Living in Minneapolis
Minneapolis hosts one of the nation's largest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies, and it's where you'll spend your time as a Carlson student. Your coursework connects directly to the business ecosystem around you—you work on real projects with companies headquartered here, build professional relationships, and develop a network in a thriving business community. At the same time, Minneapolis is your home. You'll make lifelong friends, explore neighborhoods, and build a life alongside your education.
Why Minneapolis Delivers
Minneapolis/St. Paul consistently ranks among the nation's best places to live and work. Here's the proof.
Housing and getting around
When compared to the top 30 U.S. markets, the Greater Minneapolis region consistently reports a lower cost-of-living. With an array of neighborhoods and housing options, you can live on or off campus. Learn more and explore your options.
Transportation
Get around via Metro Transit light rail and buses, or use the 98+ miles of bike lanes throughout Minneapolis. The University offers parking and transportation services for year-round access.
- Light rail and bus system (Metro Transit)
- 98+ miles of dedicated bike lanes
- Car shares for occasional use
- University parking and shuttle services
Launch your career into a thriving business ecosystem
Minneapolis hosts 18 Fortune 500 companies and attracts over $878 million in annual venture capital. The best part? Our business giants are homegrown and invested in building the ecosystem, not extracting value from it.
Where Carlson graduates work
Our graduates land roles across industries that drive the region and reach globally:
- Healthcare (UnitedHealth, Mayo Clinic)
- Manufacturing and advanced industries
- Food science and biomedical engineering
- Retail and consumer goods
- Finance and fintech
- Startups and venture-backed companies
Internships, full-time roles, and co-founding opportunities are everywhere. You won't struggle to find relevant work experience during or after your degree.
What Minneapolis offers beyond work
Music, Arts, and Festivals
Theater venues, art galleries, independent bookstores, and live music spaces throughout the city. Festivals year-round: The Great Northern celebrates winter and cold-weather creativity, Art-a-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the U.S., and the Minnesota State Fair draws hundreds of thousands each year.
Festival & Fair Highlights
- The Great Northern - celebrating cold, creative winters
- Art-a-Whirl Weekend - largest open studio tour in the U.S.
- Minnesota State Fair - #1 Best state fair in the country (USA Today, 2026)
Sports and the Outdoors
Six professional sports teams (Twins, Timberwolves, Vikings, Lynx, Wild, United). 182 parks, 22 lakes, and seven golf courses. Biking, kayaking, skiing, and other year-round recreation. The Minneapolis park system is consistently ranked among the best in the nation.
Eat, Drink, and Shop
Restaurants and food trucks across cuisines; James Beard Award winners are based here. Minneapolis neighborhood retail in Uptown and North Loop, plus the Mall of America. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
- Greater MSP - Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership
- Make it. MSP. - Living and working in the Greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul Region (MSP).
- Explore Minnesota Minneapolis-St. Paul Area - Events and things to do in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
- Meet Minneapolis - Visitors guide to exploring Minneapolis
- Visit Saint Paul - Visitors guide to exploring Saint Paul