Metropolitan State University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Metropolitan 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.

Metropolitan State University
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Metropolitan State University Large City
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Metropolitan State University 6,660
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Metropolitan State University Public 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Metropolitan State University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Metropolitan State University Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Metropolitan State University $9,840
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Metropolitan State University $9,840
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Metropolitan State University $15,864
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Metropolitan State University $16,615
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Metropolitan State University $8,538
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Metropolitan State University 82%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Metropolitan State University Calculate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Applied
  • Metropolitan State University 698
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Metropolitan State University 689
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Metropolitan State University 98.7%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Metropolitan State University 33.8%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Metropolitan State University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Metropolitan State University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Metropolitan State University Unavailable
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Metropolitan State University Test optional
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Metropolitan State University Aug 1, 2027
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Metropolitan State University 15:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Metropolitan State University
    • Business (33%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Psychology (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
  • Metropolitan State University 29%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Metropolitan State University $49,200
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Metropolitan State University 57%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Metropolitan State University $17,992
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Metropolitan State University $186
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Metropolitan State University 43%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Metropolitan State University 57%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Metropolitan State University High
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Metropolitan State University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Metropolitan State University 54%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Metropolitan State University 13%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Metropolitan State University 20%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Metropolitan State University 5%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Metropolitan State University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Metropolitan State University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Metropolitan State University 4%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Metropolitan State University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Metropolitan State University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Metropolitan State University 99%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Metropolitan State University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, MN with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Metropolitan State University is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (6,660 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Metropolitan State University is located in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Metropolitan 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: Metropolitan State University 15:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Metropolitan State University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Metropolitan State University 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 Metropolitan State University than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($16,615 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 29.4% lower than at Metropolitan State University ($11,200 vs. $15,864).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 358.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Metropolitan State University (about $35,240 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $9,840.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 358.1% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Metropolitan State University (about $35,240 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $9,840.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Metropolitan State University (100% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 314% larger than aid received by Metropolitan State University students ($35,348 vs. $8,538).

Metropolitan State University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Metropolitan State University 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 Metropolitan State University.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Metropolitan State University - Test optional; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Metropolitan State University Aug 1, 2027; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Metropolitan State University has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (92.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.8% at Metropolitan State University vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

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

How do outcomes compare for Metropolitan State University 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 Metropolitan State University's (29%).
  • Graduates from Metropolitan State University 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, Metropolitan State University graduates have a $5,258 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($17,992 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Metropolitan State University graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($186 vs. $240).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Metropolitan State University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 57%)

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.