Feature stories from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. The University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD), consistently ranks among the top midwestern, regional universities in U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" issue. On a hill overlooking Lake Superior, UMD provides an alternative to both large research universities and small liberal arts colleges and attracts students looking for a personalized learning experience on a medium-sized campus of a major university.