Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. UW-La Crosse

Should I go to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or University of Wisconsin La Crosse? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or UW-La Crosse 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 Mary's University of Minnesota vs. University of Wisconsin La Crosse comparison
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota University of Wisconsin La Crosse College 3 College 4
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota University of Wisconsin La Crosse
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Overview

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
Location Winona, MN La Crosse, WI
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 4,133 10,274
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #548
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smumn.edu uwlax.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
Tuition (In State) $40,520 $7,585
Tuition (Out of State) $40,520 $16,404
Room & Board $10,220 $6,942
Avg Net Price $22,843 $13,130
Avg Grant Aid $30,091 $3,395
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 64%

Admission

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,071 7,290
Admitted 1,037 5,413
Acceptance Rate 96.8% 74.3%
Enrolled % 20.7% 43%
Avg High School GPA 3.49 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/26
SAT Range
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (48%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
Graduation Rate 62% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,400 $49,500
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $240 $240

Diversity

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
% Men 32% 42%
% Women 68% 58%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 90%
% Black 7% 1%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 23% 0%

Students

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
% In-State 51% 81%
% Out-of-State 45% 19%

Campus

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota UW-La Crosse
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (10,274 students vs. 4,133 students)

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or UW-La Crosse?

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 434.2% more expensive to attend than UW-La Crosse for in-state tuition ($40,520.00 vs. $7,585.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 147% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($40,520.00 vs. $16,404.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin La Crosse than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($13,130 vs. $22,843)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 47.2% lower than costs at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($6,942 vs. $10,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than University of Wisconsin La Crosse (100% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 786.3% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($30,091 vs. $3,395)

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or UW-La Crosse? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW-La Crosse or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota .

  • The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (1130) is 84 points higher than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (1046)
  • Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (23)
  • Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (3.49)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than UW-La Crosse (74.3%)

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or UW-La Crosse? 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 UW-La Crosse and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

  • The graduation rate at UW-La Crosse is higher than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (68% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn on average $1,100 more per year than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates after ten years. ($49,500 vs. $48,400)
  • University of Wisconsin La Crosse and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($23,250 vs. $23,250)
  • University of Wisconsin La Crosse and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($240 vs. $240)
  • More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 72%)

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