state-supported institution located on more than 300 acres (120 hectares) in Mankato, Minn., 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Minneapolis. It was founded in 1868 and grants associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Total enrollment is more than 13,000 students, roughly 11,500 of whom are undergraduates. The state limits the enrollment of nonresidents. The numbers of men and women attending are relatively equal. About a quarter of the undergraduates live on campus. The academic calendar is divided into quarters. About half of the full-time faculty hold doctorates. An array of undergraduate fields are offered, including liberal arts and sciences, visual and performing arts, business, natural resource management, sports sciences, nursing, health sciences, computer sciences, education, area and ethnic studies, social work, engineering technologies, vocational and home economics, industrial arts, military science, communications, family and community services, and international studies. Programs in many of these same areas are conducted at the graduate level. Interested students can study at other public institutions in Minnesota, and several study- abroad programs are also available. Some 15 percent of the undergraduates pursue advanced studies within a year of graduation. Extracurricular activities at the university include fraternities and sororities, intramural sports, theatrical and musical groups, the student-run newspaper, and the campus radio station. The Mankato State Mavericks compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. School colors are purple and gold. |