Saint Cloud State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 5,088 students.
About This School
Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota with approximately 5,088 undergraduate students enrolled. Saint Cloud State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 95%. The average net price after financial aid is $13,529 per year. The graduation rate is 40%, and the typical graduate earns $48,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is a public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1869, the university is one of the largest institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. In the fall of 2023, it enrolled 8,430 undergraduate and 2,084 graduate students.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the 47% graduation rate and 68% freshman retention rate suggest that many students who start here don't finish, which is a real concern worth discussing before enrolling. On the positive side, the average net price of $14,485/year is genuinely affordable, and median debt at graduation sits at a manageable $14,362 — so if you do complete your degree, you're not buried in loans. Worth considering if you have a clear plan and support system in place, but ask the admissions office directly what resources exist to help students stay on track.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 14% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Saint Cloud State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Criminal Justice and Corrections ($66,850 vs $55,378 nationally), and most below it in Finance and Financial Management Services ($70,259 vs $83,343).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 106 | $56,547 | $55,693 | +$854 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 88 | $84,470 | $88,910 | −$4,440 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 77 | $80,331 | $85,063 | −$4,732 |
| Psychology, General | 74 | $52,031 | $50,706 | +$1,325 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 73 | $70,259 | $83,343 | −$13,084 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 57 | $45,386 | $47,382 | −$1,996 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 54 | $56,388 | $56,359 | +$29 |
| Computer Science | 48 | $103,765 | $107,009 | −$3,244 |
| Marketing | 48 | $74,847 | $69,303 | +$5,544 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 46 | $48,923 | $51,389 | −$2,466 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 46 | $64,191 | $68,257 | −$4,066 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 46 | $66,850 | $55,378 | +$11,472 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,088 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Saint Cloud State University
720 Fourth Ave. South
Saint Cloud, MN 56301-4498
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Saint Cloud State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Cloud State University?
Saint Cloud State University has an acceptance rate of 95%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Saint Cloud State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Saint Cloud State University has an acceptance rate of 95%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Saint Cloud State University cost?
The average net price at Saint Cloud State University is about $13,529 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Cloud State University?
Saint Cloud State University has a graduation rate of 40%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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