St Olaf vs. Winona State University

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

St Olaf Winona State University
Location Northfield, MN Winona, MN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 3,046 6,154
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #156 #533
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stolaf.edu winona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

St Olaf Winona State University
Tuition (In State) $54,650 $8,388
Tuition (Out of State) $54,650 $15,120
Room & Board $12,450 $9,654
Avg Net Price $26,171 $18,187
Avg Grant Aid $40,399 $5,017
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

St Olaf Winona State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,524 5,367
Admitted 3,116 3,958
Acceptance Rate 56.4% 73.7%
Enrolled % 27.9% 29.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Moderate
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 19/25
SAT Range 1300/1480 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 Jan 15, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

St Olaf Winona State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

St Olaf Winona State University
Graduation Rate 85% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

St Olaf Winona State University
% Men 42% 30%
% Women 58% 70%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 87%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

St Olaf Winona State University
% In-State 47% 67%
% Out-of-State 43% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Winona State University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (6,154 students vs. 3,046 students)

St Olaf vs. Winona State University Cost Comparison

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

  • St Olaf College is 551.5% more expensive to attend than Winona State University for in-state tuition ($54,650.00 vs. $8,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 261.4% higher at St Olaf than Winona State University ($54,650.00 vs. $15,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winona State University than St Olaf ($18,187 vs. $26,171)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winona State University are 29% lower than costs at St Olaf College ($9,654 vs. $12,450)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Winona State University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 705.2% larger than aid received Winona State University ($40,399 vs. $5,017)

St Olaf vs. Winona State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St Olaf 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 Olaf .

  • The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 232 points higher than at Winona State University (1050)
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Winona State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Winona State University (3.44)
  • Winona State University has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than St Olaf (56.4%)

St Olaf vs. Winona State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St Olaf 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 Olaf.

  • The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Winona State University (85% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from St Olaf College earn on average $7,600 more per year than Winona State University graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $46,100)
  • Winona State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Winona State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Winona State University students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 75%)

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