There is no on-campus housing available at any of our locations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, but the Winona Campus has limited housing and a variety of meal plan options for graduate students.

Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul)

Students will need to find housing off campus.  Below are some websites that will aid the search for housing:

• Apartments.com
• Rent.net
• Craigslist
• MyApartmentMap
• ApartmentList

You may also find apartment listings within the local newspapers at:

• Minneapolis Star-Tribune
• St Paul Pioneer Press

The average rental price of a small one bedroom apartment in the Twin Cities is approximately $760 per month.

Winona Campus

Residence halls offer single rooms only. The University does not have family housing available. Space is limited and rooms are assigned on a first come basis.

To explore on campus housing options for Winona based graduate programs please contact the Office of Residence Life:

700 Terrace Heights #9
Winona, MN 55987
Phone: (507) 457-1409
(800) 635-5987 ext. 1409
reslife@smumn.edu

The Office of Residence Life is located in room 14 in the Toner Student Center. The office is staffed during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) throughout the academic year and summer months.

Off-campus housing options in Winona may be found using MyApartmentMap.

In warm months, Minnesota residents can be found on the one of our 10000 lakes, riding their bicycles on our miles of bike trails, camping at numerous state and county parks or attending outdoor festivals. In colder months, Minnesota residents turn their attention to skiing or sledding. 

Average monthly temperature:

Current weather in Minneapolis

Current weather in Winona

The additional links are provided so that you may begin to explore Minnesota and its diverse community.

Public Transportation

Metro Transit serves the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

Winona Transit System serves Winona.

Rochester City Lines serves Rochester.

Airport Transportation

Rochester
The Go Rochester Direct shuttle service provides students with transportation from the Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport to several locations in the Rochester area.

Winona
The Go Carefree Shuttle service is available to provide students with transportation from the Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport to the Toner Center on the Winona Campus.

Obtaining a Minnesota State ID and a Driver’s License

Students not wanting to obtain a driver’s license while attending SMU can obtain a Minnesota State I.D. for primary identification purposes. The ID card cannot replace the Driver’s License that permits you to drive in the United States.

To obtain a Minnesota State I.D.:

• Bring your passport, social security number, I-94 card, I-20 and/or other identification documents along with the current fee;
• Your primary identification document must contain your full legal name (first, middle and last), and month, date and year of your birth;
• If your full name is different than the name on your primary document, you must also present proof of your legal name change(s) such as marriage/ divorce certificates and other documents that specify the name change.
• Please view the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles website to find the closest location to obtain your state ID

To obtain a Minnesota Driving License:

• You must pass a knowledge test, vision check and road test even if you have a valid driver's license from your home country.
• Knowledge tests are available at driver exam stations and consists of multiple choice and true & false questions on traffic laws and road signs.
• Vision checks are conducted when you apply for a driving permit or a license.
• A road test requires you to make an appointment at the driver exam stations. During the test, you must have:
  • a proper identification document;
  • your own vehicle to take the test;
  • proof of insurance for your vehicle.

Having passed the tests, you need to present copies of results, appropriate identification documents, and previous driver’s licenses at a local driving exam station where you will pay the fees and have a photo taken.

Please view the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles website to find the closest location to begin the process in obtaining your driver’s license.