Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Columbia College? 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.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Setting
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Type
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Columbia College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Columbia College Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Room & Board
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Average Net Price
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%
  • Columbia College 91%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Columbia College Calculate
  • Applied
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Columbia College -
  • Admitted
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Columbia College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Enrolled
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Columbia College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Columbia College
  • SAT Range
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Columbia College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027
  • Columbia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240
  • Columbia College $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • Columbia College 41%
  • % Women
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Columbia College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • Columbia College 25%
  • % Hispanic
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • Columbia College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%
  • Columbia College 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • Columbia College 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%
  • Columbia College 37%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia College is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (5,689 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is located in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1; Columbia College 20:1.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or Columbia College? 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 Columbia College than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($21,530 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 14.7% lower than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($9,552 vs. $11,200).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 74.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $19,254 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.6% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Columbia College (about $19,254 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $25,826.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Columbia College (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 122.6% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($35,348 vs. $15,882).

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or Columbia College? 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 Columbia College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

  • Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free; Columbia College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (3.49).

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Columbia College? 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 Columbia College's (39%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $1,216 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($22,034 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($227 vs. $240).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 40%)

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.