Founded in 1913 as a normal school, MSU evolved into a university in 1987 and is currently the state's third-largest, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

MSU was established as a two-year normal school devoted to preparing teachers for service in northwestern North Dakota.

Over time, the range of academic offerings expanded; as a result, the school's name was changed to Minot State College in 1964.

The three-story facility features seating for 800 students, room for more than 500,000 volumes, as well as computer labs, and a microforms area.

[6] Minot State University athletics compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) which is a part of NCAA Division II[7] MSU's sports program offers football, both men's and women's club hockey, basketball, cross country, indoor/outdoor track and field, golf, baseball, wrestling, women's soccer, volleyball, and fastpitch softball.

Minot State's ice hockey team won the ACHA Men's Division I national championship in 2013, 2019, and 2023, with a runner-up finish in 2021.

MSU is located north of downtown Minot, approximately halfway between the Amtrak station and the airport.