St. Cloud State Lands $17.5M to Reverse Slide

Students weighing St. Cloud State should ask the financial-aid office how this new funding will shape their aid and campus experience.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Aid

Wide autumn view of a tree-lined Mississippi River bluff with a brick and stone walkway curving toward the water under pale low sunlight. — St. Cloud State University drew about 700 people to its inaugural stewardship gathering on November 2, 2026, as President Gregory Tomso works to reverse a 46 percent enrollment drop since 2010. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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St. Cloud State University held its inaugural stewardship gathering on November 2, 2026, drawing about 700 people to the Paramount Center. The event brought together students, faculty, alumni, and community members as the university, which is led by its 26th president, Gregory Tomso, works to reverse a long enrollment slide.

Why it matters

Headcount enrollment at St. Cloud State is down about 46 percent since its 2010 peak, and the university is losing 25 to 30 percent of students before graduation, which affects how many students can count on the school for a degree. Tomso says the university was too slow to adjust to educational changes, and the decline comes as the number of Minnesota high school students is shrinking.

The Minnesota State System committed $10 million to St. Cloud State University last month, and the Community Advisory Board raised $7.5 million over the past six months from its 20 members. Minnesota is projected to have 11 percent fewer high school graduates over the next 10 years, while Central Minnesota's population is expected to grow 5.4 percent.

The players

St. Cloud State University

A public university in central Minnesota that is part of the Minnesota State System and is working to reverse a steep enrollment decline.

Minnesota State System

The public higher-education system that committed $10 million to St. Cloud State University last month.

Gregory Tomso

The 26th president of St. Cloud State University, who has said the school was too slow to adjust to educational changes.

Community Advisory Board

A 20-member group formed about a year ago that raised $7.5 million for St. Cloud State University over six months.

Granite Partners

A group with nearly 200 Huskies on its team, referenced among the university's community connections.

The details

Tomso's plan reconnects the campus to the Mississippi River and moves activity and classrooms back toward the campus center, a shift in where students spend their time on campus. The Community Advisory Board meets quarterly and conducts much of its work through monthly meetings across six committees, which is how its fundraising and planning efforts are organized. The $10 million from the Minnesota State System and the $7.5 million raised by the board are the funding pieces behind these campus changes.

Last month: Minnesota State System committed $10 million to St. Cloud State University.
About a year ago: The Community Advisory Board was formed.
Past six months: The Community Advisory Board raised $7.5 million.
November 2, 2026: The inaugural stewardship gathering was held at the Paramount Center.
Over the next 10 years: Minnesota high school graduates are projected to decline 11 percent.

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Education Landscape

St. Cloud State's 46 percent drop in headcount since 2010 is part of a longer slide in which Minnesota's high school graduating class is projected to shrink 11 percent over the next decade. Central Minnesota's population and labor force are projected to grow 5.4 and 5.9 percent over the same period, which suggests the region's demand for graduates may be rising even as the pool of traditional-age students narrows.

Students weighing St. Cloud State should ask the school's financial-aid office how the new $10 million system commitment and the board's fundraising will affect scholarships and award amounts for incoming students. Because the university loses 25 to 30 percent of students before graduation, prospective students may also want to ask what retention supports are being added alongside the campus changes.

The takeaway

St. Cloud State's enrollment recovery depends on new funding and a campus rebuilt around students, and the coming decade of shrinking high school graduating classes makes that effort time-sensitive. Students and families considering the school should ask the financial-aid office directly how new funding will reach award packages.