Students walking across a sunny campus with a university building and trees in the background, wearing backpacks and casual clothes.

Student Life

Something big awaits you. Here, you'll encounter people and ideas from around the world that will inspire your thinking and take you down unexpected paths. Discover life on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.

1,000+

Student Groups

7,197

International students

90%

First year students live on campus

1,000+

Student Groups

7,197

International students

90%

First year students live on campus

Meet Our #UMNdriven Students

At the U of M you can dream, and you can do. You can dive in and create. You can build and become, learn, and discover. And you can share your successes and those of everyone you meet here who inspires you. Share what makes you #UMNproud through any of our many social media channels.

Housing and Dining

When you live on campus, you'll get a jump-start on meeting new people and developing lifelong friendships while being close to classes, libraries, rec centers, restaurants, and whatever resources you need, from mental health support to work-study jobs. Nearby, the campus is surrounded by distinct and welcoming neighborhoods, so whether you commute or live close, there are endless places to discover.

two female students in a well-decorated dorm room

University Housing

Apartment buildings of blue, white, and brick with sidewalks and grass in front

Off-Campus Living

Dining

Get Involved

Students come together to socialize and learn from each other in countless ways. Across campus and in every major, you'll discover purpose, community, and opportunity.

Female student speaking into radio microphone with another person in the background

Student Groups

Student groups are a great way to get involved. There are more than 1000, from the Alpine Ski Team to the Capoeira Club. Join a group or start your own!

Student Groups

young man and woman looking through large orange telescope in front of U of M building at Minnesota State Fair

Community Engagement

Develop your strengths and leadership skills through service learning and other community engagement opportunities in the vibrant Twin Cities.

Community Engagement

Students of different races and ethnicities wearing sweatshirts from various sororities and fraternities on campus

Greek Life

Membership in a fraternity or sorority is an experience unlike any other. Join the more than 3,000 students who participate in Greek life on campus.

Greek Life

Kauryn Krier in cap and gown with a sash that says student athlete on campus

"What makes the U of M unique is all of the diversity among students, being in a huge city with so many opportunities on and off campus, and having great athletic teams to support!"

Kauryn Krier '22

Kinesiology

Student Health

Your health matters. That’s why our students are automatically enrolled in student health benefits. With top-notch medical care and insurance, we’ve got everything you need to stay healthy, right here on campus.

Boynton Health Disability Resource Center Student Counseling Services Student Health Benefits

Club Sports and Recreation

student running on the track at the Minneapolis rec center

Centered in a vibrant metropolitan community, the Twin Cities campus is also a world in itself—with miles of bike paths, numerous lakes, and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area right in the heart of campus. You'll also have access to state-of-the-art recreation and wellness facilities, with programs in everything from intramural sports to outdoor recreation and fitness programs.

Recreation and Wellness

Dania Barrera Carrasco standing on the steps of Northrop Auditorium with her hand on the railing

"During my senior year of high school, I was invited to a Latinx dinner for students who had been accepted to the U to explore what would be available for Latinx students. There, I met wonderful Latinx faculty and student groups. I knew that I would have spaces to help me feel even more at home and accepted."

Dania Barrera Carrasco '23

Sociology of law, criminology, and justice

Arts and Culture

Art plays a meaningful cultural and educational role throughout the U of M campus, inspiring students to think differently about their world. With more than three dozen public artworks and the magnificence of Northrop, the Weisman Art Museum, the Bell Museum, and the West Bank Arts Quarter, inspiration is just a step away. Meanwhile, the Twin Cities is also home to a dynamic arts community. The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Guthrie Theater, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts are just a few examples.

Northrop

Weisman Art Museum

Mammoth exhibit at the Bell Museum with people around the display

Bell Museum of Natural History

Guthrie Theater

Walker Art Museum

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Rashaun Collins poses on a white backdrop with his arms folded wearing a black shirt and glasses

"As a U of M student, I immersed myself in campus life, becoming a student ambassador, campus tour guide, and member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. My advice to current students: Enjoy everything campus has to offer and find a way to study abroad."

Rashaun Collins '05

Sociology

Safety

The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is incredibly important. Students receive real-time safety alerts via text message, and alarm buttons and emergency phones are located throughout campus. Parking facilities, skyways, and tunnels are monitored 24 hours a day with the aid of security cameras, and campus escorts are available to bike and walk with you to and from campus locations and nearby neighborhoods—just call 612-624-WALK.

Safety on Campus

Getting Around Campus

The Twin Cities campus is centered in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation. You can pedal your own wheels or hop on a Nice Ride or electric scooter.

Not a cyclist? Free Campus Connector shuttles will carry you everywhere on campus, while buses and light rail guide you swiftly around the Twin Cities. And don’t worry about staying warm in winter—we’ve literally got you covered with an underground tunnel system.