Winona State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Minnesota residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 5,144 students.
About This School
Winona State University is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota with approximately 5,144 undergraduate students enrolled. Winona State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 75%. The average net price after financial aid is $17,503 per year. The graduation rate is 57%, and the typical graduate earns $48,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
Winona State University is a public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States. It was founded as First State Normal School of Minnesota in 1858 and is the oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. It was the first normal school west of the Mississippi River.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the $18,148 average net price and relatively low median debt of $15,000 make this an affordable option, and the $48,600 median earnings are decent for a regional public university. However, the 61% graduation rate is a real concern — nearly 4 in 10 students who start here don't finish, which is worth digging into before committing. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious and have a clear plan, but ask hard questions about support services and why so many students leave.
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: 4% 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.
Winona State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($63,303 vs $54,562 nationally), and most below it in Computer Science ($88,164 vs $107,009).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 206 | $80,117 | $88,910 | −$8,793 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 142 | $46,863 | $47,382 | −$519 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 112 | $61,878 | $68,257 | −$6,379 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 82 | $48,767 | $51,389 | −$2,622 |
| Psychology, General | 80 | $49,361 | $50,706 | −$1,345 |
| Biology, General | 68 | $57,528 | $57,214 | +$314 |
| Social Work | 67 | $54,056 | $51,790 | +$2,266 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 59 | $53,456 | $56,359 | −$2,903 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 52 | $63,303 | $54,562 | +$8,741 |
| Marketing | 50 | $70,203 | $69,303 | +$900 |
| Computer Science | 46 | $88,164 | $107,009 | −$18,845 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 42 | $55,235 | $55,693 | −$458 |
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 (5,144 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Minnesota
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Minneapolis Community and Technical College
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Century College
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University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Winona 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 Winona State University?
Winona State University has an acceptance rate of 75%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Winona State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Winona State University has an acceptance rate of 75%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Winona State University cost?
The average net price at Winona State University is about $17,503 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 Winona State University?
Winona State University has a graduation rate of 57%, 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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