10-yr median earnings
$58,532
Federal aid recipients only
Public · Winona, Minnesota
Winona State University
Winona State University is a public institution in Winona, Minnesota. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $17,503
- Avg net price / yr
- $58,532
- 10-yr median earnings
- 59.0%
- 150%-time completion
- 75.5%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
Winona State University pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with a moderately open admit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 17%
- former-student earnings, US
- 75.5%
- acceptance rate
- 59.0%
- 150%-time completion
- +14%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Town: Distant
Carnegie: Master's (M)
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Winona State University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
C+
College Value Score
60/100
Winona State University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A-
$58,532
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price D
$17,503
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate C-
59.0%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$21,500
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
84.7%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention C
79.0%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$17,503
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
59.0%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 59.0%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Winona State University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Winona State University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Winona State University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$58,532 Top 17% higher than 83% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Winona State University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $58,532 | #875 of 5103 | 83rd |
| Average net price | $17,503 | #2578 of 5020 | 49th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 59.0% | #2292 of 4858 | 53rd |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,144 | #727 of 5462 | 87th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
5,144
Undergraduate enrollment
75.5%
Acceptance rate
-
SAT average
59.0%
150%-time completion
$58,532
10-yr median earnings
79.0%
First-year retention
How Winona State University ranks in Minnesota
State rank among 96 reporting Minnesota colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Winona State University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $58,532 | #21 of 96 | 78th |
| Average net price | $17,503 | #43 of 82 | 48th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 59.0% | #34 of 80 | 57th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,144 | #12 of 85 | 86th |
Highest former-student earnings in Minnesota
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | $79,652 | - |
| 2 | Saint Johns University | $76,786 | $25,672 |
| 3 | Carleton College | $75,525 | $25,407 |
| 4 | University of St Thomas | $73,739 | $29,155 |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $69,020 | $16,778 |
| 6 | University of Minnesota-Rochester | $69,020 | $13,744 |
| 7 | The College of Saint Scholastica | $65,934 | $27,846 |
| 8 | Gustavus Adolphus College | $65,607 | $22,900 |
| 9 | St Olaf College | $65,543 | $23,874 |
| 10 | Metropolitan State University | $64,705 | $16,863 |
| 11 | Macalester College | $63,878 | $32,149 |
| 12 | Bethel University | $63,764 | $28,556 |
| 21 | Winona State UniversityThis school | $58,532 | $17,503 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 75.5% |
| ACT Average | 22 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Winona State University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$10,224 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$11,792 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$13,814 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$21,307 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Winona State University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $10,576 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $17,308 |
| Average Net Price | $17,503 |
24.2%
Pell Grant Rate
48.6%
Federal Loan Rate
$21,500
Median Debt
$228/mo
Monthly Payment
Net price at Winona State University swings rather than trends
Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $17,393 to $18,148 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +4.3%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.
Lowest year
$17,393
Highest year
$18,148
Most recent (2023)
$18,148
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $17,4082023 · $18,148
Over the same years, enrollment went -37.0% (8,079 → 5,088 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
66.4%
Female
21.2%
First Generation
Outcomes
79.0%
Retention Rate
$51,288
Median Earnings (6yr)
76.1%
Earning Over $25K
84.7%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 59.0% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 79.0% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $51,288 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $58,532 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 76.1% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 84.7% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $228/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 36 | 1,422 | $61,032 | $91,528 | $22,244 |
| Master's | 4 | 72 | $73,291 | $134,654 | - |
| Doctoral | 1 | 0 | $123,651 | $123,651 | $44,750 |
| Associate's | 1 | 53 | $50,823 | $50,823 | $12,000 |
Top programs at Winona State University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$134,654 median earnings
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$123,651 median earnings
- Materials Engineering
Materials Engineering
$91,528 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$88,164 median earnings
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$80,117 median earnings
- Management Information Sys…
Management Information Systems and Services
$76,708 median earnings
- Finance and Financial Mana…
Finance and Financial Management Services
$75,807 median earnings
- Clinical/Medical Laborator…
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
$73,400 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
Nearby Schools
Minnesota State College Southeast
Winona, MN
1,388 students
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN
1,073 students
The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska
Onalaska, WI
67 students
Western Technical College
La Crosse, WI
3,183 students
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI
9,277 students
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
Willow Street, PA
$17,505 net price · $2 apart
University of Maine
Orono, ME
$17,510 net price · $7 apart
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI
$17,490 net price · $13 apart
Bowling Green State University-Firelands
Huron, OH
$17,480 net price · $23 apart
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Winona State University? ▼
Winona State University is a public institution in Winona, Minnesota. The acceptance rate is 75.5%. Undergraduate enrollment is 5,144 students.
How much do Winona State University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Winona State University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $58,532 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $51,288.
How much does Winona State University cost? ▼
The average net price at Winona State University is $17,503. In-state tuition is $10,576 and out-of-state tuition is $17,308. Median student debt at graduation is $21,500.
What is the graduation rate at Winona State University? ▼
Winona State University has a 59.0% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 79.0%.
Is Winona State University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Winona State University is $21,500, while former students earn a median of $58,532 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 37% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 84.7% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $228.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Winona State University
- Compare Winona State University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Minnesota side by side.Browse Minnesota
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.