Founded in 1869 as Third State Normal School to train public school teachers, St. Cloud State University is a major public university located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Spanning a modern 100-acre campus along the west bank of the Mississippi River, St. Cloud State connects business, software engineering, health sciences, digital media, and environmental science. You can examine its founding origins, normal school heritage, and riverfront expansion through the St. Cloud State University Wikipedia historical entry.
When you attend St. Cloud State, you enter a diverse public university focused on hands-on practical learning, active student research, and international cultural exchange. Living in St. Cloud places you inside Central Minnesota's largest metropolitan area surrounded by granite quarries, river parks, and technology centers.
Premier Academic Programs
St. Cloud State hosts five specialized academic schools and colleges delivering accredited degree programs:
- Herberger Business School: AACSB-accredited business school offering top programs in accounting, corporate finance, real estate analytics, and information systems. Explore degree options on the Herberger Business School portal.
- College of Science and Engineering: Delivers instruction in software engineering, cybersecurity, biomedical engineering, and atmospheric sciences.
- School of Health and Human Services: Prepares clinical nurses, medical laboratory scientists, and social workers through direct clinical partnerships.
- School of Education: Historic educator preparation school training public teachers, counselors, and educational policy leaders.
- School of the Arts: Features comprehensive performance training in music, theater arts, digital media, and graphic design.
"It's Time to Inspire, serving as St. Cloud State University's official institutional declaration."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on Atwood Memorial Center, the Eastman Hall wellness center, and the Mississippi Riverfront park. School spirit revolves around Blizzard "Blizz" Husky, the energetic costumed mascot representing St. Cloud State Huskies athletic teams competing in NCAA Division I hockey and Division II sports. You can read about spirit traditions and mascot history on the official St. Cloud State Huskies Athletics portal. Cheering inside the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center for championship hockey games and joining over 200 student clubs creates a close-knit campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Advanced Materials
St. Cloud State operates an active doctoral research framework with specialized technology laboratories:
- Visualization and Digital Media Laboratory: State-of-the-art facility featuring 3D virtual reality environments and digital simulation tech.
- Center for Atmospheric Sciences: Operates Doppler radar and weather monitoring instrumentation to analyze severe weather across Central Minnesota. Learn more via St. Cloud State Research Operations.
- Integrated Science and Engineering Laboratory Facility (ISELF): Multidisciplinary research building facilitating student industry collaboration.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of Emmy winners, public servants, corporate executives, and Olympic athletes, including:
- John B. Larson: Former President and CEO of Supervalu corporate retail chain who studied business at St. Cloud State.
- Jim Pehler: Prominent Minnesota state senator and public policy advocate who earned his degree at St. Cloud State.
- Leo Kottke: World-famous acoustic guitar virtuoso and recording artist who attended St. Cloud State.
- Matt Cullen: Three-time Stanley Cup champion NHL player who played hockey for St. Cloud State.
St. Cloud State provides generous merit scholarship coverage and need-based financial aid for domestic and international applicants. Review full entry requirements on the official St. Cloud State Admissions portal.