Cotter Schools Competitors

Minnesota State University, Mankato is a public four-year university located in Mankato, Minnesota. The student body is the second largest in the state of Minnesota. The school was founded in 1868 and is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (Minnesota State). The current President is Edward Inch, who began his term in 2021. The athletic teams are known as the Minnesota State University Mavericks with school colors of purple and gold. Teams primarily compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The exceptions are the Men's and Women's ice hockey teams who compete at the NCAA Division I level, in the highly regarded Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse shares in the mission of the University of Wisconsin System which is to develop human resources; to discover and disseminate knowledge; to extend knowledge and its application beyond the boundaries of its campuses; and to serve and stimulate society by developing in students heightened intellectual, cultural, and human sensitivities as well as scientific, professional, and technological expertise and a sense of purpose. Inherent in this broad mission are methods of instruction, research, extended education and public service designed to educate people and improve the human condition. Basic to every purpose of the system is the search for truth.

One of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, St. Olaf offers an academically rigorous education with a vibrant faith tradition. A St. Olaf College education develops the habits of mind and heart that enable students to embrace the challenges of a changing world, leading to lives of professional accomplishment, financial independence, and personal fulfillment. This uncommon educational experience is grounded in intellectual rigor, residential learning, global engagement, and a deep commitment to the exploration of the important questions of faith. These pillars help St. Olaf students become fully formed and actively engaged individuals prepared to make a difference in the lives of their families, friends, colleagues, and communities. Many excellent colleges provide one, two, or three of the elements of the St. Olaf experience. What makes St. Olaf unique is the combination of so many distinguishing features working together at the highest level: an intense academic program that sharpens minds, and an emphasis on a global perspective that broadens them; the vitality of a residential community that engages thoughtful people across the full range of human experiences, and a faith tradition that encourages reflection and honors different perspectives.