Winona State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Winona, Minnesota. It enrolls 5,144 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value70
Affordability46
Selectivity41
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.5%, Winona State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Winona State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Winona State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,503 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,503
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,576
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,308
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,654
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,654
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,683
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,224
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,792
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,814
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,871
Over $110,000
$21,307
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$7,60725%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,113
↓ $5,387
No Pell $14,000
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Independent students $14,130
↓ $7,370
Female students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Male students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Winona State University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Winona State University earn a median of $58,532 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,532
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,300, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Winona State University is home to 5,144 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
5,144
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.9%4,162
Hispanic 5.3%274
Other 4.3%223
Black 3.5%181
Asian 3.3%167
International 1.8%93
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Winona State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantWinona, Minnesota
Housing
Partly residential1,853 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Winona State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Winona State University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,446
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$56M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$92,979
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
295 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
125
42%
$106,532
Associate Professors
84
28%
$88,120
Assistant Professors
79
27%
$80,139
Instructors
7
2%
$54,195
Pros & Cons of Winona State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Winona State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Winona State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Winona State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Winona State University.
Is Winona State University hard to get into?
Winona State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Winona State University?
Winona State University has an acceptance rate of 75.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Winona State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Winona State University is $17,503 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Winona State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,532 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,503 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Winona State University known for?
Winona State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Winona State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Winona State University are $58,532, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Winona State University accredited?
Yes. Winona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Winona State University?
Winona State University enrolls 5,144 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Winona State University?
Winona State University graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Winona State University a public or private college?
Winona State University is a Public institution.
Where is Winona State University located?
Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota.
What programs does Winona State University offer?
Winona State University offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Winona State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Winona State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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