My job is not to tell you whether this university is “good” or “bad” for your child. No number can tell you that. My job is to explain what these data really mean, without inflating or downplaying them, so that when you sit down with your child to decide, you make that decision with your eyes open.
What kind of university it is
Let’s start with the basics: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, nonprofit institution offering programs of four years or more. The federal system that classifies universities by what they do—Carnegie—places it among schools whose offerings extend through doctoral and professional programs. That is the highest level it offers. It does not mean every bachelor’s program leads to a doctorate, but rather that the institution as a whole offers education at that level.
Here is something worth knowing from the outset, because it changes how you should read several numbers later: at this school, graduate enrollment outweighs undergraduate enrollment. Of the 3,831 students enrolled in the official fall count, 1,075 are undergraduates and 2,756 are graduate students. If your child is entering a bachelor’s program, the number that matters to your family is 1,075, not the total of 3,831. When you see “large” figures about this university later, remember that they often include graduate students.
Using data from 2019-20, Carnegie also describes it as a medium-sized, primarily residential school: between 25 and 49 out of every 100 undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing, and at least half studied full time. This is a snapshot from several years ago, not the current academic cycle, so if you find an older guide that describes it differently, do not assume either source is wrong: Carnegie changed its category between 2018 and 2021.
As for special designations—historically Black college or university, tribal college or university, or land-grant institution—Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has none of the three. That says nothing about which students it serves or how your child would feel there. Those questions are answered by asking directly, not by reading a checkbox.
Where it is and what surrounds it
The university is in Winona, Minnesota, within Winona County. Its setting is a town, away from major urban areas. If your family does not live nearby, this means you need to calculate separately where your child would live, how they would get to campus, and how often they could travel back and forth. The data only locate the school’s address; they tell you nothing about the trip from your home.
How many students there are and who they are
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has 3,831 students in the official fall count, placing it in the medium-sized range compared with similar schools: among 941 comparable selective private universities, between one and three out of every ten have more students. Within that group, it is one of the larger institutions.
Within the undergraduate population, the composition looks like this:
| Group | Share |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 12 out of every 100 |
| Women | 56 out of every 100 |
| Between ages 25 and 64 | 19 out of every 100 |
If you are a Latino family looking for a place where your child will feel supported, Latino students are relatively few here: 12 out of every 100 undergraduates. That does not automatically remove the university from your list, but it does give you a specific task: during your visit, ask what currently exists for Latino students—a student organization, a cultural center, or someone in the office who speaks Spanish. Compared with the other 941 similar selective private schools, this share is above the midpoint of the group but does not reach the highest quarter. But keep this in mind: that comparison does not account for where in the country the school is located, and that matters here.
How academic life is organized
The academic year is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The university reported that it accepts credit from AP exams as well as what IPEDS calls “credit for life experience”—independent study, adult courses, work experience, portfolios, licenses, or military or professional certifications. It also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program and reports accepting credit for military training.
Here is one truth I do not want you to miss: the university’s statement that it accepts AP credit does not mean it will award credit for every exam. It does not say what scores are required or whether those credits count toward the specific program your child wants. Request a written transfer-credit evaluation before enrolling. Do not include the savings in your budget until you have it in hand.
As for what students study: in the most recently reported year, the university awarded 320 bachelor’s degrees across 22 program families. Business and management awarded the most degrees, accounting for 21 out of every 100 degrees—no other family surpassed it, but it did not account for the majority either. Compared with 942 similar selective private schools, the university falls within the quarter with the most program families represented in its offerings. In that sense, its offerings are broad. But keep this in mind: 22 families with a row in the report do not mean 22 active majors, nor do they guarantee that the program your child wants is available or strong there. Verify the exact program.
The university also reports structured academic opportunities: study abroad, undergraduate research outside the classroom, a complete program that can be taken only in the evenings or on weekends, and several pathways related to teacher certification, including state approval for initial certification.
For class size, the available figure is a ratio of 18 students per full-time-equivalent faculty member. Compared with similar schools, that places it in the quarter with the highest ratio—in other words, it has comparatively more students per faculty member than most of its peers, although the ratio is considered medium on the overall scale. This number does not tell you the actual size of a first-year class; it is an institution-wide average, not a classroom count.
How your child gets in
There is a tension here that is worth understanding well because it has two sides.
Admission is accessible. In the 2023 cycle, 1,350 people applied for admission as first-year students, and 1,199 were offered a place. That is 89 out of every 100. Compared with the other 942 selective private schools, this places it on the more accessible side: seven out of ten of those schools accept an equal or smaller percentage. The application fee is also $0.
But admission is not open. The university marked three requirements as mandatory: the high school transcript, the high school GPA, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. The SAT and ACT are not considered in the admission decision, even if they are submitted—this does not cover scholarships or placement, which must be asked about separately. Other items are not mandatory but are considered if you submit them: the recommended course plan, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, and whether someone in your family studied there. This last factor—known as “legacy”—is something your child cannot change. If it does not apply to your child, do not spend energy on it; focus on what is within your child’s control.
Now, here is something that often surprises families: out of every 100 admitted students, only 23 ultimately enroll. The other 77 had a place and did not take it. Do not read that as a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person made their decision, and this proportion is among the most common for similar schools. What it does tell you is something practical: what others decided does not predict what your child will be offered. Wait for your own letter showing the net price before drawing conclusions.
