The University of Minnesota is a major public land-grant research university located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1851 and is the flagship institution of the University of Minnesota System, organized into 19 colleges and schools. The Twin Cities campus is the largest and oldest in the system, with nearly 55,000 students as of the 2023–24 academic year, making it the ninth-largest main campus student body in the United States. It is highly prestigious, with a strong research focus classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity." The university offers over 150 undergraduate majors and extensive graduate programs. It is ranked among the top public universities nationally and has a wide range of research, education, and outreach centers. The university's mission encompasses research and discovery, teaching and learning, and outreach and public service, with a commitment to academic freedom, diversity, and community engagement. It participates actively in NCAA Division I sports in the Big Ten Conference and has a notable record of national championships and Olympic medalists. There are also several other campuses in the University of Minnesota system, including Duluth, Morris, Crookston, and a collaborative center in Rochester. The university supports a wide variety of academic disciplines and emphasizes student research opportunities, international study programs, and diverse educational experiences. Notable alumni include U.S. Vice Presidents Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale among others.
