Winona State University

Public · Moderately Selective · MN

Photo: Wikideas1 (CC0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMN · Midwest

SettingRural

Undergrads5,144

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate38.4%

6-yr grad rate56.9%

Drop-out rate21%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$11k

Out-of-state tuition$17k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity19.1%

Gender diversity68.7%

International1.8%

Identity—

Overview

Winona State is the oldest member of the Minnesota State system, set between Mississippi River bluffs in southeastern Minnesota in one of the more scenic campus settings in the Upper Midwest. It is best known for nursing, education, and a specialty in composite materials engineering, and it has long equipped every student with a laptop as part of a campus-wide technology program.

Academics

Nursing and teacher education are Winona State's largest and most established programs, both with long track records placing graduates regionally. The composite materials engineering program is a genuine niche strength, uncommon among schools of its size, connected to the university's broader emphasis on applied, technology-integrated learning that grew out of its early laptop initiative.

Campus & student life

The bluff-and-river setting is central to the school's identity, with hiking and outdoor recreation close at hand and a small-city downtown within walking distance of campus. Winona itself is a compact river town, giving the campus a tight-knit, contained feel.

Getting in

As part of the Minnesota State system, admission is largely predictable based on coursework and grades rather than a heavily individualized holistic review.

Worth knowing

The laptop program is a long-standing part of Winona State's identity rather than a recent initiative, and it shapes how coursework across majors, not just technical ones, is delivered.

winona.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate75.5%

Enrolled mid-50%1140

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying