Minnesota State University at Mankato

Yes, while MNSU has traditional programs located on its campus, the university does offer online degree programs as well. The majority of online degree programs at MNSU are delivered 100% online, with a few requiring some in-person learning.  In fact, 8% of undergraduates and 34% of graduate students are entirely enrolled in online courses at MNSU, according to federal data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics. 

Yes, prospective students can be reassured that employers respect online degrees awarded by MNSU. Students may have concerns about online degrees and their legitimacy because they’re not delivered in a traditional format. Students looking to determine a school’s legitimacy can look for their accreditation status. Accreditation is received by colleges and universities that meet the educational requirements to deliver undergraduate and graduate programs. MNSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

At OnlineU, we only include accredited online colleges and universities on our site. 

University Extended Campus Programs

MNSU’s University Extended Campus programs are designed to meet the needs of working professionals and busy adults needing flexibility in finishing their degrees. Through these programs, students get immersive coursework and hands-on experiences that they can apply to their careers. In addition, MNSU has several locations across Minnesota where online students can complete in-person coursework. 

100% Online Bachelor Completion Programs

MNSU offers 100% online bachelor completion programs. These programs allow students to apply credits and degrees they’ve already earned toward their degrees in order to help advance their careers. Examples of these online programs include a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science, a Bachelor of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in RN Baccalaureate. 

Ranks in Best Online Dental Hygienist Programs

MNSU ranks in the top ten for the best online dental hygienist programs in 2023. The university offers an online Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene — one of the 100% online bachelor completion programs. This program is for licensed dental hygienists or students who’ve either completed or are enrolled in a two-year dental hygiene program. 

According to federal data from College Scorecard, these two bachelor's degrees at MNSU provide the highest median earnings for graduates after three years: 

(1) Computer and information sciences at ~$74,500 

(2) Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research, and clinical nursing at ~$68,800

At MNSU, there are online degree programs in these fields at varying levels, like the Bachelor of Science in RN Baccalaureate Completion and a Professional Science Master’s in Information Security and Risk Management.

Another way to determine a degree's earning potential is through Salary Score. OnlineU’s proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alums earn compared to graduates nationwide with the same degree. MNSUs salary scores are 70 out of 100 for bachelor’s degrees, 52 for master's degrees, and 53 for doctoral degrees. 

College Scorecard data shows that MNSU’s acceptance rate hovers slightly above average at 67%. This rate implies that it's an easier school to get into than most, but it's still easier to be admitted into than other large public Minnesota colleges, like Saint Cloud State University (73%) and the University of Minnesota - Rochester (74%). 

While MNSU considers college entrance exam scores, such as the SAT and ACT, during the application process, they are not required. This may make it easier for some applicants to be admitted. Typically, students who enroll at MNSU had an ACT composite score between 19 and 24. 

Here’s the admissions checklist for MNSU:

• Submit MNSU’s online application.
• Pay a $20 nonrefundable application processing fee.
• Request official high school transcripts. 
• Send ACT scores to MNSU’s admissions office if you want to include them for consideration, but this is optional. 
• Applicants applying as freshman students should have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. Alternatively, they need to have ranked within the top 50% of their class.

All applications must be submitted at least five business days before the start of classes.