View source for Minot State University

{{Short description|Public university in Minot, North Dakota, US}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Minot State University
| image       = Oldmainmsu.jpg
| image_size  = 
| caption    = Old Main at the MSU
| former_names = Minot Normal School<br/>(1913 – 1924)<br />Minot State Teachers College (1924 – 1963)<br />Minot State College<br /> (1964 - 1986)<br /> State University of North Dakota - Minot (1987) <ref name= "BlueBook">{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia= North Dakota Blue Book, 2003-2005 |editor-first1= Andrea |editor-last1= Winkjer Collin |editor-first2= Tom |editor-last2= Jones |editor-first3= Kermit |editor-last3= Lidstrom |editor-first4=J. Michael |editor-last4= McCormack |title=Name Changes of Institutions of Higher Education in North Dakota |publisher= Office of the North Dakota Secretary of State  |date=2003 |pages= 548 |url=https://digitalhorizonsonline.org/digital/collection/ndbb/id/11944 |issn= 0191-0612 |access-date=8 August 2025}}</ref>
| type = [[Public university]]
| academic_affiliations = [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]
| established = {{start date and age|1913}}
| president = Steven Shirley
| city = [[Minot, North Dakota|Minot]]
| state = North Dakota
| country = United States
| students = 2,656 (Undergraduate)<br/>264 (Graduate)
| faculty = 146
| campus = [[Rural]]
| athletics_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference|NSIC]]
| nickname = [[Minot State Beavers|Beavers]]
| mascot = Buckshot the Beaver
| colors = {{College color list|team=Minot State Beavers}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.minotstateu.edu/|minotstateu.edu}}
| parent = [[North Dakota University System]]
| logo = Minot State University Logo - Red.svg
| logo_size = 100
}}
{{Location map
|USA
|relief = 1
|label = <small>Minot<!-- State University--></small>
|lat = 48.246
|long = -101.301
|caption = Location in the [[United States]]
|float = 
|background = 
|width = 235
}}
{{Location map
|North Dakota
|relief = 1
|label = <small>Minot<!-- State University--></small>
|lat = 48.246
|long = -101.301
|caption = Location in [[North Dakota]]
|float = 
|background = 
|width = 190
}}
'''Minot State University''' ('''MSU''' or '''MiSU''') is a [[public university]] in [[Minot, North Dakota]], United States.  Founded in 1913 as a [[normal school]], MSU evolved into a university in 1987 and is currently the state's third-largest, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Four schools comprise the university's academic offering. Nine master's degrees and one education specialist degree are offered in areas such as communication disorders, management, and mathematics. A mix of liberal arts and professional programs offers more than 60 majors at the undergraduate level. MSU is a [[North Dakota University System]] member.

Minot State's mascot is the [[American Beaver|beaver]], the [[school colors]] are red and green (though Maroon has been used at times in the past), and the campus newspaper is the ''Red and Green''. The MSU campus is at the base of Minot's [[North Hill, Minot|North Hill]], just west of [[Broadway (Minot, North Dakota)|Broadway]] ([[U.S. Route 83 in North Dakota|U.S. Route 83]]).

==History==
MSU was established as a two-year normal school devoted to preparing teachers for service in northwestern [[North Dakota]]. In 1924, the Normal School at Minot began issuing [[baccalaureate degree]]s, necessitating a name change to '''Minot State Teachers College'''. Over time, the range of academic offerings expanded; as a result, the school's name was changed to '''Minot State College''' in 1964.

During [[World War II|the Second World War]], Minot State trained nearly eight-hundred officer candidates as part of the [[V-12 Navy College Training Program]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://news.prairiepublic.org/show/dakota-datebook-archive/2022-05-26/navy-v-12-training-program |author= Dr. Steve Hoffbeck |publication-date= 15 June 2012 |title= Navy V-12 Training Program |publisher= Prairie Public Broadcasting  |department= Dakota Datebook Archive |access-date=11 August 2025}}</ref>

In 1984, the [[North Dakota Legislative Assembly]] passed a bill renaming the institution to Dakota Northwestern University.<ref name="BlueBook" /> After the bill was signed by the state governor and secretary of state, it became the subject of multiple legal challenges. On June 12, 1984, the bill was struck down by a statewide [[referendum]].<ref>{{cite report |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Measures Before The Voters |url= https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/library/measuresbeforethevoters.pdf |publication-date = May 2025 |url-status=live |publisher= North Dakota Legislative Council |page= 26 |access-date=9 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250809125708/https://ndlegis.gov/sites/default/files/resource/library/measuresbeforethevoters.pdf |archive-date=9 August 2025}}</ref>

In 1987, the institution was granted university status. It was designated as '''State University of North Dakota - Minot''' from January 1, 1987 until April 27, 1987, when it received its current name.

