[6] Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and is commonly referred to as the flagship institution.

Through the College of Extended Learning, it provides bachelor's degrees online and at the Normandale Partnership Center in Bloomington.

Early coursework included mathematics, science, civil engineering, agriculture, western classics, and basic pedagogy.

[22]: 6 During this period, Mankato Normal School provided educational certificates that allowed graduates to become schoolteachers, and most of the students were women.

[23] In relation to this focus on women's education, Mankato Normal School is noted as the first public college in the U.S. to be headed by a woman, suffragette Julia Sears, in 1872.

[24] After it was determined that Hyde would receive the position, 41 students refused to attend classes and 32 were expelled for failing to return after three days.

[24] 60 residents signed a petition requesting that Hyde return to his position as instructor and that Sears be reinstated as assistant principal.

[22]: 21, 26  Enrollment dipped during World War II and the college refocused its extension programs on providing education to members of the Works Progress Administration and Naval Corps.

He held the position for 20 years, overseeing and promoting tremendous growth of the college from approximately 400 students at the time of his arrival to about 14,000 when he retired in 1966.

The Valley Campus's size and footprint lacked the space needed to handle the growing student body.

By the 1960s the institution had grown so rapidly that a bill was proposed in the state legislature to elevate it to university status.

"[31] This marked a significant change in direction in the institution's history, one that would later be realized as it fought to be authorized to award doctoral degrees.

It provides a comprehensive education: each undergraduate program of study includes general requirements in mathematics, writing, cultural diversity, speech, information technology, and the environment.

Cloud State (13,938) has a significantly larger percentage of PSEO and part-time students that makes its headcount higher.

[62] The Minnesota State Mavericks men's and women's hockey teams also use and have administrative space at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center and the All Seasons Arena off campus.

[64] This campus is at 7700 France Ave. S. in Edina, and serves a diverse student body from the southwest Twin Cities metropolitan area.

[66] In 2012, a partnership center was established to offer several targeted bachelor's degree in the southwest Twin Cities area at Normandale Community College in Bloomington.

[74] It covers Minnesota State athletics and campus happenings and publishes editorials and thought pieces.

[76] Opened on October 27, 1967, the Centennial Student Union is a 213,000 square foot space that serves as a central campus hub.

[79] Originally called the "Alternative Lifestyles Office", the center was founded by Minnesota State alumnus James Chalgren in 1977.

It oversees student activity fee allocations, hires a student legal aid, communicates with the university faculty and leadership, provides grade appeals, awards a yearly scholarship, and partners with the Memorial Library to operate a textbook rental/reserve program for commonly requested books.

Minnesota State athletics teams have placed favorably in national competitions in NCAA Division II athletics in several sports including hockey, football, baseball, women's basketball, men's basketball, men's track & field, wrestling, women's soccer and softball.

Since 1993, the Mavericks have captured the most individual national championships out of all sixteen colleges and universities in the Northern Sun Conference.

[82] The 2015 season marked the 14th straight year that the Mavericks finished in the top 25 in the country in the national standings, and the seventh time Minnesota State had posted a top-five placing for the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup.

[83][84] It has also won the NSIC US Bank All-Sports Award four times and placed second twice during the last six-year period of the 2008–2015 competition seasons.

[85][86] In 2024, the Mavericks won the men's and women's Division II basketball tournaments, making them the first school in four decades to win both in the same year.

The Minnesota State University Marching Band is called the "Maverick Machine", and drives enthusiasm and school spirit at athletics events.

Each year over 60,000 fans traveled to Blakeslee Stadium to watch the team practice, attend signing events and meet and greets, followed by a fireworks show.

In addition to Minnesota State Mavericks events, the Taylor Center hosts commencement ceremonies, concerts and lectures.