AccessibleReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

St. Cloud State University acceptance rate and admissions profile

St. Cloud State University is a public university in Minnesota that admits most qualified applicants (around 95%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what St. Cloud State University weighs, where it ranks among Minnesota schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1100, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
95%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1100
of admitted students
Type
Public
Minnesota
Selectivity in state
#22
of 23 in MN
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Will I get into St. Cloud State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into St. Cloud State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into St. Cloud State University?

At St. Cloud State University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 95% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for St. Cloud State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is St. Cloud State University hard to get into?

St. Cloud State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 95% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into St. Cloud State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at St. Cloud State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. St. Cloud State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for St. Cloud State University?

St. Cloud State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1100. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at St. Cloud State University.

Calculate your chances at St. Cloud State University

What St. Cloud State University looks for

What St. Cloud State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

St. Cloud State University signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from St. Cloud State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at St. Cloud State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at St. Cloud State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How St. Cloud State University compares in Minnesota

St. Cloud State University ranks #22 most selective of 23 schools in Minnesota in our database.

Among the 23 Minnesota schools we track, St. Cloud State University ranks #22 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Carleton College (20%) and Crown College (23%) sit nearby, which makes Minnesota a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Carleton College
20%acceptance · MN
Crown College
23%acceptance · MN
Macalester College
29%acceptance · MN
Bethany Lutheran College
39%acceptance · MN
St. Olaf College
48%acceptance · MN
Bemidji State University
56%acceptance · MN
Minnesota State Moorhead
59%acceptance · MN
Gustavus Adolphus College
61%acceptance · MN
See all Minnesota schools →

Similar to St. Cloud State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If St. Cloud State University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Fresno State University, North Dakota State University, and University of New Mexico. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Fresno State University
95%acceptance · CA
North Dakota State University
95%acceptance · ND
University of New Mexico
95%acceptance · NM
Cal State San Marcos
95%acceptance · CA
Colorado State Pueblo
95%acceptance · CO
Pitt-Johnstown
95%acceptance · PA

Frequently asked questions

What does St. Cloud State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, St. Cloud State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does St. Cloud State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, St. Cloud State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at St. Cloud State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at St. Cloud State University specifically.

Is St. Cloud State University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm St. Cloud State University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1100; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

How does residency affect admission to St. Cloud State University?

As a public university, St. Cloud State University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.