In 1996, the North Dakota University System realigned the relationships between certain institutions within the state. [[Dakota College at Bottineau|North Dakota State University - Bottineau]], located in [[Bottineau, North Dakota]] was renamed to Minot State University - Bottineau and became an independently-accredited affiliate campus of MSU.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/archives/stateagencies/stateforester.html |title=State Forester |url-status= live |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424221637/https://www.history.nd.gov/archives/stateagencies/stateforester.html |archive-date=24 April 2025 |department= Archives - State Agencies |access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref>

==Academics==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023<ref>{{cite web |title= College Scorecard: Minot State University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?200253-Minot-State-University|website=College Scorecard |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=June 23, 2025 }}</ref>
|-
! Race and ethnicity
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|64|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| [[International student]]
|align=right| {{bartable|11|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|10|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]]
|align=right| {{bartable|7|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]]/[[Alaska Native]]
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:yellow}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| Unknown
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:grey}} 
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|27|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|73|%|2||background:black}}
|}

The university awards undergraduate degrees in more than 60 courses of study and graduate degrees in 10 fields of study.

MSU is composed of four main academic divisions:<ref>[https://www.minotstateu.edu/academic/_documents/academic-restructure/restructure/current-to-new-structure.pdf Structure]</ref>
* School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
** 3 academic departments
* School of Business, Math, and Technology
** 2 academic departments
* School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
** 2 academic departments
* School of Science and Health
** 3 academic departments
* Teacher Licensure Program
* Graduate School

===University rankings===
The school was ranked 976th on the 2013–2014 [[PayScale]] College Salary Report<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report-2014/full-list-of-schools |title=2013–2014 PayScale College Salary Report |publisher=[[PayScale]] |access-date=November 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112174459/http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report-2014/full-list-of-schools |archive-date=November 12, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and 1,346th on the 2013 PayScale College Education Value Rankings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.payscale.com/college-education-value |title=2013 College Education ROI Rankings: Does a Degree Always Pay Off? |publisher=[[PayScale]] |access-date=November 7, 2015}}</ref>

== Accreditation ==
MSU is fully accredited by the [[Higher Learning Commission]]. Business Programs at MSU and the College of Business Graduate School are fully accredited by the IACBE. The Bachelor's and master's degrees in Business Education are accredited by NCATE.

Other accreditation:
* [[National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education]]
* [[National Association of Schools of Music]]
* [[Council on Education of the Deaf]]
* Council on Academic Accreditation of the [[American Speech-Language-Hearing Association]]
* [[Council on Social Work Education]]–Baccalaureate level
* [[International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education]]
* [[National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc.]]
* [[National Association of School Psychologists]]
* [[North Dakota Board of Nursing]]

== Gordon B. Olson Library ==
Completed in the spring of 1992, the Gordon B. Olson Library presently serves an enrollment of more than 3,000 students. The three-story facility features seating for 800 students, as well as computer labs.

Dr. Gordon B. Olson came to Minot State University during the summer of 1967 and led the university through growth and change. In 1967, enrollment was slightly more than 2,000. During Dr. Olson's tenure, MSU added many undergraduate and graduate programs. New undergraduate degrees included nursing, social work, and criminal justice. Graduate programs expanded from only one in 1967 to 13. Each of these programs addresses societal needs and the needs of students who pursue careers in these fields.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minotstateu.edu/library/history.shtml |title=MSU – Gordon B. Olson Library |website=Minotstateu.edu |access-date=2011-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213173116/http://www.minotstateu.edu/library/history.shtml |archive-date=2013-12-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{main|Minot State Beavers}}
[[File:MSU Dome.jpg|thumb|The [[MSU Dome]] houses numerous athletic events and served as a shelter during the [[2011 Souris River flood|2011 Flood]]]]
Minot State University athletics compete in the [[Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference]] (NSIC) which is a part of [[NCAA Division II]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/44369/ |title=Dickinson, North Dakota |publisher=The Dickinson Press |date=2011-01-20 |access-date=2011-09-11 }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

MSU's sports program offers football, both men's and women's club hockey, basketball, cross country, indoor/outdoor track and field, golf, baseball, wrestling, women's soccer, volleyball, and fastpitch softball.

