Saint Cloud State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It enrolls 5,088 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes21
Value85
Affordability51
Selectivity18
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 94.8%, Saint Cloud State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
94.8%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1025 – 1260
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Saint Cloud State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Saint Cloud State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,529 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,529
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
24%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$10,245
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,596
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,596
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,116
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,909
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,871
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,034
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,781
Over $110,000
$18,989
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,058Medianpercentile
$25,16275%percentile
$32,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,783
↓ $5,275
No Pell $12,702
↓ $8,356
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $7,058
Independent students $16,611
↓ $4,447
Female students $14,400
↓ $6,658
Male students $14,250
↓ $6,808
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($21,058), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
46% of full-time students who enrolled at Saint Cloud State University graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
46%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $55,813 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,813
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$45,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,900, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Saint Cloud State University is home to 5,088 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
5,088
Part-Time
21%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.5%2,978
International 13.9%706
Black 12.9%658
Hispanic 5.3%270
Other 4.5%229
Asian 4.2%211
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Saint Cloud State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CitySaint Cloud, Minnesota
Housing
Partly residential1,116 beds available
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Saint Cloud State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
108 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Cloud State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$15,085
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$42M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$100,368
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
331 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
171
52%
$113,108
Associate Professors
85
26%
$94,941
Assistant Professors
64
19%
$79,019
Instructors
11
3%
$68,467
Pros & Cons of Saint Cloud State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Saint Cloud State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Saint Cloud State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Cloud State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Saint Cloud State University.
Is Saint Cloud State University hard to get into?
Saint Cloud State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 94.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Cloud State University?
Saint Cloud State University has an acceptance rate of 94.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Saint Cloud State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Cloud State University scored between 1025 and 1260 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Saint Cloud State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Cloud State University scored between 17 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Saint Cloud State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Saint Cloud State University is $13,529 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Saint Cloud State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,813 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,529 per year. That's roughly 4.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Saint Cloud State University known for?
Saint Cloud State University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Saint Cloud State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Saint Cloud State University are $55,813, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Saint Cloud State University accredited?
Yes. Saint Cloud State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Saint Cloud State University?
Saint Cloud State University enrolls 5,088 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Cloud State University?
Saint Cloud State University graduates 46% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Saint Cloud State University a public or private college?
Saint Cloud State University is a Public institution.
Where is Saint Cloud State University located?
Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.
What programs does Saint Cloud State University offer?
Saint Cloud State University offers 108 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Cloud State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Cloud State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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