Minnesota State University was established as Mankato Normal School in 1868. Initially, the school started with 27 students. In 1921, it became Mankato State Teachers College. The institution was renamed as Mankato State College in 1957 and again to Mankato State University in 1975. It was given its existing name in 1998. Currently, the university holds the accreditation of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and many of its programs are approved by various relevant accrediting agencies.
Situated in Mankato, Minnesota, the university campus is sprawled across 303 acres and consists of numerous buildings. These buildings include several academic buildings, a huge library, research stations, a music library, a recreation center, two astronomy observatories, a student center, an athletics complex, and an administration center. The campus houses excellent residential facilities with spacious dorms that come with a capacity to accommodate over 2,900 people. It also features athletic fields stretched across 50 acres including Blakeslee Stadium for playing football. Edina campus, located in Edina, Minnesota, is one of the university's satellite campuses. It offers a range of academic programs, from professional certifications to undergraduate and graduate degrees.
