St. Cloud State University vs. Northland College

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

 St. Cloud State University Northland College
Location Saint Cloud, MN Ashland, WI
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 10,514 485
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #622
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu northland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 St. Cloud State University Northland College
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $40,910
Tuition (Out of State) $8,811 $40,910
Room & Board $9,630 $11,100
Avg Net Price $14,648 $24,020
Avg Grant Aid $7,348 $30,355
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 100%

Admission

 St. Cloud State University Northland College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,026 894
Admitted 4,772 642
Acceptance Rate 94.9% 71.8%
Enrolled % 18.8% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 21/25
SAT Range 970/1280 1096/1318
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

 St. Cloud State University Northland College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (23%)
  • Biology (22%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

 St. Cloud State University Northland College
Graduation Rate 48% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $34,900
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $26,943
Median Loan Payment $232 $278

Diversity

 St. Cloud State University Northland College
% Men 8% 2%
% Women 12% 3%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 83%
% Black 7% 1%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

 St. Cloud State University Northland College
% In-State 75% 39%
% Out-of-State 11% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Northland College based on total student enrollment (10,514 students vs. 485 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. Northland College Cost Comparison

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

  • Northland College is 364.3% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($40,910.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 364.3% higher at Northland College than Saint Cloud State University ($40,910.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Northland College ($14,648 vs. $24,020)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 15.3% lower than costs at Northland College ($9,630 vs. $11,100)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northland College than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northland College students is 313.1% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($30,355 vs. $7,348)

St. Cloud State University vs. Northland College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northland College (1118) is 88 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming Northland College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman St. Cloud State University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Northland College (3.3)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than Northland College (71.8%)

St. Cloud State University vs. Northland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Cloud State University or Northland College? 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 Northland College and St. Cloud State University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is the same as at Northland College (48% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $11,800 more per year than Northland College graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $34,900)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $4,443 lower median federal student loan debt than Northland College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,943)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Northland College graduates. ($232 vs. $278)
  • More Northland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 67%)

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