Loras College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Loras 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.

Loras College
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loras College Dubuque, IA
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Loras College Small City
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Loras College 1,189
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Loras College Private 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loras College Roman Catholic
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Loras College Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loras College $39,824
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loras College $39,824
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Loras College $11,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Loras College $21,631
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loras College $28,835
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loras College 100%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Loras College Calculate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Applied
  • Loras College 1,408
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Loras College 1,406
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loras College 99.9%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Loras College 18.6%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loras College 3.48
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loras College B+
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loras College Unavailable
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loras College Test-free
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Loras College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loras College 12:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loras College
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Loras College 59%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loras College $49,200
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loras College 83%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loras College $27,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loras College $279
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loras College 56%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Loras College 44%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loras College Very Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Loras College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Loras College 84%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Loras College 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Loras College 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loras College 6%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Loras College 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loras College 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loras College 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Loras College 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loras College 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loras College 30%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loras College 64%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Loras College Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Loras College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Meal Plan
  • Loras College Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Loras College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Loras College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Learn More
  • Loras College Details
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Loras College in Dubuque, IA 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 Loras College based on total student enrollment (4,505 students vs. 1,189 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loras College is located in Dubuque, IA (Small City setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Loras 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: Loras College 12:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Loras College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loras College 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 Loras College than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($21,631 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Loras College are 1.8% lower than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($11,000 vs. $11,200).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 13.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Loras College (about $5,256 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $39,824.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.2% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Loras College (about $5,256 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $39,824.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Loras 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 22.6% larger than aid received by Loras College students ($35,348 vs. $28,835).

Loras College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loras College 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 Loras College.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loras College - Test-free; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Loras College (3.48).
  • Loras College has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (92.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Loras College vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

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

How do outcomes compare for Loras College 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 Loras College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Loras College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $48,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Loras College graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Loras College graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More Loras College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 72%)

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.