Finlandia University

Finlandia University is a private, not-for-profit, HLC accredited, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The school is located in Michigan’s northernmost city, Hancock, and was founded in 1896 by Finnish immigrants as Suomi College.

Finlandia University is the only institution of higher learning in North America founded by Finns, a fact that’s evident throughout Finlandia’s campus.

FinnU is home to the cultural center of Finns in North America, the Finnish American Heritage Center. In addition, the university hosts a unique curriculum and library of resources focused on nordic studies, several Finnish exchange students and interns each year, and the Finnish American Reporter, a monthly newspaper celebrating Finnish American heritage.

Finlandia University was founded by Finnish lutherans looking to make a better life for future generations. Still today that lutheran influence can be felt on Finlandia’s campus as it is one of 26 colleges and universities affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Finlandia offers academic programs of study leading to associate and baccalaureate degrees in the disciplines of art and design (BFA), business (BBA), liberal studies (BA, AA, AGS), and health sciences (BSN, AAS).

Finlandia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association for Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC).

Finlandia’s campus is located in the Keweenaw Peninsula, the northernmost point of land in Michigan. Natural beauty, mining and immigrant history, a thriving arts community, and year-round outdoor recreation opportunities are plentiful in this region known as the Copper Country.

Finlandia students enjoy miles of public beaches, more than 25 local waterfalls and easy access to Lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water in the world. Adventurous spirits find inspiration and enjoyment on miles of local hiking and biking trails, at two national and four state parks, and on acres of pristine, natural forest land.

Finlandia students enjoy mountain biking, hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing and boating, and with average annual snowfall of 250-300 inches, snowboarding, skiing, and ice hockey.

Frequent cultural, fun, and service activities are hosted by student organizations and the university. The local community offers multiple opportunities for students to attend and participate in theatre, concerts, festivals and competitions.

More than 500 students from 25 states and six countries attended Finlandia. About 39% live on campus; 43% are male, 57% are female; 14% are minority students; about 96% are seeking bachelor degrees.

Our average class size is about 11 students. Finlandia faculty are committed to your personal and intellectual growth. With the careful mentorship that occurs in our small class settings, you’ll forge relationships with your teachers that will inspire you and last a lifetime.

Finlandia student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA Division III sports: Men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s cross-country running, men’s and women’s tennis, football, baseball, softball and men’s and women’s golf. FinnU’s school colors are Finlandia Blue, Anthracite Black and White, and the university’s mascot is Riku F. Lion.

Best Value SchoolFinlandia University offers several unique tuition initiatives, numerous merit-based scholarships and one of the most affordable tuition rates in the upper Midwest for a private university. 100 percent of our full-time domestic students receive some sort of financial aid. In 2015-16 that added up to Finlandia investing more than $2.7 million into the future of our students. In 2017 and 2018 FinnU was named a Best Value School.

Finlandia University is a learning community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service. With its dedicated faculty and diverse student body, the university fosters intellectual challenge, open dialogue, service to others, and an entrepreneurial response to a world characterized by change.

One of the mistakes most commonly made in choosing a college is to base one’s decision on outward costs alone. In order to fully determine the best buy, it is imperative that financial aid opportunities be factored in. Often a small private institution is better able to look at financial aid on an individual basis. This can result in the student realizing more financial aid opportunities, thus offsetting the costs.

Apply for free and see how your financial package can add up. You may end up with more affordable tuition than you would with a public institution.

Scholarship opportunities from Finlandia that would require an application and that would be in addition to the funding a full-time student would receive for their cumulative Finlandia GPA (or incoming GPA for new students) will be posted here as they become available.

We’re proud to call the Upper Peninsula of Michigan home, and have a passion for welcoming our fellow Yoopers to campus, which is why we’re introducing the $4,000 U.P. Commitment Grant. To be eligible, students need to have earned at least a 2.25 cumulative high school GPA, have graduated from a U.P. high school. Students will be able to retain this for all four years by maintaining a 2.25 GPA, full-time status and good social standing.

To earn this grant, students simply need to talk with their Finlandia University admissions officer. The grant will be paid out $2,000 per semester for up to eight semesters. Students earning the Hancock Award are not eligible to receive this grant. This grant is only available to new students beginning during or after the fall 2017 Semester. Other stipulations may apply, please contact our financial aid staff with any questions.

Finlandia University is a learning community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth and service. To showcase this, Finlandia University is offering incoming students for the opportunity to earn a $2,000 scholarship for performing community service. To be eligible, students need to have earned at least a 2.25 cumulative high school GPA, and have a letter of recommendation from the organization or group where the service was performed. The scholarship will be renewable each semester for four years by maintaining a 2.25 GPA, maintaining full-time status, keeping good social standing and volunteering at least eight hours per semester.

To earn this scholarship, students need to submit a letter of recommendation proving community service to their admissions officer. The scholarship will be paid out $1,000 per semester for up to eight semesters. Students earning the U.P. Commitment Grant or Hancock Award are not eligible to receive this scholarship. This scholarship is only available to new students.