Computer Programs at Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Cheapest Online Master’s in Information Assurance Degrees.
At Minnesota State University-Mankato, students have a great many options when it comes to computer science and its applications. They may earn bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and certificates in a wide variety of subfields.
Following is a sampling of degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Application Development
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology
- Master of Science in Education Technology
- Professional Science Master’s Degree in Information Security and Risk Management (100% online)
- Professional Science Master’s Degree in Geographic Information Science
The certificates include:
- Internet of Things
- Database Technologies
- Networking Technologies
- Software Development
- Computer, Keyboard, and Related Technology
- Digital Educator
- Educational Technology in the Classroom
- Industrial Technology and Design
- Technologist
The latter five of the certificates are at the graduate level. There are also several computer and data-oriented minors that students may choose to pursue.
The varied courses of study at Minnesota State University-Mankato are indicative of its commitment to keeping up with an ever-changing digital world. Computers are advancing at nearly an exponential clip, and the world needs highly educated and trained workers to fill all the new jobs created. With all of the new advances come a slew of security risks, too, and Minnesota State University-Mankato is ready. Graduate students can major in Information Security and Risk Management and keep nefarious threats at bay upon graduation.
About Minnesota State University-Mankato
The university was founded in 1868 as the Mankato Normal School to fulfill the need for elementary and secondary teachers in the new states and in the western territories. Just two dozen students then have become nearly 13,000 now. The school has gone through a few name changes before settling on Minnesota State University-Mankato, which it adopted in 1998.
The university has been awarding four-year degrees since 1927 and master’s degrees since 1954. The Ph.D. program at the university is a relative newcomer. It awarded its first degrees in 2009.
The university is ranked No. 111 in the Midwest Region by U.S. News and World Report. Its ranking among top public schools is No. 32. Minnesota State University-Mankato accepts fewer than two-thirds of applicants. Three in four students profess satisfaction with their education at the university by the end of their freshman year.
Minnesota State University-Mankato Accreditation Details
Minnesota State University-Mankato has held accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission for more than 100 years. Several accrediting organizations have also given their blessing to individual departments at the university, including:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc.
- American Dental Association
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- American Council for Construction Education
- National Recreation and Park Association
- Council on Social Work Education
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc.
Minnesota State University-Mankato Application Requirements
The three basic requirements for admittance to Minnesota State University-Mankato as an undergraduate are:
1) Ranking in the top half of one’s class in high school and achieving a satisfactory ACT score
or
2) Having an unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in high school with a satisfactory ACT score
or
3) Achieving a 21 or higher composite score on the ACT with a satisfactory GPA in high school
Students who graduated from high school fewer than three years prior to application must have completed the following coursework in high school:
- Four years of English
- Two years of algebra and one year of geometry
- Three years of social studies, including one comprehensive U.S. History class and one geography class
- Two years of the same language: ASL qualifies.
- One year of World Culture or an art class
Graduate admission requirements vary by degree selected. For example, the master’s certificate or Master of Science in Information Technology requires a four-year degree in computer science or similar field from a regionally accredited institution. Students with lower than a 3.0 overall GPA must also take the Graduate Record Examination. Even if the student’s overall GPA is less than 3.0, the student must have achieved at least a B in the following classes:
- Information Security
- Introduction to Networking
- Systems Analysis and Design
- Fundamentals of Programming
- Fundamentals of Software Development
- Introduction to Database Systems
In certain cases, students may apply for provisional admission to the program, but that is determined on a case-by-case basis. Students should call the applicable department for further clarification.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Minnesota State University-Mankato has several levels of tuition, all charged by the semester. The university has reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota. Additionally, it belongs to a group of states in the Midwest Compact, including Nebraska, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio. The full-time semester rates for each category of student are:
- Resident Undergraduate: $3,589.25
- Wisconsin Reciprocity Undergraduate: $3,589.25
- North Dakota Reciprocity Undergraduate: $3,795.25
- South Dakota Reciprocity Undergraduate: $3,960.45
- Midwest Compact Undergraduate: $5,383.85
- All Other Undergraduate: $7,614.80
Graduate tuition is charged by the credit hour, and the price ranges from $411.40 to $663.95, depending on the student’s chosen field of study. Aside from these tuition costs, there are also assorted fees, room costs, and meal plan costs. Students should consult the residence life page for further information.
Students wishing to receive financial aid should begin with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The university uses this form to determine each student’s eligibility based on a variety of factors. Available types of aid include loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs.
Outside of the university, students may pursue any grants or scholarships they wish. They should remember, however, that awarding entities usually have tough academic standards that must be met not only to earn but also to keep such awards. Students who do not maintain those standards run the risk of losing the financial aid or, worse, having to repay it with interest. The Office of Financial Aid can answer any questions.
Minnesota State University-Mankato strives to give students a bevy of opportunities and to ensure that each class in every level of education is as enriching and rewarding as possible.
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