by C.J. Gustafson
BusinessSchools.com Contributing Writer
October 20, 2004
The city of St. Paul is the capitol of Minnesota. In 2001, it had a population of 287,260 residents living in the city's 56 square miles. Only slightly larger at 58.72 square miles, Minneapolis has a population of 382,618. The two communities are across the Mississippi River from each other and have a history of relations that is part cooperative effort, part rivalry. Thanks to urban sprawl, these cities and the area beyond has become a large metropolitan region known as the Twin Cities. Encompassing seven counties, the Twin Cities area had a combined population of 2,674,838 in 2001.
The Mississippi River has played an integral role in the economic history of the area. Logging and milling were major industries. Until 1930, Minneapolis led the world in flour production. Transportation on the river contributed significantly to the overall economy of the Twin Cities. More recently, the area has become known for technology -- both medical and computer.
In October of 2003, Entrepreneur Magazine named the Minneapolis-St. Paul region the #1 best area in which to be an entrepreneur. This is reflected by the fact that some of the nation's most successful and well respected companies make their home in the Twin Cities area including Target Corporation, Best Buy, 3M, Excel Energy, Medtronic Inc., Northwest Airlines, General Mills, US Bank Corporation and The St. Paul Companies.
Employment Opportunities
In addition, the Mall of America (the country's largest shopping center) is located in the suburb of Bloomington, and Minneapolis is home to the main campus of the world-renowned University of Minnesota. The university has several different schools of business and management and is associated with the U of M hospital where the world's first heart transplant was performed. The economic influence of the university and its affiliates is evident in the data from the 2001 U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, which shows that the top five employment sectors in the Twin Cities area were:
- Educational, health and social services - 16.9%
- Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management
services - 17.9%
- Trade, transportation and utilities - 11.0%
- Local government - 10.0%
- Financial activities - 8.4%
Educational Opportunities
Of the colleges and universities located in the Twin Cities, the majority are found in St. Paul. However, many of these schools also have campuses in Minneapolis. Students can choose between Argosy University - Twin Cities, Metropolitan State University, Bethel College and Seminary, Concordia University, Hamline University, the University of St. Thomas, Northwestern College, Macalester College, and College of St. Catherine, a private Catholic college for women.
In addition to the University of Minnesota, mentioned above, Minneapolis is home to Augusburg College, a liberal arts college associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
The Twin Cities area also is home to six community colleges, nine technical institutes, and several technical and trade schools.
These schools offer certificates, diplomas, AA degrees and four-year year degrees for students seeking management careers and administrative careers in fields such as nursing, health care and criminal justice. They offer Accounting degrees, E-commerce degrees, Economics degrees, Marketing and Public Relations degrees and training in numerous other business areas. Several of the schools also offer MBA programs.
Keith Jensen, a native of South Dakota, chose to attend a Twin Cities area community college. Upon completing his AA degree program, he plans to transfer to the University of Minnesota to complete a four-year Business Management degree. "I picked Minneapolis/St. Paul because I wanted to do my general ed classes in a smaller campus setting close to my grandparent's where I'm staying," Jensen shared. "I had several choices for schools that were within reasonable driving distance.  The Twin Cities has one of the best networks of colleges and universities around. Plus it has great entertainment and culture and friendly, welcoming people." Jensen said he loves having all the parks and lakes around the metro area, especially in the winter. "I couldn't imagine going to school in the south," Jensen continued. "I like my skiing and ice fishing. There are few places that can compare to the Twin Cities when it comes to different ways to enjoy the four seasons."
The Twin Cities provides an abundance of schooling options in a setting known for its emphasis on education. It is home to several larger companies that work closely with the schools and often have internship positions available. For those who know how to enjoy snow and cold weather for several months out of the year, Minnesota has much to offer.
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