Minot State's ice hockey team won the [[American Collegiate Hockey Association|ACHA]] Men's Division I national championship in 2013, 2019, and 2023, with a runner-up finish in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.achahockey.org/mens-division-1-national-champions-2 |title=National Champions |website=achahockey.org |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>

==Wellness Center==
The Wellness Center has rock climbing, exercise equipment, weight rooms, intramural gym space, group exercise classes, and wellness events.

==Facilities==
Campus facilities include a theater, indoor theatre, recital hall, the Gordon B. Olson library, a football field, the MSU Wellness Center, and the [[MSU Dome]] arena.  The Student Union includes a bookstore, convenience store, dining center, and lounge areas.  MSU has four student residence halls and three apartment complexes.

==Transportation==
MSU is located north of downtown Minot, approximately halfway between the [[Minot station|Amtrak station]] and the [[Minot International Airport|airport]]. This allows students and faculty easy access to intercity travel. Within Minot, [[Minot City Transit]] provides bus service to campus on weekdays via the North, North Central, and West routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.minotnd.gov/294/City-Transit|title=Minot City Transit|access-date=July 23, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
[[File:Josh Duhamel 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Josh Duhamel]]]]
[[File:Gen David C Jones.jpg|thumb|Gen. [[David C. Jones]], former [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|chairman]] of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]]]
* [[Dale Brown (basketball)|Dale Brown]] – former [[LSU Tigers basketball|LSU]] basketball head coach (1972–1997)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msubeavers.com/sports/2014/7/1/MBB_0701144936.aspx |title=Minot State Men's Basketball History and Records |publisher=Minot State University Director of Communications |website=msubeavers.com |access-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Gary Cederstrom]] – former [[Major League Baseball]] umpire<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/25/mlb-umpire-gary-cederstrom-to-lead-north-dakota-st/ |title=MLB umpire Gary Cederstrom to lead North Dakota State Parade |date=April 25, 2016 |work=[[The Washington Times]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Scott Deibert]] – former [[Canadian football]] player<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msubeavers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/scott-deibert/140 | title=Scott Deibert |publisher=Minot State University Athletics |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Josh Duhamel]] – [[Emmy Award]]-winning actor and model<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/06/26/minot-native-josh-duhamel-pays-visit-msu-summer-theatre/ |title=Minot native Josh Duhamel pays visit to MSU Summer Theatre |first=Joe |last=Skurzewski |date=June 26, 2023 |work=[[KMOT]] |via=[[KFYR-TV]] |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Ray Giacoletti]] – retired college basketball coach<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/ray-giacoletti/541 |title=Ray Giacoletti |website=slubillikens.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222135109/https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/ray-giacoletti/541 |archive-date=February 22, 2024 |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Rocky Hager]] – retired college football coach<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gobison.com/honors/bison-athletic-hall-of-fame/r-e-rocky-hager/94 |title=Bison Athletic Hall of Fame: R.E. "Rocky" Hager |website=gobison.com |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Brynhild Haugland]] – longest-serving state legislator in history of United States<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://issuu.com/forumprinting/docs/ndlivingmarch13/18 |title=Brynhild Haugland and a Half Century of Service |first=Curt |last=Eriksmoen |date=March 2013 |publication-date=March 5, 2013 |magazine=North Dakota Living |page=18 |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Joan Heckaman]] – former member of [[North Dakota Senate]], 23rd District (2006–2022)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/41736/joan-heckaman |title=Joan Heckaman Biography |website=justfacts.votesmart.org |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Randy Hedberg]] – former [[National Football League|NFL]] [[quarterback]], later MSU football head coach (1982–89)<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Oq9fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2395%2C5575883 |title='Minot Flash' wins Bucs job |date=September 16, 1977 |newspaper=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |via=news.google.com |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Mikey Hoeven]] – former first lady of North Dakota, wife of Senator [[John Hoeven]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://inspiredwomanonline.com/677/mikey-hoeven-taking-one-day-at-a-time/ |title=Mikey Hoeven Taking One Day at a Time |date=January 14, 2011 |work=Inspired Woman Magazine |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref>
