Winona State University Acceptance Rate, Admissions & Graduation

Who This University Is and Where It Stands

Winona State University is classified by Carnegie—the system that categorizes United States colleges and universities according to what they do—as a master’s university with medium-sized programs. It is a four-year, primarily residential school: in the most recent snapshot of that classification (using data from 2019-20), between 25 and 49 out of every 100 degree-seeking undergraduate students lived in institution-controlled housing, and at least half studied full time. In other words, it is a university designed for students to live there and study full time, not a place they simply pass through at night.

In its undergraduate admissions profile, Carnegie places it in the "inclusive" category. It is worth pausing here because the label is more ambiguous than it sounds: that category combines two types of schools—those that did not report admissions scores and those that did report them but showed broad access. The data does not tell you which of the two describes Winona State. And if you found an older guide online that describes it differently, do not be confused: Carnegie changed its category between 2018 and 2021. Two sources saying different things does not mean that one is lying; you may be comparing snapshots from different years.

Geographically, it is in Winona County, Minnesota, in a town setting far from major cities. It is not an urban area. If your family does not live nearby, this is exactly the time to begin asking separately: Where would your child live? How would your child get to campus? How far from home would your child be on a normal day? The census code only locates the school’s address; it does not resolve the logistics of your own life.

Institutionally, it is a public university offering programs of four years or more, and the highest level it reports offering is the doctoral degree. In the IPEDS classification, that places it among degree-granting institutions that are primarily at the bachelor’s-degree level or above. Keep one thing in mind: the fact that the institution reports offering graduate programs does not tell you whether the specific major that interests your child exists there or whether there is a path connecting that bachelor’s degree to a graduate program in the same field. That must be asked program by program.

And one practical note that applies to every public university: always ask how much it charges an in-state resident and how much it charges someone from outside the state, and confirm which of those two figures you are being quoted. Without that, any price comparison among schools is incomplete.

Regarding special designations: Winona State University is not a historically Black college or university (HBCU), is not a tribal college or university, and is not a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of those three designations; this one has none. That says nothing about which communities it serves today or how your child would feel on that campus. If that question matters to you, the answer is not in a federal database: it lies in calling and asking which cultural centers and student organizations exist right now.

The Size of the Community and Who Makes It Up

In the official fall count, Winona State had 6,058 enrolled students: 5,267 undergraduates and 791 graduate students. It is neither a small school nor an enormous one; it falls within the range of 5,000 to 9,999 students, and compared with 519 selective-admission, four-year public schools in this same census, its size is among the most common: neither among the largest nor among the smallest. By enrollment volume, it is primarily an undergraduate school: for every graduate student, there are almost seven undergraduate students.

Of those 6,058, IPEDS estimates a full-time equivalent of 5,258 students, a way of counting part-time students proportionally; it does not measure each person’s actual course load. Separately, it reports 1,145 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking undergraduate students—that specific group, not everyone entering each year.

Here is something I want to tell you plainly: the size of a university does not predict anything about the attention your child will receive. A large school does not necessarily mean more options for your child specifically; a small school does not mean your child will receive more attention. Always ask about the specific major, never about the institution-wide average.

As for who makes up that community, in the fall of 2023:

Five out of every hundred is a small minority, and compared with the 519 selective-admission, four-year public schools in this census that report the data, Winona State falls in the group’s lowest quarter. This does not make the school bad—the number measures composition, not quality—but if your child will be one of the few Latino students on that campus, it makes sense to ask early which student groups, cultural supports, and Spanish-speaking resources are available today, and to speak with a current student before deciding. The number you see here is for the entire school; your child’s experience within a particular major may look different.

One missing data point is worth naming: this school did not report where its entering students came from geographically for the 2023 cycle. It is not zero; it is simply unavailable.

Academic Life: Calendar, Degrees, and Who Teaches

Winona State organizes its year into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. It is the standard calendar most families already know, with consistent dates for everyone.

The university reported accepting prior credit through two routes: AP exams and what IPEDS calls "credit for life experience"—learning acquired through independent study, adult courses, work experience, portfolios, previous licenses or certifications, or military and professional pathways. It also reports accepting credit for military training and enrolling high school students in college courses for credit, both within and outside a formal dual-enrollment program.

Here I have to give you a hard truth without dressing it up: the university’s statement that it accepts AP does not mean it will award your child credit for every exam taken. It does not say what scores are required or how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits will count toward the specific major chosen. Request a written transfer-credit evaluation before enrolling. Do not include those savings in the budget until you have it in hand.

