GSU vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Governors State University 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.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL 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 GSU based on total student enrollment (4,505 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, GSU 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 Governors State University than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($12,756 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 4.6% lower than at Governors State University ($11,200 vs. $11,736).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 275.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than GSU (about $33,076 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 275.5% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Governors State University (about $33,076 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Governors State University (100% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 208.6% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($35,348 vs. $11,455).

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

Which college is harder to get into, GSU 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 GSU.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Governors State University 830/1060.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) 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 GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

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

How do outcomes compare for GSU 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).

  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($17,250 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($178 vs. $240).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 48%)

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.