Hamline University

Hamline University is Minnesota's oldest university, predating when Minnesota became a state. Hamline University is a small- to mid-size university in an area of St. Paul that feels suburban on one side of the school and urban on the other.

Statue of Mr. Hamilton — Mr. Hamline on the Hamline Tour

Hamline University Academics

Hamline University’s academic qualities and focuses are a bit different from those of other small universities in Minnesota. To graduate, Hamline students are required to complete a “leap credit. ” Students typically complete the leap credit by completing an internship, but they can also complete it by studying abroad or completing a research project. Students can get a $2 K stipend from Hamline to ensure that no internship is unpaid.

Students can participate in a summer collaborative project on campus. These are typically in science, but one innovative student wrote and put on a play.

Hamline emphasizes small classes for its students. The average class size is 22, and Hamline has a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

Hamline offers three types of classes:

“fishbowl” discussion classes, which have 8-15 students,
“hybrid” style classes with18-22 students, and
lecture classes, which typically have 30-40 students, and are capped at 60 students.

Hamline has an honors program, but the honors program focuses on experiences outside of class rather than classes that are reserved for honors students. About five percent of the students are honors students, and they consider the time commitment as being demanding. A handful of students are premed.

Hamline is on a 4-1-4 course schedule.

Hamline University Majors

Hamline consists of four schools:

College of Liberal Arts
School of Business
School of Education & Leadership
Mitchell Hamline School of Law

When students apply, they are admitted to Hamline University as a whole rather than a specific school or major.

Particularly popular majors at Hamline include:

Criminal justice
Psychology
Management & marketing in business

Students can take classes in their major during their first term. They do not need to wait until they first complete general education requirements.

Hamline is highly regarded for its academics in forensic science, criminal justice, and legal studies. Students can take law classes as an undergraduate rather than waiting for law school.

Speaking of law school, Hamline has a 3+3 program with the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Only around six students participate in that 3+3 program because students need to “know” that they want to be an attorney as a freshman and complete major and distribution requirements by the end of junior year. The 3+3 students must take the LSAT. With that said, the vast majority of Hamline undergraduate students who apply to the Mitchell Hamline School of Law are accepted.

Hamline University Students

Hamline has more than 1,700 undergrads. More than 80 percent of the students are from Minnesota. Hamline attracts some out-of-state students because of its extracurricular offerings. These students are often drawn to Hamline’s D3 athletics and the performing arts. The students participating in the performing arts are often not majoring in the performing arts.

Over 40 percent of Hamline students are BIPOC. Over 60 percent of the students are female. Hamline attracts a large proportion of first-generation students. Hamline offers special lounges for military and commuter students.

Hamline offers a variety of activities for students. My tour guide was looking forward to a lip-syncing contest on Friday evening.

Hamline Housing

About one-third of Hamline students live on campus; most students do not reside on campus. Hamline has sufficient housing to meet demand. Students who live off campus do so by choice, and students who live on campus must participate in a meal plan.

The tour guide apologized for having dorms with no air conditioning, but I told him I knew of prestigious colleges in Virginia that also lacked air conditioning.

Hamline Affordability

Tuition alone at Hamline is $49 K/year.

All first-time, full-time, on-campus undergraduate students receive merit or need-based aid; the average financial aid package for those students in 2023–2024 totals nearly $47 K.

Hamline offers some full-tuition scholarships, but it doesn’t offer any “free rides,” which would cover living costs. One full-tuition scholarship is reserved for a student interested in pursuing physics. I was impressed that Hamline's admissions officer volunteered that information and understood why it’s important for prospective students to know.

Hamline offers some scholarships to students in exchange for participating in the performing arts (music and theater) at Hamline. The performing arts scholarships require an audition.

Hamline has a food resource center that ensures students do not go hungry just because they experience financial difficulty.

Hamline Athletics

Hamline’s D3 athletics include football, women’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball. It also offers track & field and ice hockey for both men & women.

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