880 city residents tend to be well-educated Americans—the U.S. Census reports that 88 percent of the city’s high school students graduate and 45.5 percent of all residents 25 and older have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. A 2013 study by Central Connecticut State University ranked Minneapolis as one of the nation’s most-literate cities. The community is diverse, rich with cultural and recreational opportunities and, according to the Regional Chamber of Commerce, maintains a commitment to sustainability and economic development.
Colleges in Minneapolis
From a Big Ten university that serves 64,000 students with seventeen individual academic schools in the arts and sciences, to a small vocational school that teaches entertainment production and recording to a student body of 500, Minneapolis has an educational program to match a variety of career goals. The University of Minnesota has the fourth-largest student enrollment in the nation. Its medical school was ranked 6th in the nation for patient care by U.S. News & World Report. I.D. Magazine has recognized the Minneapolis College of Art and Design as one of the country’s Top Ten Design Programs. Augsburg College was ranked 6th on U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 Best Colleges: Regional Universities (Midwest).
Students seeking a college experience with a spiritual focus can look at North Central University, a private Christ-centered, Pentecostal school that offers degrees in business, education, fine arts, ministry, and applied studies. Students looking for a vocational education might look at private, not-for-profit Dunwoody College of Technology, which offers programs in fields such as HVAC, automotive technology, building and construction technology, information technology and robotics.
| INSTITUTION | TYPE | TRAINING/DEGREES OFFERED |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Public | Higher full-time four-year |
| Augsburg College | Not for Profit (Private) | Higher full-time four-year |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | Not for Profit (Private) | Special focus institution |
| North Central University | Not for Profit (Private) | Special focus institution |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Not for Profit (Private) | Special focus institution |
| Herzing University-Minneapolis | Non-Profit | Higher full-time two-year |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Public | Higher full-time two-year |
Top Industries, Careers, and Employers
Some 16 of the largest Fortune 500 corporations choose Minneapolis for their headquarters. According to The Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Twin Cities metropolitan area will undergo more than $1 billion in road improvements alone in the coming years. The Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA) fosters financing and relocation packages as part of business incentives for doing business in the city. International firms in consulting (Accenture) and investment banking (ING Group) have opened major offices, taking advantage of the benefits such as sales tax exemptions, R&D credits, and foreign income deductions offered by the state. According to the State of Minnesota, Fortune 500 companies (by rank) in the Twin Cities include:
- United Health Group, 21
- Target Corporation, 30
- Best Buy, 45
- 3M, 106
- U.S. Bancorp, 121
- General Mills, 155
- Mosaic, 231>
- Xcel Energy, 244
- Hormel Foods, 340
- Alliant Techsystems, 454
According to Forbes, Minneapolis ranks 19th in education and 23rd in best places for business and careers. The cost of living is 1.2 percent lower than the national average and key growth industries include the technology, biomedical, retail, and financial services sectors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the sectors experiencing the greatest increase in employment in March 2014 were:
- Education and Health Services
- Manufacturing
- Mining, Logging, and Construction
- Leisure and Hospitality
Colleges & Universities in Minneapolis
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS
| COLLEGE | SIZE | TUITION | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 64,349 | $11,650 | Public |
| Augsburg College | 4,935 | $29,794 | Not For Profit (Private) |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | 1,978 | $16,182 | Not For Profit (Private) |
| North Central University | 1,471 | $16,770 | Not For Profit (Private) |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 782 | $30,386 | Not For Profit (Private) |
| Herzing University-Minneapolis | 288 (all are undergraduates) | $13,090 | Non-Profit |
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS IN MINNEAPOLIS
| COLLEGE | SIZE | TUITION | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | 14,573 | $4,523 | Public |