On Campus Blog

Northeastern won't be coming to Minnesota anytime soon

Don't hold your breath for Northeastern University to establish a graduate-studies branch in Minnesota.

After I reposted a New York Times article on the subject of expansion, late yesterday afternoon I talked with Northeastern spokesman Mike Armini, who said this state is just one of many the university is considering.

He told me that although Minnesota "is a region that remains interesting to us ... it's premature to speculate" about whether the university will indeed come here. "It's not something that's going to happen anytime soon."

Seattle is the only spot where Northeastern will set up shop this year, he said, and the process from discussion to opening appears to take about two years.

He told me:

"We don’t want this to be a cookie cutter approach. This needs to be tailored to the region."

Charlotte, for example, will focus on banking, and Seattle on cybersecurity. Armini said he wasn't sure about Minnesota, but said the university would first analyze "the current higher-ed infratructure" and see "what kind of talent needs there are" in the state.