Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Northland College

Deciding between Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Northland College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Northland College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Northland College Ashland, WI
  • Setting
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Northland College Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Northland College 286
  • Type
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • Northland College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Northland College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Northland College United Church of Christ
  • Status
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Northland College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Northland College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Northland College $44,403
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Northland College $44,403
  • Room & Board
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Northland College $11,600
  • Average Net Price
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Northland College $23,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • Northland College $33,572
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%
  • Northland College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Northland College Calculate
  • Applied
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Northland College 947
  • Admitted
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Northland College 710
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Northland College 75%
  • Enrolled
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Northland College 9.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Northland College 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Northland College 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Northland College 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Northland College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Northland College Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Northland College
  • ACT Range
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Northland College 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Northland College 950/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Northland College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027
  • Northland College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Northland College 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Northland College
    • Natural Resources Conservation (23%)
    • Biology (22%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Physical Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Northland College 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Northland College $34,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Northland College 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Northland College $26,943
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240
  • Northland College $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • Northland College 58%
  • % Women
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Northland College 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • Northland College Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Northland College No
  • % White
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • Northland College 83%
  • % Asian
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • Northland College 0%
  • % Black
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • Northland College 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • Northland College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • Northland College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % International
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • Northland College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%
  • Northland College 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • Northland College 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%
  • Northland College 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Northland College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Northland College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Northland College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Northland College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Northland College No
  • Learn More
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Details
  • Northland College Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN with Northland College in Ashland, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is larger than Northland College based on total student enrollment (4,505 students vs. 286 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is located in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting); Northland College is in Ashland, WI (Remote Town setting).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northland College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1; Northland College 5:1.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Northland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or Northland College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than Northland College ($22,032 vs. $23,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 3.4% lower than at Northland College ($11,200 vs. $11,600).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northland College (about $677 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $44,403.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Northland College (about $677 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $44,403.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota as at Northland College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 5.3% larger than aid received by Northland College students ($35,348 vs. $33,572).

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Northland College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota or Northland College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northland College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthland College 950/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorthland College 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free; Northland College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Northland College (3.3).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Northland College (75%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. 9.6% at Northland College.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs. Northland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Northland College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Northland College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than Northland College graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $3,693 lower median loan debt than Northland College graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,943).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northland College graduates ($240 vs. $278).
  • More Northland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.