Bemidji State University was established in 1919 as Bemidji State Normal School. After that it had undergone several name changes until got its current name.

As northern Minnesota's university, this educational establishment engages in new worlds of thought, embrace responsible citizenship, and educate for a future that can only be imagined.

BSU provides a comprehensive educational environment with high quality baccalaureate and graduate programs that stretch beyond the classroom through business partnerships, community service, internships, and travel. Integrating liberal arts with career development, our highly-skilled faculty sets up students for life-long learning and leadership in a global society.

Academics
Bemidji State University is well-known for its programs and conferences in writing. The matter is that it offers the only BFA in Professional and Creative Writing in the MnSCU system. The program includes a minor and certificates in Electronic Writing, consisting of courses in weblogs, wikis, digital rhetoric, web design, web content writing, and teaching writing with technology. Bemidji State University is also the place of the annual Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference.

Admissions
BSU attracts incoming freshmen from all over the world who are seeking for challenging coursework in an intimate environment that fosters diversity, mentorship and career preparation. Bemidji State doesn't have an application deadline, but rather operates under a rolling admissions policy, meaning students may apply at any time before the upcoming semester.

Financial Aid
There are many ways to receive financial assistance for college, from grants and employment to a wide variety of loans and scholarships. BSU offers a comprehensive array of aid options, in addition to helping students and their families navigate the process of investigating and obtaining assistance from federal, state and private sources.

There are a variety of types of aid you can apply for at BSU: grants, scholarships, work-study, payroll jobs, loans.