Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Winona, Minnesota
68.5% Acceptance Rate
Winona State University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
68.5%Acceptance Rate
3.44Avg GPA
1119Avg SAT
22Avg ACT
$23,373Annual Cost
$58,532Grad Salary
23.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
68.5%
Avg GPA
3.44
Avg SAT
1119
Avg ACT
22
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
980–1250
ACT Middle 50%
19–25
Avg Net Price
$18,148
Need-Based Aid
23.5% receive Pell
Winona State University, founded in 1858, is Minnesota's first normal school with strengths in education and healthcare. The campus features the new Education Village. WSU's 'Warrior Success' program ensures academic support.
Winona State University Acceptance Rate
Winona State University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 68.5% each year.
What Winona State University Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 68.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.44 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.24 – 3.43
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.99
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Winona State University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Winona State University is December 15 for Spring applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 126 days left — Spring
Spring
December 15
Fall Priority
March 1
Fall Final
August 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 15, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Winona State University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Winona State University is 3.44. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.14–3.44 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.64–3.84.Winona State University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.44 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.24 – 3.43
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.04 – 3.23
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.03
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Overall acceptance rate approximately 75%; a 3.0 GPA guarantees admission to WSU, making it an accessible entry point for students who can then compete for selective internal programs like nursing.
- Nursing has two tracks: Direct Admission (ACT 27+/SAT 1280+, 3.75 college GPA, no W/repeats in prerequisites) and Holistic Admission (3.0 college GPA, competitive pool); students apply to the major after at least 45 credits and five natural sciences completed.
- WSU-Rochester is co-located on the RCTC campus and offers a formal "Path to Purple" 2+2 partnership - a distinct entry pipeline for regional and transfer students, separate from the main Winona campus.
- Rolling admissions with no published cutoff deadline; no supplemental essay required for general undergraduate admission; test-optional with middle-50% ACT range of 19?25.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Winona State University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Winona State University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Winona State University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Winona State University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Winona State University Without SAT or ACT?
Winona State University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Winona State University Average SAT Score: 1119
The average SAT score of admitted students at Winona State University is 1119 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1119 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1250 SAT or 25 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Winona State University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 980, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Winona State University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 555 | 470 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 560 | 510 | 610 |
| SAT Composite | 1119 | 980 | 1250 |
Below 980, you're behind most admitted students; at 1250 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into Winona State University with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of Winona State University's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Winona State University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Winona State University is 22.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 22 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 18 | 25 |
| ACT English | 21 | 18 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 19 | 25 |
Can I get into Winona State University with a 25 ACT?
A 25 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Winona State University's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Winona State University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Winona State University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Winona State University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Earn the 3.0 GPA Guarantee - But Don't Stop There
WSU's published automatic admission threshold is a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, which is lower than most regional public universities. If you're above that floor, your application is essentially pre-approved for general university admission. Use the time you would have spent agonizing over a personal statement on something more strategic: building your high school course rigor so you enter WSU in the strongest academic bracket possible, which directly affects your nursing or competitive-program eligibility down the road.
Understand That Nursing Is a Separate, Internal Application - Not a Freshman Admit
WSU's Pre-Licensure Nursing program operates on a two-track internal system: Direct Admission (ACT 27+/SAT 1280+ and a cumulative 3.75 college GPA) or Holistic Admission (minimum 3.0 college GPA). Students don't enter as "nursing majors" - they enter as pre-nursing candidates and must apply to the major after completing at least 45 college credits and five natural sciences. If nursing is your goal, declare yourself a pre-nursing candidate on day one, complete the Direct Admission Agreement within the first two weeks of enrollment, and do not withdraw from or repeat any nursing prerequisite course, as a single W or repeat kills Direct Admission eligibility.
Map Your Path to Rochester if the Twin Cities Pipeline Is Your Goal
WSU-Rochester operates on the RCTC campus and explicitly partners with Rochester Community and Technical College through the "Path to Purple" 2+2 completion program. If you're interested in health care administration, counselor education, or graduate nursing and are based in southeastern Minnesota, starting at RCTC and transferring upper-division credits to WSU-Rochester may be more cost-effective and logistically practical than four years in Winona. Know both campus tracks and choose intentionally rather than defaulting to the main campus.
Leverage the eWarrior Laptop Program as a Signal, Not Just a Perk
Every WSU undergraduate receives a fully configured laptop through the eWarrior program, and the university actively promotes this as a differentiator within the MinnState system. For students entering Computer Science, Business, or Education, this signals an institutional commitment to equipping students with current tools from day one. In any scholarship essays or honors applications, demonstrate that you understand WSU's learning philosophy - readers reward applicants who have done more than glance at the homepage.
Expert Insight:
The most common failure point at WSU nursing is treating the 3.0 admission GPA as the nursing GPA target. Students who coast through freshman prerequisites with B-range grades are frequently shocked when holistic nursing admission turns out to be competitive and they haven't built the GPA buffer (3.75 for Direct Admission) needed to guarantee entry. Additionally, the nursing program requires CNA certification and active registry status before upper-division courses begin - students who apply to the major without verifying their CNA status face delays of a full semester or more.
Winona State University Profile
Full Name
Winona State University
City
Winona
State
Minnesota
ZIP Code
55987-5838
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Winona State University Degree Worth It?
Winona State University offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $68,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.68%.
How much does a degree from Winona State University Cost?
The sticker price is $23,373/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $18,148.
23.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 51.7% take federal loans at Winona State University. File your FAFSA early and list Winona State University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Winona State University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $58,532. That's about 44% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Winona State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain, CT | 1091 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Winona State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Winona State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Winona State University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Winona State University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Winona State University run about $58,532 a year.
At about $23,373 a year, Winona State University is on the more affordable end.
Winona State University's Pell Grant rate of 23.5% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 68.5%, Winona State University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Winona State University average a 3.44 GPA.
Winona State University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.14 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.04, Winona State University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Winona State University — aim above 1119, ideally within the 980–1250 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Winona State University is December 15 for Spring applicants.
The application fee is 20. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 15, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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