St. Cloud State University vs. Winona State University

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

St. Cloud State University Winona State University
Location Saint Cloud, MN Winona, MN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 10,420 6,154
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #710 #533
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu winona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

St. Cloud State University Winona State University
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $8,388
Tuition (Out of State) $18,695 $15,120
Room & Board $9,950 $9,654
Avg Net Price $14,065 $18,187
Avg Grant Aid $6,042 $5,017
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 98%

Admission

St. Cloud State University Winona State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,810 5,367
Admitted 4,583 3,958
Acceptance Rate 95.3% 73.7%
Enrolled % 16.8% 29.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 19/25
SAT Range 1027/1200 1000/1270
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, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

St. Cloud State University Winona State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

St. Cloud State University Winona State University
Graduation Rate 48% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $248

Diversity

St. Cloud State University Winona State University
% Men 43% 30%
% Women 57% 70%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 87%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

St. Cloud State University Winona State University
% In-State 75% 67%
% Out-of-State 11% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Winona State University based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 6,154 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. Winona State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Saint Cloud State University is 5% more expensive to attend than Winona State University for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $8,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.6% higher at St. Cloud State University than Winona State University ($18,695.00 vs. $15,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Winona State University ($14,065 vs. $18,187)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winona State University are 3.1% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($9,654 vs. $9,950)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University as Winona State University (98% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Cloud State University students is 20.4% larger than aid received Winona State University ($6,042 vs. $5,017)

St. Cloud State University vs. Winona State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Winona State University (1050) is 20 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming Winona State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Winona State University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Winona State University (73.7%)

St. Cloud State University vs. Winona State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Winona State University is higher than Saint Cloud State University (54% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $600 more per year than Winona State University graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $46,100)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Winona State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,000)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Winona State University graduates. ($232 vs. $248)
  • More Winona State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 67%)

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