ISU vs. Winona State University

Should I go to Illinois State University or Winona State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or Winona State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Illinois State University vs. Winona State University comparison
Illinois State University Winona State University College 3 College 4
Illinois State University Winona State University
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Overview

ISU Winona State University
Location Normal, IL Winona, MN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 20,683 6,154
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #493 #533
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu winona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Winona State University
Tuition (In State) $11,840 $8,388
Tuition (Out of State) $23,681 $15,120
Room & Board $10,602 $9,654
Avg Net Price $20,551 $18,187
Avg Grant Aid $11,619 $5,017
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 98%

Admission

ISU Winona State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,596 5,367
Admitted 16,899 3,958
Acceptance Rate 86.2% 73.7%
Enrolled % 23.6% 29.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 19/25
SAT Range 1000/1210 1000/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

ISU Winona State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

ISU Winona State University
Graduation Rate 71% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $248

Diversity

ISU Winona State University
% Men 42% 30%
% Women 58% 70%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 87%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 9% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

ISU Winona State University
% In-State 96% 67%
% Out-of-State 3% 31%

Campus

ISU Winona State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois State University is larger than than Winona State University based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 6,154 students)

ISU vs. Winona State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Winona State University?

  • Illinois State University is 41.2% more expensive to attend than Winona State University for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $8,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 56.6% higher at ISU than Winona State University ($23,681.00 vs. $15,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winona State University than ISU ($18,187 vs. $20,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winona State University are 9.8% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($9,654 vs. $10,602)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Winona State University than Illinois State University (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 131.6% larger than aid received Winona State University ($11,619 vs. $5,017)

ISU vs. Winona State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Winona State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Winona State University or ISU .

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 40 points higher than at Winona State University (1050)
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Winona State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Winona State University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at ISU (3.41)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Winona State University (73.7%)

ISU vs. Winona State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Winona State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Winona State University and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Winona State University (71% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $2,900 more per year than Winona State University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $46,100)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Winona State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Winona State University graduates. ($227 vs. $248)
  • More Winona State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/