Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Saint Mary's University of Minnesota #519 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,854 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's University of Minnesota #214 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's composite ranking reflects strong alignment between cost and outcomes for students seeking a private college experience. The institution earns about $14,854 more than similar students at comparable institutions, demonstrating consistent performance relative to peer institutions.
Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's University of Minnesota #519 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Winona, Minnesota, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota enrolls roughly 1,073 undergraduates. Retention stands at 74.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 66.0%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Saint Mary's University of Minnesota performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's University of Minnesota #214 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,854 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in the 92.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business, a field that consistently delivers solid career outcomes and employer demand. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota sits in the 5.5 percentile for access and the 85.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private institution, the sticker price is higher than at public universities, though need-based aid reshapes net cost for families that qualify. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 42.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting solid career progression for graduates relative to peer institutions.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's published cost of attendance is $57,380. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $16,182, middle-income families pay around $15,030, and higher-income families pay approximately $6,135. Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's University of Minnesota #210 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Saint Mary's participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The difference between published cost and net price reflects the institution's need-based aid reach; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine their aid eligibility. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,676; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,502, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private university experience in MN. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,502, placing Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in the 73.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $14,854 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 92.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 24.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.2% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place it in the 64.5% percentile for Pell completion among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 92.8% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors business and related fields over STEM or health sciences. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes relative to MN's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $35,273.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Saint Mary's University Of Minnesota hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ursuline College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15403 ranked) | OH | 75% | $56,878 | #15403 | Compare |
Concordia University-Saint Paul Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15402 ranked) | MN | 79% | $59,871 | #15402 | Compare |
Widener University Similar quality tier (#15395 ranked) | PA | 71% | $70,920 | #15395 | Compare |
Franklin And Marshall College Similar quality tier (#15390 ranked) | PA | 28% | $76,124 | #15390 | Compare |
Concordia University-Chicago Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15418 ranked) | IL | 93% | $54,089 | #15418 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's published cost of attendance is $57,380. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $16,182, middle-income families pay around $15,030, and higher-income families pay approximately $6,135.
Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's University of Minnesota #210 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Saint Mary's participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The difference between published cost and net price reflects the institution's need-based aid reach; families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine their aid eligibility.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,676; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,502, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn median 4-year earnings of $72,502, placing Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in the 73.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota sits in the 92.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's University of Minnesota #214 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on career-ready programming and strong employer relationships in the Upper Midwest region.
The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program by aggregate return, combining substantial enrollment with solid mid-career earnings.
The Business Administration program graduates 49 students annually and earns median 4-year earnings of $74,942, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. Data Analytics and Psychology, General round out the top enrollments, while Digital Marketing graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $76,285 and Information Science/Studies earns 18 graduates annually.
The concentration in Business — representing 29% of degrees — aligns with regional labor-market demand and contributes to the institution's consistent return on investment profile.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
10 graduates
Human Resources Management and Services
9 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
15 graduates
Marketing
21 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
49 graduates
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private Catholic liberal arts university in the Upper Midwest. Business Administration is the largest program with 49 graduates annually, followed by Data Analytics, Psychology, General, Digital Marketing, and Information Science/Studies.
Across 27 programs, the institution concentrates its degree output in Business (representing 29% of graduates) and Education (representing 6% of graduates), with meaningful enrollment in Arts as well. The highest-earning programs cluster in applied business and professional fields.
Criminal Justice leads with median earnings of $79,464 four years after enrollment across 15 graduates, followed by Digital Marketing with median earnings of $76,285 and Business Administration with median earnings of $74,942. Finance and Health Administration round out the top earners, with graduates earning $74,642 and $66,139 respectively.
This earnings pattern reflects the institution's strength in fields where employers in the Upper Midwest region actively recruit and where direct-to-workforce pathways dominate. The concentration in business and professional programs positions Saint Mary's University of Minnesota as a career-focused institution where most graduates enter the labor market directly rather than pursuing graduate study.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in accounting, management, and applied professional fields.
