Questions for students and families to ask as they evaluate colleges

Is the size and location of the campus appealing?
Is the character of the campus appealing?
Do the programs and majors offered fit potential career interests?
What type of orientation introduces a newcomer to campus life?
Are there stimulating social and intellectual opportunities — lectures, debates, concerts? Are they well attended by faculty and students?
Where do students live?
What percentage of students return the following year?
What is the graduation rate after 4 years? 6 years?

What is the average class size?
Who teaches first-year classes — professors or teaching assistants? How much exposure to the most gifted faculty will students have in their first two years? How extensively does the college rely on part-time or adjunct faculty?
Are faculty members available to talk to first-year students about their academic disciplines and provide career guidance?
What kind of e-mail availability and office hours and do professors offer?
How many students are assigned to an academic advisor? Will the advisor be a professor?
Is good teaching valued and used as a criterion for tenure and promotion? Does the college offer resources to improve teaching?
Does teaching include more than lecturing? Are students encouraged to work together, to discuss topics in class, to do self-directed independent projects?
Can students work with a faculty member doing academic or scientific research while I am an undergraduate?
Do students participate in a senior seminar or design a senior project to demonstrate mastery of their major field of study?
How is technology used in teaching and learning?

Does the college have a program to identify students having trouble, and programs to help them?
Are tutors, skill centers, writing assistance, counselors provided?
What kind of tools, resources and training does the library provide?
What kind of technology (Wi-fi, laptops, computer labs etc.) is available or planned?

What happens after class and on weekends? Do students take advantage of athletic, cultural, religious or other campus events?
What kind of off-campus or study abroad programs does the college offer? What percent of students participate?
What internship or career exploration opportunities are available?
What kinds of student organizations are on campus?

Located in Minneapolis with abundant opportunities to gain experience both inside and outside the classroom.
National recognition for an effective first-year program and for combining learning with service.
Top majors are business, science, teaching
A diverse community of 3,000 students

Located in Mankato overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
A community of 540 students -- most live on campus
Popular majors include business administration, communication, psychology, and elementary education
Focus is on a solid, Christian education

Located on a residential, wooded campus in a Twin Cities suburb
Enrolls 5,600 students in 100 undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs
Integrates faith, learning and the translation of Christian belief into global service
20 international programs; top 3 percent ranking of students who study in foreign countries

Together with Saint John's -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud
A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
A commitment to experiential learning, research and internships

Largest and most comprehensive Catholic college for women in the U.S.
Beautiful campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis
Committed to meeting the educational needs of women of all ages; offers liberal arts, healthcare and professional programs in traditional and weekend formats
Serves 5,000 students

Main campus in Duluth; also in St. Paul, St. Cloud, Brainerd
Undergraduate and graduate programs in traditional, accelerated and online formats
Top majors: Health information management, management, education, nursing
3,200 students; 1,940 undergraduates on Duluth campus
U.S. News ranking in top tier of Midwestern universities

Located in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area that includes 20,000+ college students
Serves more than 2,700 students
Top programs include the sciences, education and music
Recipient of NAFSA Simon Award for Campus Internationalization
Home of world-renowned Concordia Language Villages

Located in the St. Paul metro area
Serves 1,500 undergraduate and 300 graduate students of all ages and backgrounds
Top majors include Christian education, business and teacher education
A laptop university with 24/7 Web access

Oldest Lutheran college in Minnesota; Swedish heritage; home of the Nobel Conference
Beautiful residential campus located in St. Peter, overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
Prepares 2,500 undergraduates for lives of leadership, service and lifelong learning
Recognized science, writing, music, athletics, study-abroad, and service-learning programs

Ranked first in Minnesota among comprehensive universities according to U.S. News
4,400 undergraduate, graduate, and law students
Located in residential neighborhood of St. Paul
Intimate environment of small classes and personal attention along with the opportunities of a comprehensive university

700 students; 14 majors in fine arts, media and design
Located next to the Children's Theater and Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Studio-based and business-oriented programs; BFA, BS and MFA degrees
Only art and design school to be named a Best Midwestern College by Princeton Review

Together with Saint Benedict -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud.
A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
A commitment to experiential learning, research, internships

Values-based, results-oriented education in the Catholic, Lasallian tradition
Outstanding environment for learning, living and recreation
400-acre Winona campus in the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley
1,300 traditional undergraduates, with 4,100 graduate and professional students at other locations

Environmentally aware, 300-acre residential campus in historic Northfield
3,000 students; top majors are music, mathematics and the sciences
Nation's top liberal arts college for study abroad
College of the Lutheran church -- where conversations about faith are part of daily life

Minnesota's largest private university with 10,500 students (5,500 undergraduates)
95 undergraduate majors
Main campuses located in a stately St. Paul neighborhood and in downtown Minneapolis (other campuses in Owatonna, Minn. and Rome, Italy)