USD vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

USD vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than USD ($22,032 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 43.8% lower than at University of San Diego ($11,200 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 32% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (about $14,406 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $45,080.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32% higher at USD than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (about $14,406 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $45,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 15.9% larger than aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students ($40,965 vs. $35,348).

USD vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (3.49).
• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

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

How do outcomes compare for USD and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's (62%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $21,800 more per year than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $48,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $346 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($22,904 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($236 vs. $240).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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.