UNI vs. Winona State University

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

UNI Winona State University
Location Cedar Falls, IA Winona, MN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 8,945 6,154
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #414 #533
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uni.edu winona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNI Winona State University
Tuition (In State) $8,111 $8,388
Tuition (Out of State) $19,265 $15,120
Room & Board $9,343 $9,654
Avg Net Price $15,782 $18,187
Avg Grant Aid $6,412 $5,017
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 98%

Admission

UNI Winona State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,594 5,367
Admitted 4,362 3,958
Acceptance Rate 94.9% 73.7%
Enrolled % 32.9% 29.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 19/25
SAT Range 1020/1330 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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

UNI Winona State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

UNI Winona State University
Graduation Rate 67% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,700 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,625 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $213 $248

Diversity

UNI Winona State University
% Men 36% 30%
% Women 64% 70%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 87%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

UNI Winona State University
% In-State 91% 67%
% Out-of-State 8% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Northern Iowa is larger than than Winona State University based on total student enrollment (8,945 students vs. 6,154 students)

UNI vs. Winona State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNI or Winona State University?

  • Winona State University is 3.4% more expensive to attend than UNI for in-state tuition ($8,388.00 vs. $8,111.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.4% higher at UNI than Winona State University ($19,265.00 vs. $15,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Northern Iowa than Winona State University ($15,782 vs. $18,187)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 3.3% lower than costs at Winona State University ($9,343 vs. $9,654)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Winona State University than University of Northern Iowa (98% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Northern Iowa students is 27.8% larger than aid received Winona State University ($6,412 vs. $5,017)

UNI vs. Winona State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNI 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 UNI .

  • The average SAT score at University of Northern Iowa (1050) is the same at Winona State University (1050)
  • Incoming UNI students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Winona State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman UNI students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Winona State University (3.44)
  • UNI has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than Winona State University (73.7%)

UNI vs. Winona State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNI 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 UNI.

  • The graduation rate at UNI is higher than Winona State University (67% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from University of Northern Iowa earn on average $1,600 more per year than Winona State University graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $46,100)
  • University of Northern Iowa students graduate with a $3,375 lower median federal student loan debt than Winona State University graduates. ($20,625 vs. $24,000)
  • UNI graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than Winona State University graduates. ($213 vs. $248)
  • More Winona State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNI students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 72%)

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