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Winona, MN · Public · 5,144 undergraduates · town

Winona State University

Moderately selective

The river-and-bluff setting gives Winona State a distinctive outdoor identity without sacrificing a full regional-university program mix.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Established Solid in affordability, and solid in career outcomes.
Academic Steady Affordability Solid Career Solid Mobility Emerging Experience Steady
Academic standing Steady
Affordability Solid
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Emerging
Student experience Steady
Admission
68.5% admitted

6,159 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
65.1%

$58,532 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets Winona State University apart

Academic design

Students choose among more than 200 majors and programs across business, education, liberal arts, nursing and health sciences, and science and engineering. Small classes and undergraduate research add faculty access within a regional public university.

Campus pattern

The campus sits in Winona between the Mississippi River and wooded bluffs. Hiking, paddling, cycling and riverfront recreation are close to a traditional small-city campus.

Defining feature

The river-and-bluff setting gives Winona State a distinctive outdoor identity without sacrificing a full regional-university program mix.

Can I get in?

68.5% admitted

Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.

Recent applicant pool

6,159

About 69 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 68.5%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%980–1250
8001420
ACT middle 50%19–25
1529

Of admitted students, 2% submitted an SAT, and 44% submitted an ACT. Because SAT scores came from few admitted students, the range describes that self-selected group rather than the full class.

Entered with a 4.0 GPA7.8%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for Winona State University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What Winona State University weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

Students choose among more than 200 majors and programs across business, education, liberal arts, nursing and health sciences, and science and engineering. Small classes and undergraduate research add faculty access within a regional public university.

02

Make the fit specific

The river-and-bluff setting gives Winona State a distinctive outdoor identity without sacrificing a full regional-university program mix.

03

Account for the tradeoff

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.

Application routeInstitution application

$20 application fee

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Teacher preparationAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$24,097
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$18,000
Affordability profileSolid

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at Winona State University

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

The river-and-bluff setting gives Winona State a distinctive outdoor identity without sacrificing a full regional-university program mix.

Complete within 8 years65.1%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one78.3%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$58,532

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Psychology, General

Recent graduates80
Median earnings$49,361

What is campus life like?

Winona State University beyond the classroom

The campus sits in Winona between the Mississippi River and wooded bluffs. Hiking, paddling, cycling and riverfront recreation are close to a traditional small-city campus.

Academics

A defining academic feature

Students choose among more than 200 majors and programs across business, education, liberal arts, nursing and health sciences, and science and engineering. Small classes and undergraduate research add faculty access within a regional public university.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

The campus sits in Winona between the Mississippi River and wooded bluffs. Hiking, paddling, cycling and riverfront recreation are close to a traditional small-city campus.

Distinctive edge

What changes the experience

The river-and-bluff setting gives Winona State a distinctive outdoor identity without sacrificing a full regional-university program mix.

5,144 undergraduatesMidwesttown setting88% of first-year students live on campus