The members of the University of Minnesota could not be compelled by the legislature to be part of the new system because it had sued for independence in the form of constitutional autonomy from legislative oversight.

[16][17] Minnesota State offers a wide range of collegiate programs from associates degrees to applied doctorates.

[18] All of the system's two-year community and technical colleges have an open admissions policy, which means that anyone with either a high school diploma or equivalent degree may enroll.

The program covers the cost of tuition and fees for Minnesota resident students with a family adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $80,000 who attend a public or tribal institution for higher education.

[38] The 2023-24 academic year yielded a long absent positive trend of undergraduate enrollment within Minnesota’s post secondary institutions: a 1.2% increase estimated by the National Student Clearinghouse.

[35] The North Star Promise Scholarship Program is set to take effect for the fall 2024 semester across public Minnesota colleges and universities.

This program works to streamline the admissions process for high school seniors into public Minnesota post secondary institutions for those interested.

Nearly all schools part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system participate in the Direct Admissions program.