MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | University of Minnesota Medical School Welcomes 265 Students to Class of 2030

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (August 19, 2026) The University of Minnesota Medical School is welcoming 265 incoming students across its Twin Cities, Duluth and St. Cloud campuses as the Class of 2030 begins its medical education.

Students will formally enter the profession during White Coat Ceremonies scheduled Thursday and Friday on the three campuses.

The incoming class includes 176 students studying in the Twin Cities, 65 at the Duluth campus and 24 at the CentraCare Regional Campus in St. Cloud.

During the ceremonies, each student will receive a first white coat in front of relatives, friends, faculty members, medical school administrators and classmates.

The White Coat Ceremony is intended to mark the beginning of a student’s professional responsibilities in medicine. In addition to receiving their coats, students will recite an oath affirming their obligations to uphold ethical standards, provide high-quality care and treat patients with compassion and respect.

The university describes humanism as a foundational element of medical education, emphasizing that technical and scientific competence must be accompanied by empathy, humility and a commitment to patients.

The first ceremony will be held for the CentraCare Regional Campus in St. Cloud on Thursday, August 20. The campus is welcoming its second class of 24 students after opening in August 2025 as the University of Minnesota Medical School’s first major expansion in more than 50 years.

The St. Cloud program focuses particularly on preparing physicians to serve rural Minnesota and immigrant communities. The campus will add 24 students annually until reaching its planned capacity of 96 students in 2028.

CentraCare has cited a continuing shortage of physicians outside the Twin Cities. Approximately 20% of the nation’s population lives in rural communities, while only about 11% of physicians practice in those areas.

White Coat Ceremonies for the Duluth and Twin Cities campuses will follow Friday, August 21.

The Duluth ceremony will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Marshall Performing Arts Center. The campus has a longstanding emphasis on training physicians for rural communities and American Indian populations.

The Twin Cities ceremony will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at Northrop Memorial Auditorium.

Livestreams will be available for the Twin Cities and Duluth ceremonies through the university’s event page.

WHITE COAT CEREMONY SCHEDULE

St. Cloud Campus
Thursday, August 20
5:30 p.m.

Duluth Campus
Friday, August 21
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Marshall Performing Arts Center

Twin Cities Campus
Friday, August 21
3 to 5 p.m.
Northrop Memorial Auditorium
84 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Ceremony information and livestream access are available through the University of Minnesota Medical School.

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