Why Minerva University
A university built for the future
Minerva University is not a traditional university, and that is by design. Founded to address the shortcomings of conventional higher education, Minerva combines rigorous interdisciplinary academics with a fully global, immersive experience that prepares students for the real world from day one.
Your child will join a cohort of extraordinary students from over 100 countries, learn from world-class faculty through an innovative active learning model, and live and learn across four cities over four years.
Minerva is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the same body that accredits Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Caltech.
"As a parent looking in, watching my daughter in her classes in San Francisco, I wish I had that opportunity. To have had the opportunity for rich discussions and the chance to see the world in a different way. I am very envious of it. Seeing what it has done for her, I know that she can do anything she wants now. From a parent's point of view, Minerva is what all universities should be. It is hands-on and it is pushing young individuals in a way they are not pushed in a lot of other schools."
—Victoria Weindel, mom to Emily, Class of 2021
The global rotation
Four cities. Four years.
Over the course of their four-year journey, students rotate to global cities where they apply learning through real-world projects, internships, and labs. Current and past rotation cities include: San Francisco, Tokyo, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hyderabad, London, Seoul, and Taipei.
San Francisco
United States
Year 1
Tokyo
Japan
Year 2
City 3
To be announced
Year 3
City 4
To be announced
Year 4
Past rotation cities also include: Hyderabad, London, Seoul, Buenos Aires and Taipei.
Post-graduation outcomes
Where Minerva graduates go
Minerva graduates don't just find jobs. Alumni work at the world's most respected organizations and have founded ventures making measurable impact.
Elisa
Class of 2020 — Predoctoral Research Fellow, Stanford
"The active self-learning approach taught at Minerva and thinking about big questions—these represent a huge part of my identity as a researcher today too."
—Elisa, College of Computational Science
Elisa, a Minerva alumna from the Class of 2020, now a Predoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford, reflects on the benefits of her Minerva education that shaped her as a researcher.
Chris Hagan
Class of 2020
"By far the biggest takeaway is my ability to adapt quickly and gracefully. The sheer volume of big life changes you accumulate during four years at Minerva builds a resilience and 'land on your feet' mentality that I think is incredibly valuable in the modern world."
—Chris, Class of 2020
Class of 2020 alumnus, Chris Hagan, reflects on how Minerva made him uniquely prepared for life post graduation.
Graduate Outcomes Brochures
Download the outcomes report for each college.
Residential life & student safety
A supportive home in every city
In each city, students live in fully furnished, professionally managed residences. Housing and local support are all coordinated by Minerva. During Year 1 in San Francisco, students live at Van Ness Residence Hall, steps from the city's cultural core, dining, and transit.
What's included
Furnished rooms, communal study and social spaces, high-speed Wi-Fi, on-site staff, maintenance, and 24/7 building security in every location.
Student safety
Minerva is dedicated to ensuring each student's safety. Every city has dedicated Student Life teams, residential advisors, and 24/7 security. Minerva provides comprehensive pre-departure orientation before each rotation, emergency protocols and 24/7 emergency support lines, on-the-ground local staff in every city, and comprehensive health insurance.
Health insurance & medical support
All students are enrolled in Minerva's comprehensive international health insurance plan, covering medical care in all rotation cities. Each residence hall has partnerships with local medical providers. Students receive a full briefing on local healthcare access before arriving in each city.
A day in the life
What does a typical day look like?
No two days are the same at Minerva. Classes are in the morning via our virtual learning platform, afternoons are for internships, civic projects, and exploration, and evenings are for community events, study groups, and cultural immersion.
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Morning classes
Live seminars via our virtual learning platform run Monday–Friday. Faculty engage every student through polls, discussions, and collaborative exercises in real time.
Afternoon projects
Each city offers unique civic, professional, and creative projects. Students work with local companies, NGOs, and research institutions.
Community & culture
Evenings and weekends are filled with clubs, cultural outings, and events organized by students and the Minerva community.
Watch short videos from students sharing their daily routines, from morning classes to afternoon projects and evenings exploring new cities.
Day in the Life with Alexia in Buenos Aires.
Day in the Life with Ena in Tokyo.
Year 1 — San Francisco
Home at Van Ness Residence Hall
First-year students live at Van Ness Residence Hall in San Francisco's vibrant Civic Center neighborhood. The residence is professionally managed and designed to help new students build community from their very first day.
About the residence
Van Ness Residence Hall features fully furnished single rooms, communal kitchens, study lounges, a rooftop terrace, and on-site laundry. 24/7 staff and security ensure a safe environment for students from around the world.
What's nearby
- 0.6 miles from Ghiradelli Square
- 1.1 miles from Coit Tower
- 1.4 miles from Pier 39 and Alcatraz Ferry
- 14 miles from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Dozens of restaurants on Van Ness Ave
Year 2 — Tokyo
Home at Tokyo Shinagawa Residence Hall
Second-year students live at the Tokyo Shinagawa Residence Hall in one of Shinagawa’s most connected and vibrant neighborhoods. Located just steps from Shinagawa Station, the residence offers unparalleled access to the rest of Tokyo and beyond. Recently renovated in September 2025 and professionally managed by goodRoom, the residence is designed to support student life in a global city.
About the residence
The Tokyo Shinagawa Residence Hall consists of two buildings—the Meisei Building and Wakaba Building—connected by a small shared courtyard. Originally a company dormitory, the space has been thoughtfully updated to accommodate student living. The residence features double-room accommodations, multiple shared kitchens, communal bathrooms, and dedicated study lounges in each building. Every floor includes shared showers, toilets, kitchens, and laundry facilities, creating a collaborative and community-oriented living environment for students from around the world.
What's nearby
- Steps from Shinagawa Station (JR lines, Shinkansen, and airport access)
- ~15 minutes to central Tokyo hubs like Shibuya and Shinjuku
- ~20 minutes to Tokyo Station
- Direct train access to Haneda Airport (~20 minutes)
- Walking distance to restaurants, cafés, and convenience stores in Shinagawa
- Easy access to waterfront areas like Odaiba
- Nearby parks and quiet residential streets in Minato City