As for degrees awarded: between July 2022 and June 2023, Winona State awarded 1,370 bachelor’s degrees across 21 different academic fields. No field accounts for a large share: the largest was health professions, and even it represented only 19 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. The offerings are broad, not concentrated in two or three flagship majors. Still, 21 recorded fields do not mean 21 specific majors—each field groups multiple programs, and some may have recorded zero degrees that year. Verify the exact program that interests your child, not the entire program family.

As for who teaches: the reported ratio is 15 full-time-equivalent students for every full-time equivalent instructional staff member. Compared with 519 similar schools in this census, it falls slightly below the group’s midpoint—neither among the lowest nor among the highest. It is a middle-of-the-range figure and decides nothing by itself. Importantly, this ratio does not tell you the actual size of a classroom. It is an institution-wide calculation, not a measure of how full your child’s classroom will be during the first semester.

The Academic Pathways and Opportunities Reported by the School

Winona State reports offering these structured pathways: study abroad, credit-bearing developmental education, preparation for teacher certification below the postsecondary level, the ability to complete preparation in certain teacher-specialization fields at the institution itself or elsewhere, and state approval of the program for initial teacher certification. If your child’s intended major points toward teaching or studying outside the country for a semester, these are specific questions you now have a basis to ask by name.

Getting In: What the University Requires and How Difficult Admission Is

Winona State does not have open admission: it reviews certain things before saying yes. Of the nine admissions considerations tracked by IPEDS (excluding standardized tests and legacy status), it marked four as required: the high school record, the high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory coursework required by the university, and an English-proficiency exam when applicable. Beyond those, only one additional item is considered if submitted voluntarily: the student’s rank within the graduating class. The essay and letters of recommendation are marked as not considered. The undergraduate application fee is $20.

If your child studied outside the United States or completed high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English-proficiency exam is required and what would qualify for an exemption. This is the kind of issue people discover late, when there is no longer enough time to resolve it comfortably.

Now for the question almost every family has in mind: How difficult is it to get in? In the 2023 cycle, Winona State received 6,159 first-time applications and offered admission to 4,220 applicants. That is 69 out of every 100—a moderately high acceptance rate compared with the other 519 selective public schools in this census, seven out of ten of which accepted an even higher percentage. Put another way: among families that apply, most receive a yes, but almost 3 out of every 10 do not. Admission is not guaranteed, but it is not a lottery either. The application is reviewed.

Being admitted and deciding to enroll are two different things. Out of every 100 students Winona State admitted for the first year of 2023, only 28 ultimately enrolled there. The other 72 had acceptance letters in hand and chose another school. Compared with the same group of 519 peers, this percentage is on the high side—a smaller share of admitted students enrolls at most of those schools. This number does not measure how difficult it is to get in; it measures what other families decided after receiving an acceptance letter. When your child’s letter arrives, this figure will not make the decision for you: place the letters from every school side by side and compare net price, major, and distance before the deposit deadline.

Regarding standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are optional. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application proceeds in the same way. In practice, almost no one submits them here: only 2 out of every 100 enrolled students submitted the SAT, and that group consisted of only 19 people—a sample so small that the score ranges calculated from it (between 510 and 610 in reading and writing, and between 470 and 640 in mathematics) should not be treated as either a threshold or a guarantee.

And here is a point that is almost never discussed and carries considerable weight here: of the cohort that entered in 2017 seeking a bachelor’s degree, 28 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing at Winona State within six years. That is a high figure compared with the other 395 selective public schools in this census. At the same time, the university also receives a high volume of transfer students: 412 students entered in the fall of 2023 from another institution. The data does not explain why those who leave do so or whether they did well or poorly at their new schools. It only counts the movement. And remember this: a student who transfers is not counted as a graduate of this university, even if the student completes a degree elsewhere. That is important to keep in mind when we reach graduation rates later.

The Price: What It Costs and What Is Actually Paid

At Winona State University, among 54 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid in-state or in-district tuition, and had EFC records showing family income below $30,000, the average net price was $11,400. Among 85 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $15,495; among 227 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $21,306. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.

The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (54 students) and the average for the highest-income band (227 students) is $9,906. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $18,919.

$11,400 was the average net price for the lowest-income families in the 2022-23 academic year. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.

The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district tuition rate. The overall average for students 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; it also uses that tuition rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.

How Families Actually Pay: Grants, Loans, and Options

Aid that does not have to be repaid—grants and scholarships—reached 69 out of every 100 degree- or certificate-seeking students, with an annual average of $5,713 among recipients. The Pell Grant, specifically for low-income families, reached 24 out of every 100. The difference between those two figures may include state, institutional, or other aid that this breakdown does not distinguish; ask directly which programs make it up.

