Winona State University vs. Dakota State

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

 Winona State University Dakota State
Location Winona, MN Madison, SD
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 6,154 3,241
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #533 #808
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website winona.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Winona State University Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $8,388 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $15,120 $10,718
Room & Board $9,654 $8,018
Avg Net Price $18,187 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $5,017 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 92%

Admission

 Winona State University Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,367 882
Admitted 3,958 696
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 78.9%
Enrolled % 29.7% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 19/27
SAT Range 1000/1270 940/1240
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

 Winona State University Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

 Winona State University Dakota State
Graduation Rate 54% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,100 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $242

Diversity

 Winona State University Dakota State
% Men 30% 64%
% Women 70% 36%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 84%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Winona State University Dakota State
% In-State 67% 58%
% Out-of-State 31% 39%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Winona State University is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (6,154 students vs. 3,241 students)

Winona State University vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

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

  • Winona State University is 10.1% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($8,388.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.1% higher at Winona State University than Dakota State University ($15,120.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota State University than Winona State University ($17,977 vs. $18,187)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 20.4% lower than costs at Winona State University ($8,018 vs. $9,654)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Winona State University than Dakota State University (98% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dakota State University students is 9% larger than aid received Winona State University ($5,467 vs. $5,017)

Winona State University vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Winona State University or Dakota State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Dakota State or Winona State University .

  • The average SAT score at Winona State University (1050) is 3 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming Winona State University students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Winona State University students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Winona State University (73.7%)

Winona State University vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Winona State University or Dakota State? 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 Dakota State and Winona State University.

  • The graduation rate at Winona State University is higher than Dakota State University (54% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Winona State University earn on average $3,900 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $42,200)
  • Dakota State University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Winona State University graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,000)
  • Dakota State graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Winona State University graduates. ($242 vs. $248)
  • More Winona State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 67%)

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