AQ vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Aquinas College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Aquinas College
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • AQ Midsize City
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AQ 1,157
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AQ #753
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AQ Roman Catholic
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • AQ Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AQ
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • AQ $11,680
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • AQ $18,018
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AQ $33,535
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AQ 100%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AQ 2,193
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • AQ 1,971
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AQ 89.9%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • AQ 11.8%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AQ 1030
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • AQ 23
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • AQ 3.52
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AQ A-
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AQ Easy
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • AQ
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • AQ 20/26
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • AQ 910/1140
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AQ Test optional
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • AQ
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AQ 10:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AQ 52%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AQ $40,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AQ 60%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AQ $26,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AQ $268
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AQ 47%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • AQ 53%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AQ Very Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • AQ No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • AQ 82%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • AQ 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • AQ 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AQ 6%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • AQ 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AQ 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AQ 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • AQ 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AQ 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AQ 87%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AQ 10%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AQ Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AQ No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Meal Plan
  • AQ Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AQ Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AQ No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (4,505 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

AQ vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($18,018 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 4.1% lower than at Aquinas College ($11,200 vs. $11,680).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 12.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $4,862 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $40,218.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Aquinas College (about $4,862 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $40,218.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College as at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Aquinas College students ($35,348 vs. $33,535).

AQ vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and AQ.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (3.49).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than AQ (89.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

AQ vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($240 vs. $268).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.