Rasmussen University

Rasmussen University

Type	Private for-profit university
Established	1900; 125 years ago (1900)
Parent institution	American Public Education, Inc.
President	Paula Singer
Students	16,790[1]
Undergraduates	Yes
Location	Multiple campuses , Minnesota, North Dakota, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kansas , United States
Campus	Multiple
Colors	Green and gold
Mascot	"Rassy" the Moose
Website	www.rasmussen.edu

Rasmussen University is a private for-profit university with multiple locations throughout the United States. It offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees as well as certificates and diplomas in career-focused areas at 20 campuses in Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Florida, Wisconsin, and Kansas with many programs offered online.^[2]

Presently, the school has more than 100,000 graduates.^[3]

History

Green Bay, Wisconsin campus

Walter Rasmussen founded the school in 1900 as the Rasmussen Practical School of Business, in Stillwater, Minnesota.^[4][5] Rasmussen believed the need for skilled professionals by the local business community was not being met.^[6][7] With the advent of women's suffrage in 1920 through the Nineteenth Amendment, the school's female enrollment began to increase.^[8] In 1945 Walter Rasmussen retired and named Walter Nemitz to succeed him as director of the college. Nemitz had been with the college since 1934 and as director instituted a number of curriculum upgrades.^[9] By 1950, more than 22,400 students had graduated from the school.^[10] In 1961, Walter's sons Wilbur Nemitz and Robert Nemitz took ownership of the school.

In 1974, Rasmussen College acquired the St. Cloud Business College, and in 1979 acquired the Northern Technical School of Business.

In 1983, the school opened a campus in Mankato, Minnesota. More campuses were opened in Eagan, Minnesota (1989), St. Cloud, Minnesota (1997), Rockford, Illinois (2006), Lake Elmo, Minnesota; Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Blaine, Minnesota (2010), Topeka, Kansas (2013), Overland Park, Kansas (2013) and Green Bay, Wisconsin (2007), Mokena-Tinley Park, Illinois (2010) and Wausau, Wisconsin (2010).^[11]

In 2001, Rasmussen College was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.^[12] Rasmussen opened an online campus in 2002.^[13] The school acquired Aakers College in North Dakota^[14] and Webster College in Florida and merged the schools into Rasmussen's operations.^[15][16]

In 2010, Rasmussen College announced a partnership with Market Motive Inc and announced programs in Internet marketing.^[17] Rasmussen was sold to Renovus Capital in 2018.^[18]

Rasmussen College became Rasmussen University in October, 2020.^[19] That same month, American Public Education, Inc began the process of acquiring Rasmussen.^[20]

Academics

The school offers 60+ programs^[21][22] (program availability varies by state and campus) and is organized into eight areas of study:^[23]

• Business
• Design
• Education
• Health Sciences
• Human Services
• Justice Studies
• Nursing
• Technology

Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).^[24]

Student outcomes

According to a 2012 US Senate HELP investigation on for-profit colleges led by Tom Harkin, 63.2 percent of Rasmussen students withdrew, many after only five months of study.^[25]

The College Scorecard,^[26] reports that Rasmussen University has graduation rates ranging from 21 to 31 percent, typical salary after attending of $32,600 and a student loan repayment rate of 35 percent.

References

1. "Search". College Scorecard. US Department of Education. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
2. "Degrees and Programs Online and On Campus".
3. "School History And Background". 22 May 2021.
4. "For Profit Higher Education: The Failure to Safeguard the Federal Investment and Ensure Student Success" (PDF). U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. pp. 693–712. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
5. http://eab.state.wi.us/newsroom/newsletter/02winter-news.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
6. Rasmussen College: from the EdRef college search directory
7. Rasmussen College – Business College
8. Rasmussen College – Business College
9. "Rasmussen College History: 1950s-1960s". Rasmussen College.
10. "1950s-1960s Rasmussen History".
11. Green Bay Press-Gazette - The article requested can not be found! Please refresh your browser or go back. (U0,20070625,GPG03,70625114,AR)
12. "Statement of Accreditation Status". Higher Learning Commission. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
13. Rasmussen College Announces New Online Division
14. Aakers plans merger with parent college Associated Press, Bismarck Tribune, Monday, March 19, 2007
15. wcco.com - Aakers College May Merge With Rasmussen
16. Bismarck, ND News - Page 55| KXNet.com Dickinson North Dakota
17. http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20101104/GPG03/11040588/Rasmussen-boosts-Internet-marketing-program^{[dead link‍]}
18. Guy, Edu. "Private Equity investing in Education companies conference discount code". www.marketdrivenedu.com. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
19. "Rasmussen University Transition | Rasmussen University". Rasmussen University Transition | Rasmussen University. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
20. Seltzer, Rick. "American Public Education Acquires Rasmussen". Inside Higher Education.
21. "RasStateFair30". Kare11. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25.
22. "Earn Your Business Management Bachelor's Degree and MBA Online in Five Years". Rasmussen College.
23. "Degree Programs". Rasmussen College.
24. MN schools with regional accreditation
25. Herbert, Matt; Hustad, Elizabeth (November 20, 2013). "For-profit colleges: Prospective students need to approach them with eyes wide open". MinnPost. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
26. "College Scorecard". Rasmussen College. US Department of Education. Retrieved 17 June 2019.

External links

• Official website

44.859467°N 93.335980°W / 44.859467; -93.335980