On the shores of Lake Bemidji in Minnesota's northern lakes and forests region, Bemidji State University focuses on preparing students to be active, responsible world citizens. All students study global, environmental and civic stewardship as part of their liberal arts requirements. To prepare for careers, students choose from over 65 majors and pre-professional programs.

Freshmen explore values, ethics, and a commitment to service through our First-Year Experience program, which serves as a semester-long, campus-wide orientation. All students participate in the “Responsible Men, Responsible Women” program where they learn the actions needed to become principled leaders. Bemidji State is student-centered with small class sizes, a low student/faculty ratio, and individual faculty advising.

Student talents are strengthened outside the classroom too. Bemidji State's Outdoor Program Center is the nation's most active, sponsoring over 1000 activities and trips each year. Bemidji State also stresses service learning and much of that service is in the environmental area. In fact, the World Wildlife Federation recognized Bemidji State as a nationally leading school in more categories than any other Minnesota university. Students also find service opportunities through 85 student organizations. These organizations range from a nationally award-winning Habitat for Humanity chapter to an Accounting Club that helps the elderly prepare their income taxes. Bemidji State was one of the first Minnesota state universities to officially recognize volunteerism with a Student Development Transcript that documents their service activities.

Helping build a sense of community, the residential life program includes a single-parent housing and Open Borders, a multi-cultural dormitory community. In Open Borders, students from different cultures live and learn together through social and educational experiences. This same community-building spirit is reflected in the American Indian Resource Center, a cultural and educational hub for the campus and surrounding communities, including three Native American reservations.

International students are an active part of campus, annually hosting an international festival to share their heritages with the campus community. For first-hand international experiences, students participate in an ever-expanding study abroad program. Bemidji’s program is one of the state system’s most active, and offers annual trips and exchanges to destinations such as Iceland, China, South Africa, Western Europe, Hawaii, Australia and Malaysia.

Interdisciplinary learning is the cornerstone of the School of Integrative Studies. The school offers the university's Honors Program and programs in Indian Studies, Women's Studies, and International Studies. These programs broaden students' understanding of cultural and intellectual traditions through interdisciplinary courses and projects.

In a learning environment that promotes personal responsibility, global thinking, and life-long education, students experience a combination of the lake, the learning, and the life that is uniquely Bemidji State University. Founded on a sound liberal education, Bemidji State programs educate students so that they may live as responsible, productive, and free citizens in a global society.