Bemidji State University (BSU) is a four-year public university established in 1919. The institute was chartered by the Minnesota State Legislature. The University was recognized in 1975 for its growing role as a multi-purpose educational institution for teachers and students. This led to the change of name from Bemidji State College into Bemidji State University.

Programs at Bemidji State University are offered to more than 5,100 students in undergraduate and around 300 graduate students. Students hail from 36 states and 38 different countries. Besides receiving the benefit of low cost of attendance around 82% receive financial aid at the university. The University has NCAA Division I team men and women hockey teams of which the men teams has the highest winning percentage of any other NCAA Division I team. It is a top tier institution in the Midwest according to the U.S. News and World Report.

Bemidji State University Campus

Bemidji State University Rankings

The rankings of Bemidji State University for the year 2023 are given below:

U.S. News and World Report 2023

  • #86 in Regional Universities Midwest
  • #17 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
  • #22 in Top Public Schools

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023

  • >600th in U.S. College Rankings 2023

Niche 2023 Best Colleges

  • #518 of 1,401 in Best College Athletics in America
  • #574 of 1,587 in Top Party Schools in America
  • #677 of 1,336 in Safest College Campuses in America

Highlights

University Type Private
Establishment Year 1919
Location Bemidji, Minnesota
Campus setting Rural
Student Retention Rate 72%
Graduation Rate 48%
Total Enrollment 4,897
Student-faculty ratio 20:1
Endowment 22.8 million
Mode of Program Full-time, part-time, and online
Work-study Available
Financial Aid Scholarships, and grants

Bemidji State University Campus

  • Bemidji State University sits in the northern Minnesota area of Bemidji which is a popular vacation destination for people living around.
  • Kayaking, paddleboarding, hunting, hiking, foraging, skiing, fishing, ice fishing, snowboarding are available for rent on campus to students and staff.
  • Funtastic dance follies, student-union sponsored activities, madrigal dinners, and music and theatre productions make student life more exciting at Bemidji.
  • Bemidji State University has over 100 student clubs and organizations. Some include the Accounting club, Active Minds, American Marketing Association, Astronomy Club, Ballroom Dance club, Beaver Dam fan club, Bemidji Smash club etc. to suit students with various interests.
  • Bemidji State University possesses facilities such as the library, American Indian resource center, campus dining, campus housing, center for diversity, equity and inclusion, and student center for health and counseling.

Bemidji State University Residence

  • Bemidji State University provides housing facilities in 6 residential halls on campus.
  • Over 1,200 students reside in the residence halls or apartments provided by the university.
  • The details of various residence halls are given below:
    • Oak Hall: Around 525 students are living in First Year Residential Experience.The Oak hall has 3 wings which includes space for study and other required resources like gaming zones.
    • Tamarack Hall: 350 students are living in this residential hall. It has 12 floors out of which 2 floors consists of outdoor adventure, indoor adventure and Honors learning community. Tamarack hall has the tallest building in the BSU campus.
    • Pine Hall: Around 107 students live on 4 floors. It is the smallest hall in BSU which has double-sized single rooms. It also has a penthouse lounge, game room, fireplace and study lounge.
    • Birch Hall: The Birch Hall has a total of 200 students staying in single and double rooms. Gender inclusive bathrooms are available with private showers and toilets.
    • Linden Hall: A total of 180 upper class students are living in 2-3 person suits. It includes a gaming room, furniture, gathering space and lake views.
    • University Heights Apartments: Well-furnished private bedrooms are available with co-ed optional. It has 16 apartments out of which 8 of them have 3 bedrooms and the other 8 apartments have 4 bedrooms. It consists of facilities like dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, microwave, washer and dryer.
  • International undergraduate students are required to live on-campus residence.
  • Students are required to submit housing applications by August 1 via MyBSU application portal.

Bemidji State University Courses

  • Bemidji State University offers 65 undergraduate majors and pre-professional programs and 14 graduate programs.
  • Some of the most popular majors that recorded the largest enrollment in the recent years include Business, Nursing, Education, Science, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Technological Studies, etc.
  • A number of unique programs are offered at Bemidji such as Aquatic Biology, Outdoor Recreation Planning, Indian Studies, Marketing Communications, Creative and Electronic Writing, Exhibit Design, Wilderness Management, etc.
  • Students can also enroll in summer courses or study abroad programs.

Bemidji State University Application Process

International applicants seeking admission to the Bemidji State University must make sure that they submit the application and supporting materials as soon as possible to have sufficient time to process applications, apply for a visa and make travel arrangements.

How to Apply?

