Western Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Western Illinois University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Western Illinois University
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Western Illinois University (71.2% admitted vs 92.8%). Typical SAT 990 vs N/A.
  • Cheaper after aid: Western Illinois University. Average net price is $14,208 vs $22,032 at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
  • Graduation: Western Illinois University 53% vs Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Western Illinois University $46,000 vs Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Western Illinois University Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Acceptance rate
Western Illinois University more selective
Western Illinois University71.2%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota92.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Western Illinois University higher
Western Illinois University880-1090
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota-
Average net price
Western Illinois University $7,824 less
Western Illinois University$14,208
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota$22,032
In-state tuition
Western Illinois University $29,816 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota$45,080
Out-of-state tuition
Western Illinois University $29,816 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota$45,080
Graduation rate
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota +9 pts
Western Illinois University53%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota62%
Median earnings (10 years)
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota +$2,400
Western Illinois University$46,000
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota$48,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Western Illinois University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Western Illinois University Check my chances at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Admission chances
  • Western Illinois University My Chances
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota My Chances
  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average high school GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical high school grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT range
  • Western Illinois University 880-1090
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT range
  • Western Illinois University 18-24
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit test scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average net price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average grant aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median loan payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Illinois University is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 4,505 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 1.1% lower than at Western Illinois University ($11,200 vs. $11,320).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 195.3% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Western Illinois University (about $29,816 more per year; $45,080 vs. $15,264).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Western Illinois University (100% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 135.7% larger than aid received by Western Illinois University students ($35,348 vs. $14,994).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Western Illinois University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota average a 3.49 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at Western Illinois University (3.45).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Western Illinois University vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $1,454 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($240 vs. $255).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation (72% vs. 61%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Western Illinois University
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges