St. Cloud State University vs. WLC

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

 St. Cloud State University WLC
Location Saint Cloud, MN Milwaukee, WI
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 10,420 1,086
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #710 #532
Religious Affiliation - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu wlc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 St. Cloud State University WLC
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $33,210
Tuition (Out of State) $18,695 $33,210
Room & Board $9,950 $11,380
Avg Net Price $14,065 $22,682
Avg Grant Aid $6,042 $23,128
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

 St. Cloud State University WLC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,810 1,474
Admitted 4,583 1,383
Acceptance Rate 95.3% 93.8%
Enrolled % 16.8% 22.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.54
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 22/27
SAT Range 1027/1200 1038/1243
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

Academics

 St. Cloud State University WLC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 St. Cloud State University WLC
Graduation Rate 48% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $43,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $258

Diversity

 St. Cloud State University WLC
% Men 43% 44%
% Women 57% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 83%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 St. Cloud State University WLC
% In-State 75% 66%
% Out-of-State 11% 33%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than WLC based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 1,086 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. WLC Cost Comparison

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

  • Wisconsin Lutheran College is 276.9% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($33,210.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77.6% higher at WLC than Saint Cloud State University ($33,210.00 vs. $18,695.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than WLC ($14,065 vs. $22,682)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 14.4% lower than costs at Wisconsin Lutheran College ($9,950 vs. $11,380)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wisconsin Lutheran College than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students is 282.8% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($23,128 vs. $6,042)

St. Cloud State University vs. WLC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wisconsin Lutheran College (1101) is 71 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming WLC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than WLC (93.8%)

St. Cloud State University vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WLC is higher than Saint Cloud State University (63% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $3,700 more per year than WLC graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $43,000)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than WLC graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,000)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than WLC graduates. ($232 vs. $258)
  • More WLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 67%)

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