Students must note the following points before submitting the application for admission:

Application Portal: Online Application or Paper Application

Application Fee: 20 USD

Application Deadline: Rolling

Admission Requirements: International applicants must fulfill the following requirements for admission:

  • Official high school transcripts
  • Average C grade or better
  • Recommendations (from counselors)
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Statement of Purpose
  • International Agreement Form
  • Authorization to Release Students Information Form
  • Financial documents
  • Copy of ID page of passport

Test Scores Required at Bemidji State University

Test Minimum Requirements
TOEFL iBT 61
TOEFL PBT 500
IELTS 5.5
Duolingo (Online) 90
SAT 22 or above
ACT 20 or above
PTE 44

Bemidji State University Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance for international students for fall 2023 and spring 2024 are given below:

Category Fall semester 2023 (in USD) Spring semester 2024 (in USD)
Tuition 3,988 3,988
Fees 550 550
Room and board 4,460 4,460
Books and supplies 445 445
Total Estimated Cost 9,443 9,433

Bemidji State University Scholarships/Financial Aid

  • Bemidji State University offers a range of scholarships to study in US.
  • Students are automatically considered after admission into the university.
  • Students must also confirm their enrollment before May 1.
  • In order to retain renewable scholarships, students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25.
  • The details of freshman merit based scholarships are given in the table below:
Scholarship Type Amount Criteria/Requirements
Presidential Scholarship 10, 000 USD over 4 years GPA of 3.8, Top ten percentage class mark, 28+ ACT or SAT Equivalent
Academic Achievement 5,000 USD over 4 years GPA of 3.5, top thirty percent, class rank with SAT/ACT 25 & above
University Scholarship 2,000 USD over 4 years GPA of 3.2, SAT/ACT score 22 or more, 22 and above SAT/ACT

Bemidji State University Alumni Network

  • Bemidji State University Alumni & Foundation supports innovative, interdisciplinary, and highly-accessible learning environments for students.
  • The alumni foundation of the university holds a series of remarkable events. Some include the annual Gordy Skaar memorial golf tournament, annual baseball golf outing, the inaugural beaver best ball golf tournament, alumni travel opportunity, etc.
  • The University alumni also donate to special programs with the aim to help students, the university. Some of its ‘giving' programs include lake fund, athletic giving, special project, planned giving, and donor impact.
  • BSU Alumni are also known to be huge players and fans of athletics.
  • Some famous Bemidji State University alumni include:
    • Trent Baalke - American football player
    • Michelle Leonhart - American law enforcement officer
    • Andrew Murray - Canadian ice hockey player
    • Loren Solberg - Politician
    • Bob Dettmer - Minnesota House of Representatives

Bemidji State University Placements

  • Around 90% of Bemidji State University graduates work in their desired field.
  • According to Payscale, the average salary of BSU graduates is 63,758 USD. The early career salary of graduates is 42,100 USD.
  • Some popular companies recruiting graduates of the university are Rockwell Collins, Lifetouch, Welsh, Tank Consultants, Sanford Health, etc.
  • The top positions at which the graduates are placed are as follows:
Job/Position Average Salary (in USD)
Accountant 55,000
Project Manager 66,000
Operations Manager 55,000
Exhibit Designer 56,000
Senior Software Engineer 124,000
Software Developer 67,000
Senior Financial Analyst 90,000

Bemidji State University provides career guidance along with job opportunities to the students and alumni. Students may go through job search resources which include tips on how to write a resume and cover letter, basics of job interviews and exploring suitable job opportunities.

FAQs

Ques. What is the minimum GPA required for admission to Bemidji State University?

Ans. An average high school GPA of 3.1 or above is expected for admission to undergraduate programs offered by Bemidji State University. A minimum of 2.75 GPA or higher is required in bachelor's for admission in graduate programs.

Ques. What is the acceptance rate of Bemidji State University?

Ans. Bemidji State University has an acceptance rate of 65% which means it is moderately selective in terms of admission.

Ques. What are the popular courses offered by Bemidji State University?

Ans. The most popular majors offered by Bemidji State University include Business, Education, Science, Nursing, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Technological Studies, etc.

Ques. What is the total enrollment at Bemidji State University?

Ans. Bemidji State University has 5,100 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students.

Ques. How can I apply for admission to Bemidji State University?

Ans. International students can apply for admission to Bemidji State University by completing the online application and submitting an application fee of 20 USD.

Ques. What is the tuition fee for international students at Bemidji State University?

Ans. The total tuition fee of international undergraduate students is 7,976 USD.

Ques. Does Bemidji State University offer scholarships for international students?

Ans. International undergraduate students receive merit based scholarships ranging from 2,000 USD to 10,000 USD. A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required to be eligible for scholarship.

Ques. Does Bemidji State University provide an accommodation facility?

Ans. Students have the option to choose from 6 on-campus residential halls. Around 1,200 students live on-campus.

Ques. Is Bemidji State University division I?

Ans. Bemidji State University competes in NCAA division II but also has men’s and women’s hockey teams competing in NCAA division I.

Ques. Does Bemidji State University provide placement services?

Ans. Various job opportunities are available for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students may also receive guidance regarding career decisions, resume writing, job search and interviews.