Moderately selectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Winona State University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 75%, Winona State University is a moderately selective public university in Minnesota. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Winona 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
75%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1100
of admitted students
Type
Public
Minnesota
Selectivity in state
#10
of 23 in MN
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Will I get into Winona State University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Winona State University?

Winona State University admits most qualified applicants (around 75%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. 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 Winona State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Winona State University hard to get into?

Winona State University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 75% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Winona State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Winona State University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Winona 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 Winona State University?

Winona 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 Winona State University.

Calculate your chances at Winona State University

What Winona State University looks for

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

In its review, Winona State University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Winona 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
Important
Standardized test scores
Important

SAT score positioning at Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona State University compares in Minnesota

Winona State University ranks #10 most selective of 23 schools in Minnesota in our database.

Among the 23 Minnesota schools we track, Winona State University ranks #10 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 Winona State University

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

Build around Winona State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Coastal Carolina University, Miami University (Ohio), and Oklahoma State University. 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.

Coastal Carolina University
75%acceptance · SC
Miami University (Ohio)
75%acceptance · OH
Oklahoma State University
75%acceptance · OK
Alaska Fairbanks
75%acceptance · AK
Cal Poly Pomona
75%acceptance · CA
Cameron University
75%acceptance · OK

Frequently asked questions

What does Winona State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Winona State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Winona State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Winona State University?

As a public university, Winona 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.

What are the admission requirements for Winona State University?

Winona State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

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.