Winona State University vs. NSU

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

Winona State University NSU
Location Winona, MN Aberdeen, SD
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 6,154 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #533 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website winona.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Winona State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $8,388 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $15,120 $10,718
Room & Board $9,654 $9,150
Avg Net Price $18,187 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $5,017 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

Winona State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,367 1,322
Admitted 3,958 1,033
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 78.1%
Enrolled % 29.7% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 1000/1270 800/1150
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 NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Winona State University NSU
Graduation Rate 54% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,100 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $248 $252

Diversity

Winona State University NSU
% Men 30% 37%
% Women 70% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 83%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Winona State University NSU
% In-State 67% 69%
% Out-of-State 31% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Winona State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (6,154 students vs. 3,344 students)

Winona State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Winona State University is 10.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,388.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.1% higher at Winona State University than Northern State University ($15,120.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern State University than Winona State University ($17,264 vs. $18,187)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 5.5% lower than costs at Winona State University ($9,150 vs. $9,654)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Winona State University than Northern State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern State University students is 13.9% larger than aid received Winona State University ($5,715 vs. $5,017)

Winona State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Winona State University (1050) is 26 points higher than at NSU (1024)
  • Incoming Winona State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Winona State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at NSU (3.37)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Winona State University (73.7%)

Winona State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Winona State University is higher than Northern State University (54% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Winona State University earn on average $8,700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $37,400)
  • Winona State University students graduate with a $399 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($24,000 vs. $24,399)
  • Winona State University graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($248 vs. $252)
  • More Winona State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)

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