On the debt side: in the 2022-23 school year, 52 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan, averaging $6,129 per student that year. Compared with 519 selective public schools in this census, this share is on the high side: financing with debt is common here, not the exception. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year for all four years of the plan, the total would be around $24,516, excluding interest—and that figure is decided before the first signature, not at the end of the journey. That average, moreover, covers only federal loans in the student’s name for one year; it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or the total debt with which someone graduates.

The university also reports offering an installment tuition payment plan as a formal mechanism for managing the cost.

Here is a truth I will not soften: these percentages describe other families, not yours. The amount your child would need to borrow comes from your child’s own financial aid letter, which arrives after applying. Wait for it before ruling out this school and before committing to it.

Campus Life, Learning Format, and Available Support

Winona State has institution-controlled housing, with reported capacity for 1,853 students, either on or off campus. No first-time, full-time student is universally required to live there—although that does not rule out the possibility that a specific program may require it. It also offers meal plans with a variable number of meals depending on the plan selected. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed will be available for your child specifically: request the year’s rate, the application deadline, and whether your child is guaranteed a place or will be placed on a waiting list, all in writing.

ROTC is available, and the only branch confirmed in writing is Army; Navy and Air Force are not marked, which does not mean they are unavailable, only that they are not confirmed in this report—ask directly if your child is interested in another branch.

The university competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA (not with the other named associations). It reports participation in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. This membership belongs to the institution; it is not a promise to your child. If your child is interested in competing, write directly to the coach in that sport and ask about roster availability, division, and athletic scholarships.

Regarding learning format: Winona State offers distance education at the undergraduate and graduate levels and reports at least one complete program that can be completed at a distance (you must confirm at which level and in which field). In the fall count, only 9 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all their classes at a distance; the other 91 took at least one course in person.

The library operates with hired staff, spending above the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government, a physical and digital collection, and interlibrary lending. The services and support that the institution reports or publishes include combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services after program completion, on-campus child care, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a point of contact for veterans and military personnel, a veterans’ student organization, and a webpage of services for people with disabilities.

What Happens After Enrollment: Retention and Graduation

For many families, this is the most important section because it shows how likely a student is to stay and finish.

Of the first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in the fall of 2022 (1,157 people), 897 met the official retention criterion the following year: 78 out of every 100 were still enrolled at Winona State or had already completed a bachelor’s degree. Compared with 519 selective public schools in this census, this figure falls slightly above the group’s midpoint—neither among the best nor among the worst.

Regarding graduation: IPEDS tracked 1,593 students who entered in 2017 as first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students. After six years, 954 had graduated there: 60 out of every 100. But after four years—the timeframe most families budget for—the figure falls to 45 out of every 100. The gap of 15 points measures how much the share with bachelor’s degrees increased between the four-year and six-year checkpoints for the same cohort. The data does not say how many semesters each person attended and does not report tuition, rent, or wages. Before signing anything, it is worth asking in writing how long the major that interests your child usually takes in practice and how its required courses are scheduled.

Of the rest of that same cohort of 1,593: 16 completed a program shorter than a bachelor’s degree within the timeframe; 452 transferred without completing at Winona State; 6 remained enrolled without completing; and 165 fell into the federal "no longer enrolled" category—which does not explain the reason and may include people who completed after the cutoff. Compared with 518 selective public schools in this census, Winona State’s graduation rate falls at or above the group’s midpoint.

There is also a broader eight-year measure: from an annual cohort of 2,391 students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016 (full time and part time, first-time students and those with prior experience), 65 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school by the August 2023 cutoff. Among those who specifically received a Pell Grant, the figure was 59 out of every 100—8 points below those who did not receive one. If your family would qualify for Pell today, this does not determine what will happen to your child, but it is a legitimate question you can ask the school directly: What specifically is available for those students—an assigned advisor, emergency aid, annual renewal of the institution’s grant? Ask for the answer in writing.

What Still Belongs to You

You now know, as thoroughly as the official data allows, one complete part of the journey: who this university is, what it requires for admission, what it actually costs based on a family’s income, how families pay in practice, and how likely a student is to stay and finish. None of these numbers decides for you. I did not invent them to reassure or frighten you, either: they are the numbers that exist.

What belongs to your child—the effort, curiosity, chosen major, and the life your child wants to build—remains entirely your child’s. What belongs to you is the family’s money, the deadlines, the documents, and asking the questions this guide has already prepared for you: the written evaluation of AP credits, the English exam if applicable, the financial aid letter before deciding, the fine print on housing, and the actual time required to complete the major. The university’s role is to admit, offer aid, and answer clearly when you ask.

Combine this part with what your child wants to study and what your family can afford without being overwhelmed. A plan emerges from that combination, not from any single number.

Source note: The information in this article comes from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and the United States Department of Education, with data corresponding primarily to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles. Best College Aid does not represent Winona State University or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data to help you understand it.