St. Cloud State University

saint cloud university mn

Accredited, Affordable Public Education at St. Cloud

St. Cloud State University appears in our ranking of Top 52 Colleges with Campus Free Speech Zones.

Named the Midwest’s 132nd best school by Forbes, St. Cloud State University is a state-funded, coed AASCU member in Central Minnesota that grants 119 undergrad, 54 master’s, two doctoral, and 50 certificate programs, including 24 fully online, at a 20:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the Meteorology B.S. follows a 120-credit, four-year curriculum outlined by Dr. Anthony Hansen with Robert H. Wick Science Lab projects, National Weather Service internships, Northern Plains Winter Storm Conference attendance, and AMS Chapter activities. Chaired by Dr. Steven Ratliff, the Nuclear Medicine Technology B.S. builds the Gopher State’s only 120-credit path to NMTCB certification with job shadowing at five affiliates, such as Froedtert Hospital, Aurora St. Luke’s Center, and the Mayo Clinic.

Online on D2L Brightspace, the Herberger Business School led by Dr. Dave Harris has delivered 36-credit, 16-month MBA in General Management since Fall 2016 where adults easily complete 600-level courses like Ethical Leadership and join the Graduate Student Organization. Directed by Dr. Mick Mayhew, the Marriage and Family Therapy M.S. admits full-time cohorts of 16 for a 58-credit, COAMFTE-accredited licensure track with 100 percent internship placement at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Riverplace Counseling, Catholic Charities, Touchstone Mental Health, and others plus Chi Sigma Iota membership.

Other St. Cloud State degrees include the Music B.A., Computer Engineering B.S., Statistics B.S., History M.A., Biological Science M.S., Criminal Justice M.S., and Education Administration Ed.D.

About St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University originated on September 13, 1869, when Principal Ira Moore welcomed an inaugural coed class of 53 to Stearns House for the Third State Normal School. In 1898, it started awarding two-year associate degrees beyond the initial teaching certificates. In 1914, its secondary program was completely eliminated. In 1921, President Joseph Brown renamed it the St. Cloud State Teacher’s College. On January 1, 1923, St. Cloud received its regional accreditation candidacy. In 1937, the Works Progress Administration helped build the Selke Field Complex. In 1953, St. Cloud debuted its earliest master’s in education. Four years later, Governor Orville L. Freeman signed legislation dropping the “teacher’s” part of the name. By 1979, it was called St. Cloud State University and offering studies at Alnwick Castle. In 2017, Twin Cities programs were added for the Plymouth Graduate Center.

Endowed for $19.8 million, St. Cloud State University now employs 783 faculty teaching 14,615 Huskies from 90 countries online or at the 100-acre MnSCU branch for Stearns County with 250+ clubs like Gamma Theta Upsilon. In 2013, St. Cloud won the NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. In 2016, SCSU accepted its fifth consecutive Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award. St. Cloud State University received the 2019 CISabroad Going Places Award too. The U.S. News & World Report honored SCSU for the 235th best public affairs, 225th top social work, and 55th best rehabilitation counseling degrees. On Niche, SCSU boasts America’s 295th best party scene, 375th top teaching programs, and 379th best athletics. The Institute of International Education placed St. Cloud State 24th among master’s institutions.

St. Cloud State University Accreditation Details

On March 2, 2017, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Board of Trustees informed St. Cloud State University that the Institutional Status Report was updated to reaffirm Level V accreditation through 2026-27 under the 24th president, Dr. Robbyn Wacker, who earned the UNC Academic Leadership Excellence Award. Located 472 miles southeast via Interstate 94 in Chicago, this giant 19-state Great Lakes Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The Office of the Provost also lists the following current accreditations:

  • Commission on Applied and Clinical Sociology
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • Council on Social Work Education Office of Accreditation
  • Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design
  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
  • American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training
  • National Association of Schools of Theatre
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
  • Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering
  • Council on Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children

St. Cloud State University Application Requirements

Admission at St. Cloud State University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because just 5,946 of the 6,986 Fall 2017 applicants were triumphant for 85 percent acceptance. First-year Huskies are thoroughly evaluated for academic/personal achievement in high school. Having four units of English plus three Math, Science, and Social Studies units is required. The Class of 2021 had an average 3.12 secondary GPA. The 50th percentile earned SAT scores of 970-1180. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 18-24. Testing is optional for transfers with 15+ college-level credits graded “C” or better. International transfers still must exceed the 61 TOEFL iBT, 5.5 IELTS, 44 PTE, or 45 Duolingo score minimum though. The School of Graduate Studies only seeks master’s entrants with an accredited baccalaureate GPA of 2.75 or greater. Post-master or doctoral programs require GPAs above 3.0. Most seek minimum GRE scores of 144 Quantitative and 152 Verbal. Online MBA cohorts need at least 470 GMAT marks.

St. Cloud State University has preferred undergrad deadlines of May 1st for Fall and January 7th for Spring enrollment. International students should file by June 1st or October 1st. March 1st is the priority date for financial aid consideration. Online MBA cohorts apply until August 1st or December 1st. The Public Safety Executive Leadership M.S. closes on July 15th each year. Applied Behavior Analysis M.A. entrants must file before February 1st. The Geography M.S. considers candidates through July 15th and November 15th. Accordingly, check program specifics before completing the $20 ($40 if master’s or $55 if doctoral) SCSU Application online. Forward official transcripts to 720 Fourth Avenue S in St. Cloud, MN 56301. Submit standardized test scores with SAT/GRE code 6679 or ACT code 2144. Contact (320) 308-0121 or [email protected] to learn supplemental steps.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, St. Cloud State University charged Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Manitoba residents $4,132 each undergrad semester or $8,264 annually. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition was $8,249 by term or $16,498 yearly. The Midwest Student Exchange Program dropped prices to $5,906 or $11,812. Students covered the $65 flat-rate health service fee plus $50 per credit fee. Freshman paid a one-time $75 orientation fee. Living at the Stearns County campus’ dorms like Mitchell Hall added $5,692 for yearly housing. Husky Anytime meal plans for Atwood Memorial Dining Hall were $3,300 extra. Annual bachelor’s attendance equaled about $20,991 in-state and $29,225 out-of-state. The Graduate School billed Minnesotans or Reciprocity residents $398 and non-residents $605 per credit. The Applied Behavior Analysis M.S. uniquely costs everyone $589 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Administrative Services Hall Room 106 links 86 percent of new SCSU Huskies to tuition assistance averaging $5,553 apiece for $5.89 million combined. Institutional programs include the Robert Hebeisen Scholarship, Dennis Thayer Leadership Award, Mary Weise Scholarship, Gerald Johnson Mathematics Scholarship, Scot Radel Real Estate Scholarship, Fran Neidermeier Accounting Scholarship, Janet Honkomp Fredell Social Work Scholarship, Marjorie Deakin Scholarship, Kate Steffens Special Education Scholarship, and Kay Bayne Nursing Scholarship. The Presidential Scholarship gifts $5,000 annually to freshmen with a minimum 34 ACT score. The $1,000 Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association Scholarship as a March 7th deadline for full-time engineering majors. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and Opportunity Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 002377. The Minnesota State Grant also contributes up to $7,463 for in-state undergrads taking 15+ credits each term.

Search through eight esteemed schools delivering 175+ student-centered degrees ranked 157th nationally by Washington Monthly at the St. Cloud State University website.