Saint Mary's University of Minnesota vs Central College
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Central College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Saint Mary's, a private Catholic university, boasts a higher acceptance rate (85%) compared to Central's 75%. Saint Mary's student body is more diverse, with 38% students of color, while Central's student body is predominantly White (88%). Central, a private liberal arts college, excels in the sciences, with popular majors in biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Saint Mary's, on the other hand, offers strengths in business, education, and nursing. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Saint Mary's at 70% and Central at 68%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions and determine which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Central College |
![]() Saint Mary's University of Minnesota |
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Overview |
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Location | Pella, Iowa | Winona, Minnesota |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 79.0% | 79.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | Catholic |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 74.5% | 97.8% |
Application fees | $25 | |
SAT range | 1000 - 1260 | N/A |
ACT range | 19 - 25 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 10.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 67.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,202 | 1,587 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,641 | 1,552 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 340 | 234 |
Yield rate | 20.7% | 15.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $34,302 | $53,010 |
Average net price | $22,966 | $21,606 |
Tuition | $19,250 | $38,780 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,892
Meal plan:
$5,660
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Room/dormitory:
$5,550
Meal plan:
$4,370
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $10,353 |
100.0%
Average amount $29,804 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
73.0%
Average amount $5,605 |
64.0%
Average amount $5,074 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $12,712 |
18.0%
Average amount $13,389 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,139
Men 51.3% Women 48.7% |
1,246
Men 43.9% Women 56.1% |
Graduate students | N/A |
3,455
Men 27.9% Women 72.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 0.1% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,405 | 982 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 66.1% | 56.7% |
Dropout rate | 2.5% | 43.3% |
Transferred out | 31.0% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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