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Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

#1150 in US ranking Winona, MN
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$59,500
Tuition & fees
$46,660
Avg. aid
$29,256
Receiving aid
100%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
93%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
66%
Median salary
$49,564
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is different from accreditation or approval of a particular professional program.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can matter when credits are considered for transfer. It does not require another college to accept a specific course. Students pursuing a licensed profession should separately confirm their program's current specialized accreditation or state approval and the rules in the state where they intend to practice. This is especially important for fields such as teaching, nursing, and counseling, where degree completion alone may not satisfy every licensing requirement.

What are the admission requirements at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

First-year undergraduate applicants generally submit an application and a secondary-school transcript showing high school completion or an accepted equivalent. Saint Mary's considers the secondary-school academic record and GPA; it does not have an open-admission policy.

Reported first-year admissions criteria do not require SAT or ACT scores, class rank, or recommendations. An applicant should not treat an optional item as a condition of admission unless the current application or a specific program says otherwise. International applicants may need to document English-language proficiency, and requirements can differ for transfer, graduate, and professional applicants.

In the reported admissions cycle, Saint Mary's admitted 1,337 of 1,441 first-year applicants, about 93%. That figure describes one applicant pool, not an individual applicant's likelihood of admission or eligibility for a particular major. Applicants should confirm the current application calendar and any program-specific materials before submitting.

What are the application fees and waivers at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

An applicant should check the fee shown in Saint Mary's current application pathway before submitting; undergraduate, graduate, and professional applications may use different procedures. An application charge, if one applies, is separate from an enrollment deposit or other post-admission payment.

Applicants who need a fee waiver should ask the admissions office about eligibility and how to request one before submitting a payment. The applicable procedure may depend on whether they apply directly to Saint Mary's or through another application platform.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

Prospective students should not assume that Saint Mary's operates an Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC unit on its Winona campus. Anyone planning to participate in ROTC should establish whether a current cross-enrollment arrangement is available before making an enrollment decision.

If participation through a host institution is possible, practical questions include travel between campuses, course scheduling, physical-training requirements, and whether the host program accepts Saint Mary's students. ROTC scholarship rules and eventual service obligations are set through the relevant military program, not simply by admission to the university.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

Saint Mary's accepts transfer applicants and generally considers coursework from other accredited institutions. Transfer admission and transfer-credit acceptance are separate decisions: being admitted does not mean every previous course will fulfill a Saint Mary's degree requirement.

Applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from colleges attended and should check whether their application also requires a high school record. Reported transfer entry options include fall, spring, and summer. The university also reports accepting certain examination-based and evaluated learning credits, including CLEP, DSST, and ACE-recommended credit, subject to its applicable policies.

Before enrolling, a transfer applicant should request a course-by-course evaluation showing which credits count toward the intended major, general education, or electives. That evaluation is more useful for planning time to degree than a total of accepted credits alone. Program prerequisites and minimum credits that must be completed at Saint Mary's can also affect the final plan.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?

Saint Mary's students interested in studying abroad should begin with academic advising so an overseas experience fits their degree plan. Program availability, destinations, and formats can change by term and may differ between undergraduate and graduate study.

Before committing to a semester, summer, or shorter international program, students should establish who operates it, how courses will be approved for Saint Mary's credit, and whether it meets requirements in their major. They should also request a program-specific budget: airfare, housing, insurance, and personal expenses may differ substantially from a semester in Winona, and the treatment of institutional and federal aid depends on the approved program and the student's eligibility.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions Factors

Acceptance rate
93%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
93%
Minnesota
85%
US
78%

19% of admitted students enrolled (252 of 1,337)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions

Applicants
Total: 1,441
Admission
Total: 1,337
Enrolled
Total: 252
Women
Men

How to Apply to Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 167
Out-of-state: 83
International: 5

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 255
Transfer: 88

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admission Requirements

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

10%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Neither required nor recommended

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Neither required nor recommended

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Neither required nor recommended

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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