As for transfers: in the fall of 2023, 76 students arrived after previously studying at another institution. How many credits the university accepted is a separate question, and you must ask the school directly.
What it costs, in real numbers
At Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, among 19 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $14,421. Among 17 students in the same population whose EFC family income was from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $14,418; among 67 students whose EFC family income was above $110,000, it was $25,934. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (19 students) and the average for the highest-income band (67 students) is $11,513. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $22,518.
Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, this university falls within the least expensive quarter for lower-income families after grants and scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it will be inexpensive for your family. It is one factor to weigh when deciding where to apply.
None of these figures is a price quote for your child. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The figure that matters is the financial-aid letter you receive. In the meantime, use the net price calculator on the school’s website.
How students pay: grants, loans, and other options
Out of every 100 degree-seeking students at this university, 88 received some form of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. Among those who received it, the average was $27,246 per year. That is real money, but it is not a price: the average includes people who received much more and people who received much less. The federal Pell Grant, for students with demonstrated financial need, went to 22 out of every 100.
On the debt side: in the 2022-23 year, 57 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan, averaging $6,543 that year among those who borrowed. Financing an education with debt is common here, not the exception. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years of a bachelor’s program, the total would be around $26,172, not including interest. That figure should be considered before the first signature, not at the end. And keep in mind that this average covers only federal loans taken out in the student’s name during one year: it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, or debt from banks or credit cards.
The university also reports offering an installment tuition-payment plan and participating in a Promise program as additional ways to manage costs.
Campus life and support
The university has its own housing, with capacity for 1,049 students, and it does not require all first-time students to live there. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week under its largest plan. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed will be available for your child: request the annual rate, the housing application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or there is a waiting list in writing.
As for ROTC, the university did not mark any opportunity of this kind in its most recent report—not the general checkbox or any of the three service branches. That does not prove that no option exists nearby; it only means none was reported there. If this matters to your family, ask admissions directly before ruling it out.
In athletics, the university competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with membership reported in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. This does not tell you whether there is a place on a team for your child or whether that specific sport offers scholarships: ask the coach directly and get the answer in writing.
Distance learning is also available: the university offers distance education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, although only 4 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their classes remotely. The university reported offering at least one complete distance-learning program, although the data do not indicate whether that program is undergraduate.
The library operates with paid staff, has physical and digital materials, and participates in interlibrary lending. Reported support services include combined academic and career counseling, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for members of the military and their families, and a webpage for disability services.
What happens to students after they enroll
This may be the part that should matter most to you because it addresses whether students stay and finish.
From a cohort of 215 first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who entered in the fall of 2022, 169—79 out of every 100—met the official retention criterion: they were still enrolled there or had already graduated one year later. Compared with 930 similar schools, this places the university slightly above the midpoint of the group. The other 46 were not included in that count, and the data do not reveal what happened to them: not returning is not the same as dropping out, because a student who transferred and continued studying elsewhere is counted the same as one who stopped studying.
As for graduation: of the 300 first-time, full-time students who began a bachelor’s degree in 2017, 203 had graduated from that same university within six years. That is 68 out of every 100. By four years, the figure was already 62 out of every 100—only 6 points below the final six-year result, indicating that a large share of those who graduate do so within the expected timeframe. Compared with 920 similar schools, half the group or more reported this same proportion or a lower one.
A third, broader measure follows students for eight years after they enter, including those who arrived part time or with previous study at another school. From a cohort of 579 students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016, as of August 2023, 66 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this university. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 64 out of every 100—only 3 points below the group without Pell Grants. Another 21 out of every 100 appear in the report as not yet having earned a credential from this university, although the data contain a gray area regarding exactly how many were still enrolled as of the reporting date; and another 13 out of every 100 had an unknown enrollment status, which does not mean they dropped out, only that the report could not determine their status.
Put simply: between 6 and 7 out of every 10 students who enter this university—across different ways of measuring the outcome—finish with a credential from it. That is not a promise for your child in particular. It is what has happened, collectively, to previous generations.
What you still cannot see here
These data do not include how much a graduate earns, whether they found employment in their field, or how much total debt they accumulated by graduation. That information comes from another source and is not authorized for use here. If that matters to you—and it matters greatly to most families—it is a separate question you will need to pursue.
How to put all of this together
You now understand one piece of the puzzle in depth: what Saint Mary's University of Minnesota really is and offers, according to its own official reports. You know that admission is accessible but has specific requirements. You know that its sticker price is high but that lower-income families, on average, end up paying considerably less. You know that most students who enter stay and that a substantial share graduate on time.
That piece alone does not decide anything. It is missing what your child wants to study and what your child has accomplished so far. It is missing what your family can and is willing to pay. The university’s role is to admit, deny, and offer aid. Your child’s role is their effort, their curiosity, and the direction of their life. Your role is to understand the family’s finances, request letters in writing, ask the questions these data do not answer, and support the decision without carrying it alone or leaving your child to carry it alone.
A real plan begins to take shape when those three pieces—the university, the student, and the family—come together.
Note on sources: The information in this article comes from official reports that Saint Mary's University of Minnesota submits to the United States Department of Education through the IPEDS system, corresponding primarily to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles. Best College Aid does not represent Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data to help you understand them.