MLC vs. St. Cloud State University

Should I go to Martin Luther College or Saint Cloud State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MLC or St. Cloud 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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Martin Luther College vs. Saint Cloud State University comparison
Martin Luther College Saint Cloud State University College 3 College 4
Martin Luther College Saint Cloud State University
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Overview

 MLC St. Cloud State University
Location New Ulm, MN Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 860 10,514
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #622
Religious Affiliation Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mlc-wels.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 MLC St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $17,770 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $17,770 $8,811
Room & Board $7,280 $9,630
Avg Net Price $21,072 $14,648
Avg Grant Aid $8,222 $7,348
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 74%

Admission

 MLC St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 218 5,026
Admitted 180 4,772
Acceptance Rate 82.6% 94.9%
Enrolled % 83.3% 18.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/27 18/25
SAT Range 1078/1256 970/1280
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 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

 MLC St. Cloud State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (67%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

 MLC St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 73% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,000 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,125 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $239 $232

Diversity

 MLC St. Cloud State University
% Men 6% 8%
% Women 8% 12%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 93% 73%
% Black 1% 7%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 MLC St. Cloud State University
% In-State 11% 75%
% Out-of-State 89% 11%

Campus

 MLC St. Cloud State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than MLC based on total student enrollment (10,514 students vs. 860 students)

MLC vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MLC or St. Cloud State University?

  • Martin Luther College is 101.7% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($17,770.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 101.7% higher at MLC than Saint Cloud State University ($17,770.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than MLC ($14,648 vs. $21,072)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 32.3% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($7,280 vs. $9,630)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Martin Luther College than Saint Cloud State University (99% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Martin Luther College students is 11.9% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($8,222 vs. $7,348)

MLC vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Martin Luther College (1145) is 115 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming MLC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman MLC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than MLC (82.6%)

MLC vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MLC or St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud State University and MLC.

  • The graduation rate at MLC is higher than Saint Cloud State University (73% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $8,700 more per year than MLC graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $38,000)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $625 lower median federal student loan debt than MLC graduates. ($22,500 vs. $23,125)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than MLC graduates. ($232 vs. $239)
  • More MLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 67%)

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