* [[David C. Jones]], [[General (United States)|General]], [[United States Air Force]] – former [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|USAF Chief of Staff]] (1974&ndash;1978) and [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (1978–1982)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/15/us/gen-david-c-jones-former-joint-chiefs-chairman-is-dead-at-92.html |title=Gen. David C. Jones, Former Chairman of Joint Chiefs, Dies at 92 |first=Richard |last=Goldstein |date=August 14, 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Douglas Kary]] – member of [[Montana Senate]], 22nd District (2015–Present); member of [[Montana House of Representatives]], 48th District (2010–2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/104171/douglas-kary |title=Douglas Kary's Biography |website= justfacts.votesmart.org |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Doug Larsen]] – former member of [[North Dakota Senate]], 34th District (2020–2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eastgatefuneral.com/obituaries/the-larsen-family |title=Douglas Larsen |publisher=Eastgate & Parkway Funeral & Cremation Services |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Stanley W. Lyson]] – member of [[North Dakota Senate]], 1st District (1999–2014)
* [[Mary Manross]] – former mayor of [[Scottsdale, Arizona]] (2000–2008)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Asset7004.aspx |title=Scottsdale, AZ – Mayor and City Council Introduction |website=scottsdaleaz.gov |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Mary Sherman Morgan]] – rocket fuel scientist credited with invention of liquid fuel Hydyne in 1957, which powered Jupiter-C rocket that boosted first U.S. satellite<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/mary-sherman-morgan-rocket-girl/ |title=Mary Sherman Morgan – Rocket Girl |first=Jeff |last=Glorfeld |date=June 20, 2021 |magazine=[[Cosmos (Australian magazine)|Cosmos]] |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[David O'Connell (politician)|David O'Connell]] – former [[North Dakota Senate|North Dakota state senator]] (1988&ndash;2016) and [[North Dakota House of Representatives|representative]] (1983&ndash;1988)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/n-d-senate-democratic-leader-david-o-connell-not-seeking/article_c29dd08e-f109-11df-82a7-001cc4c002e0.html |title=N.D. Senate Democratic leader David O'Connell not seeking re-election to job |first=Dave |last=Wetzel |date=November 15, 2010 |newspaper=[[Bismarck Tribune]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=February 22, 2024}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
* [[Sean Ortiz]] – [[Canadian Football League]] [[defensive lineman]], [[BC Lions]] (2008–2012)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://msubeavers.com/news/2010/9/18/FB_0918101420.aspx |title=Former Beaver playing in the pros |first=Kevin |last=Mehrer |date=September 18, 2010 |work=[[Minot Daily News]] |via=msubeavers.com |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Charles Payne (journalist)|Charles Payne]] – [[Fox Business Channel]] contributor (''Cavuto on Business'', ''Cashin' In'', ''Bulls and Bears'')<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2017/06/from-minot-afb-airman-to-renown-financial-expert/ |title=From Minot AFB airman to renown financial expert |first=Eloise |last=Ogden |date=June 9, 2017 |work=[[Minot Daily News]] |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[A. R. Shaw]] – former educator and mayor of [[Mandan, North Dakota]] (1968–72)
* [[John Warner (North Dakota politician)|John Warner]] –  former [[North Dakota Senate|North Dakota state senator]] (2005&ndash;2016) and [[North Dakota House of Representatives|representative]] (1997&ndash;2004) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ndlegis.gov/biography/john-m-warner |title=John M. Warner Biography |website=ndlegis.gov |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Lisa Wolf]] – former member of [[North Dakota House of Representatives]] (2007–2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ndlegis.gov/biography/lisa-wolf |title=Lisa Wolf Biography |website=ndlegis.gov |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>

==Notable administrators and faculty==
* [[Arthur G. Crane]] – the first president of Minot Normal School, and later [[List of Governors of Wyoming|Governor]] of [[Wyoming]] (1949–1951)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nga.org/governor/arthur-griswold-crane/ |title=Gov. Arthur Griswold Crane |website=nga.org |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Ernst Ising]] – professor (1947–48); physicist credited with developing [[Ising model]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.famousscientists.org/ernst-ising/ |title=Ernst Ising |website=famousscientists.org |access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Wade Regier]] – former [[Minot State Beavers men's ice hockey]] coach (2010–2021), [[American Collegiate Hockey Association|ACHA]] D-I National Championship (2013)

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://msubeavers.com/ Athletics website]

{{Minot State University}}
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{{NorthDakotaUniversitySystem}}
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[[Category:Minot State University| ]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Minot, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1913]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Minot, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Education in Ward County, North Dakota]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in North Dakota]]