Bemidji State University

Illuminate your future

You belong at Bemidji State University: A place where you’ll be part of a thriving community of students. A place where you’re never just a number. A place where you’re surrounded by the natural majesty of Minnesota’s north woods. A place steeped in Native American culture, nestled among the three largest native nations in Minnesota.

Our campus is built with character on a foundation of environmental stewardship, community engagement, and an understanding of our place in a global society. You’ll see these commitments in everything we teach and everything we do. Here, you'll have the opportunity to shine.

We are Minnesota’s Premier North Woods University
From our founding in 1919 to the present day, Bemidji State believes in the transformative power of the liberal arts, education in the professions, and the robust engagement of students. We instill and promote the key values of service to others, preservation of the earth, and respect and appreciation for the diverse peoples of our region and world. Serving around 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, both on campus and online, our core philosophy and campus location on the western shore of Lake Bemidji remind us daily of the need to be in tune with our world.

Something for everyone
Whether you’re into the outdoors or like to stay indoors, whether you want to learn Biology or Ojibwe, whether you want to join a choir or the cross-country team, BSU has something for you. Clubs and organizations, ranging from anime to fishing, keep you connected. Events, arts, and culture keep you entertained. It's just as easy to take a kayak out on the lake as it is to go to a concert at Bangsberg Hall. Go for a swim just a few feet from campus, paddleboard onto the lake, take yoga classes in the park, go camping, climb the indoor rock wall, or run around Lake Bemidji. You can do it all here at Minnesota’s premier North Woods University.