Metropolitan State University

Profile narrative

Metropolitan State University, also known as Metro State, is a public institution of higher education located in the United States, with its main administrative offices situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and additional instructional sites spread across the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The university offers a broad selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including fields such as business administration, health sciences, liberal arts, applied sciences, and technology, allowing students to pursue credentials that match their academic and career goals. Academic delivery at Metro State emphasizes flexibility, providing evening, weekend, and online course options that enable working adults, transfer students, and other non‑traditional learners to balance education with personal and professional responsibilities. In designing its curriculum, the university aligns program content with regional workforce needs, frequently integrating experiential learning components such as internships, practicums, and community‑engaged projects that give students hands‑on experience in their chosen disciplines. Metro State serves a diverse student body that includes recent high school graduates, veterans, international students, and adults seeking career advancement or personal enrichment, drawing enrollment from the surrounding communities and beyond.

As a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Metropolitan State University operates under the oversight of a public higher education board that governs multiple institutions throughout the state, ensuring coordination of academic standards and resource allocation. This system affiliation grants the university access to shared services such as centralized procurement, technology infrastructure, and professional development opportunities, which support its operational efficiency and educational mission. A distinguishing attribute of Metropolitan State University is its longstanding focus on adult learners, reflected in policies that recognize prior learning, offer credit for work experience, and provide tailored advising to help students navigate degree completion pathways. The university actively cultivates relationships with local employers, industry groups, and community organizations, using these partnerships to inform curriculum development, create internship placements, and facilitate job‑search assistance for graduates. Following the cybersecurity incident disclosed in December 2014, in which unauthorized access to a web server potentially exposed personal information of approximately 160,000 students and faculty, Metropolitan State University implemented additional security controls, conducted a thorough review of its information technology environment, and continued to prioritize the safeguarding of institutional data as part of its ongoing risk management efforts.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.