Video created by Nations Stephenson at United Creative Co.

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health is located in Minneapolis, just across the Mississippi River from downtown, and a short lightrail ride away from St. Paul. As a student, you will become part of the community through coursework and field experiences and as city dwellers who can experience all that the Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul – have to offer.

Here’s what makes Minnesota a great place to live:

Thriving and affordable Metropolitan Area

• Consistently ranked one of the best places to live, with accolades featuring affordability, a burgeoning job market, affordable housing, and recreational amenities.
  • Search Off-Campus Housing
• From riverfront arts festivals to craft beer gatherings to free music in the parks, there’s always something going on. For more details and ideas, see the Meet Minneapolis website.
• Open Streets events occur across Minneapolis, closing busy motorways for pedestrians and bicyclists to encourage community connectedness.
• The Twin Cities Multicultural Directory serves to inform new and current students, staff, and faculty about resources and services within the Twin Cities area. You can view the directory by major category or the primary community served.
• Minneapolis and St. Paul serve as a regional hub for business and innovation. Read on for more about the unparelled quality of life that exists here.

Health-Focused and Progressive

• Thanks to our strong health care system and focus on public and alternative transportation, Minnesota is consistently ranked one of the healthiest states.
• The Minneapolis Parks system is ranked the No. 2 Urban Park System in the U.S. by the Trust for Public Land, and for good reason; 98% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
• A light rail transit system connects downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis, and runs right through the University of Minnesota East and West Bank campuses.
• We’re one of the most bike-friendly states in the country. The Grand Rounds allows for bicyclists to circle Minneapolis and urban bikeways make commuting easy. See Pedal Minnesota for more information.

Four Seasons

• Fall brings beautiful fall colors, comfortable temperatures, and bonfires.
• Activity doesn’t stop in the winter, from the City of Lakes Loppet Cross-Country Ski Festival to the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Or head outside of the city for award-winning ski hills, ice fishing, or a hike through beautiful evergreen forests.
• The summer is all about water. From the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis to the Mississippi River connecting the two downtowns, the Twin Cities is a community literally built by water. Trails and recreational activity center around these waterways.
• Spring means blooming flowers, chirping birds, and the start of summer festival season, including the Mpls/St. Paul International Film Festival and Art-A-Whirl.

Explore this University of Minnesota resource about living in Minnesota for even more information!