Login Register

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Parking

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Yes, let this school know
Maybe, bookmark for later
No, get better matches
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

Jump to a section:

Grade
Quick Stats
Student Author Overview
Student Reviews
Student Polls
Facts
Listings
Take A SurveyWrite A ReviewUpload A PhotoLink Up A VideoWrite The Guide
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - Parking - Parking - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.31

Parking

C
Where does this grade come from?View all Parking rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Parking Grades:

Quick Stats

Student Parking Lot? Yes
Parking facilities include the Art Museum Garage, Armory Garage, Church Street Garage, East River Road Garage, Northrop Auditorium, Nolte Center Garage, and the University Office Plaza.
Freshmen Allowed to Park? Yes
Freshmen can apply for lottery parking. But since most freshmen live in dorms, bringing a car along is not a necessity.
Approximate Parking Permit Cost
  • Garage permits are $127.25 per month ($140.25 for reserved parking and $97 for evenings).
  • Lot permits are $65 per month ($78 for reserved parking and $34 for evenings).
  • Ramp permits are $97.25 per month ($110.25 for reserved parking and $74 for evenings).
  • There is daily parking available, ranging from $2 to max of $12. Some parking lots offer free parking after certain times. There are usually special arrangements made for event parking. Check www1.umn.edu/pts/park/parkingrates.html for specifics.
Best Places to Find a Spot
  • Deeper in Dinkytown or on Como—if you have a friend with an extra parking lot by their house, it is a good option.
  • St. Paul campus—park in the neighborhood for free and take the Connector to your destination.
  • Paid parking ramps or garages that are located in many areas across campus
Good Luck Getting a Spot Here
  • University Avenue or Fourth Street—restaurant patrons and commuters park here. It's very busy!
  • Metered parking all over campus—come early enough to snatch a spot.

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Parking is terrible around the University area. Whether on campus or off campus, it is difficult to find places to park without paying a ridiculous amount of money. Students who bring cars on campus enter the lottery system for parking, where a student chooses a lot or garage in which they want to park. The lottery decides who gets the parking space. The odds are based on how many students apply to get contracted parking. It is expensive to have contract parking, ranging from $65 to $150 a month on campus. Many off-campus apartments have parking options, too, but they are also expensive. There is daily parking available for those who bring their cars up for a weekend or so. Otherwise, there are parking meters on and off campus for temporary parking, but they are very limited, especially when construction is going on around campus. They are risky because of the chances of getting a ticket for expired meters. Students can park on streets in neighborhoods of St. Paul and sometimes in the Dinkytown area for free, but these are limited, as well. Most houses get some parking spaces with them.

All of this hassle is typical in the city environment in which the University is situated. Hence, if it is not necessary, students should consider not bringing their vehicles to school because parking is limited and expensive. Besides, the city transportation is very good around the campus area and takes students anywhere they want to go. Metro Transit bus passes are very popular with students and cost around $100 per semester for unlimited use. And the Campus Connector runs between the three campuses. Thus, bringing a car on campus is not a necessity. Not bringing a vehicle reduces the trouble of finding a spot, paying for parking, and/or getting a parking ticket.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

UMN Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Parking at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Vrybarova

Pre-Medicine Studies '15

2.3
C

Not Too Easy to Find

Although it is a large campus, there are barely any parking spots, especially with all the construction currently going on. There are parking garages but these are usually very costly.

May 27, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Parking at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

c8lyn94

Sales and Marketing '12

1.5
D+

Horrible

If you are living on campus.... DO NOT BRING CAR!!!

May 26, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Parking at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

samcatbb

Journalism '15

1.5
D+

I Chose Not to Bring a Car Because of Parking

Parking here is a nightmare. Because it's a large campus in the middle of a large city, there's not many options - you're either in a parking ramp, parking in the street, or keeping the car in a very tin lot near the dorm. Also, it costs a ridiculous amount of money to park on campus. Because of these reasons, I chose not to bring my car to school. While city transportation can take a while, if you live on campus, it works well enough.

Apr 29, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 16
User rating for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - Parking is 2.3 out of 5 based on 46 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the campus parking on the following topics

How convenient is off-campus parking?

Facts

Getting a Parking Permit

Parking at the University of Minnesota requires a permit, which can be obtained through a lottery system where a student chooses a ramp or lot or garage in which to park. Usually students get the parking they desire, but some ramps are more in demand than others. So it is better to have a back-up plan in mind. Instructions about how to apply can be found on the Parking and Transportation Services website.

Did You Know?
  • The U of M offers a car sharing/Zipcar facility. Zipcar is an on-campus car-sharing alternative to owning your own car. Wheels when you want them—for job interviews, to run errands, or to transport bulky items. The daily rates range from $8 per hour to $66 per day plus additional $35 per year membership for University students, employees, and staff. It is a 24/7 service. Other information can be found at: www1.umn.edu/pts/park/carshare.html.
  • Parking is also available for mopeds and motorcycles.
  • Odds are that two out of three students who apply get a parking contract.

Parking ServicesWhat's This?

Parking and Transportation Services
300 Transportation and Safety Building
511 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis
(612) 626-7275
pts@umn.edu
www1.umn.edu/pts

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Vishakha Mathur
Hometown
New Delhi, India
Major
Communication Studies
Grad Year
2014

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 2012: Off The Record"
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoogleSmashwords
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Search College Prowler

Company

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.