Northern Michigan University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Northern Michigan 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.

Northern Michigan University
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Northern Michigan University Remote Town
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Northern Michigan University 7,409
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Northern Michigan University Public 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northern Michigan University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Northern Michigan University Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Website
  • Northern Michigan University nmu.edu
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota smumn.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northern Michigan University $14,277
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northern Michigan University $19,773
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Northern Michigan University $13,274
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Northern Michigan University $15,707
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northern Michigan University $12,012
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northern Michigan University 94%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Northern Michigan University Calculate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Applied
  • Northern Michigan University 12,204
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Northern Michigan University 10,254
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northern Michigan University 84%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Northern Michigan University 15.3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northern Michigan University 3.33
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northern Michigan University B+
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northern Michigan University Unavailable
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northern Michigan University Test-free
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northern Michigan University 18:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northern Michigan University
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Engineering Technology (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
  • Northern Michigan University 48%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northern Michigan University $38,400
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northern Michigan University 56%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northern Michigan University $22,292
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northern Michigan University $230
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northern Michigan University 38%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Northern Michigan University 62%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northern Michigan University Very Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Northern Michigan University 85%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Northern Michigan University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northern Michigan University 73%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northern Michigan University 26%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Michigan University is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (7,409 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, MI (Remote Town setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Northern Michigan 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: Northern Michigan University 18:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Northern Michigan University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Michigan 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 Northern Michigan University than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($15,707 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 15.6% lower than at Northern Michigan University ($11,200 vs. $13,274).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 215.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northern Michigan University (about $30,803 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $14,277.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 128% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Northern Michigan University (about $25,307 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $19,773.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Northern Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 194.3% larger than aid received by Northern Michigan University students ($35,348 vs. $12,012).

Northern Michigan University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northern Michigan 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 Northern Michigan University.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northern Michigan University - 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 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Northern Michigan University (3.33).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Northern Michigan University (84%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Northern Michigan University vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

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

How do outcomes compare for Northern Michigan 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 Northern Michigan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Northern Michigan University graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Michigan University graduates have a $958 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($22,292 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Northern Michigan University graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($230 vs. $240).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Michigan University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 56%)

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.