Western Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Western Illinois University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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.

Western Illinois University
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Western Illinois University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Western Illinois University Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Website
  • Western Illinois University wiu.edu
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota smumn.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Western Illinois University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Western Illinois University Calculate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Western Illinois University 18/24
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Western Illinois University 880/1090
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Western Illinois University 41%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Western Illinois University 59%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Western Illinois University Medium
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Western Illinois University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Western Illinois University 62%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Western Illinois University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Western Illinois University 19%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Western Illinois University 11%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Western Illinois University 86%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Western Illinois University 13%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Illinois University is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Western Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University 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 Western Illinois University than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($14,208 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 1.1% lower than at Western Illinois University ($11,200 vs. $11,320).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 195.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Illinois University (about $29,816 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $15,264.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 195.3% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Western Illinois University (about $29,816 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $15,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Western Illinois University (100% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 135.7% larger than aid received by Western Illinois University students ($35,348 vs. $14,994).

Western Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University 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 Western Illinois University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Illinois University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Western Illinois University - Test-free; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Western Illinois University (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Western Illinois University vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

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

How do outcomes compare for Western Illinois University 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).

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Western Illinois University's (53%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $1,454 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($240 vs. $255).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 61%)

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.