Winona State University College Portrait
Winona State University175 W Mark St. Winona, MN 55987
507-457-5100 / 800-DIAL-WSU
Winona State University
Founded in 1858, Winona State University started as the first teacher training institution west of the Mississippi and has since grown into the all-encompassing, innovative university it is today. WSU is known for its breadth of academic program choices, an engaged faculty, championship athletics and an outstanding community-minded student body.
At Winona State University, students find themselves immersed in a community of learners improving our world. The oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, WSU Offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate and doctorate programs. WSU has been featured as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for quality and value for thirteen years in a row. With an average class size of 26-30 and a student to faculty ratio of 19 to 1, you won’t be just another number to your professors and other faculty. The student-faculty relationships formed bring a high level of meaning and context to coursework, including undergraduate and graduate research.
Living in the Warriors Community
Nestled between the limestone river bluffs, beautiful Lake Winona and the Mississippi River, Winona State is surrounded by an inviting outdoors. Possessing every native tree in Minnesota on the WSU campus, you are sure to experience a truly unique natural beauty. Bring your inline skates, bike, fishing pole, golf clubs or hiking shoes. If it’s an outdoor activity, you can most likely do it in Winona. Our new Integrated Wellness Complex (set to open Fall 2010) will be another resource that allows for fitness, activities and demonstrates WSU’s commitment to health, wellness and sustainability.
Our city of 29,000 people is a great place for you to live, learn and get involved. With three higher education institutions, making up nearly one third of the total population, the area is clearly devoted to educating and preparing students. You will be able to step outside the classroom and participate in community service, clubs, organizations, intramural sports and athletics. Ranking among the top 25 safest campuses in the U.S., you can rest assured WSU is a safe place dedicated to the well being of its students.
Paving the way in technological advances, WSU provides an inspiring digital capability to its 8,450 students. Pop open your new WSU laptop and you’re connected to a resource-rich, 100% wireless academic campus. Acknowledging and implementing the shift toward more environmentally-friendly practices, WSU was named one of the country’s most environmentally-responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review. Committed to the sustainability of our community, WSU is dedicated to energy conservation, renewable energy and pollution prevention.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
| Total Students | 8,890 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 8,435 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 5,077 | 60% |
| Men | 3,358 | 40% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 12 | <1% |
| Asian | 145 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 168 | 2% |
| Hispanic | 186 | 2% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 10 | <1% |
| White | 7,351 | 87% |
| Two or More Races | 151 | 2% |
| International | 290 | 3% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 122 | 1% |
| Where do WSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 100% |
| Other US States & Territories | <1% |
| Other Countries | <1% |
| How old are WSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 14% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT |
|---|---|
| Composite | 21 - 25 |
| Math | 20 - 25 |
| English | 20 - 25 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 33% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 71% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 84% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.30 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 98% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $18,480.00
Annual tuition and fees for the following year are set by the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Board of Trustees and are typically available in mid-Summer.
Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend Winona State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 27% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $13,296.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 44% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $12,019.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
WSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 22 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 64% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 92% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 293 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 72% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 16% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 81% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
93% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
32% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
Winona State University is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Responsible for the physical security of all residence halls, academic buildings and grounds throughout the university, WSU Campus Security employs three full-time personnel with a combined 75 years of law enforcement experience. In addition, the team is staffed with approximately 60 student security guards who have attended mandatory training in conflict resolution, first aid, patrol tactics, crime prevention, community policing, self-defense, and more.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (medium programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (education dominant)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at WSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 98% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 58% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 25% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 83% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 24% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 60% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 68% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 14% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 98% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 96% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 69% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 70% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 95% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 55% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 79% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 98% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 71% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 66% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 84% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 38% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 84% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 87% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 88% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Winona State University in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 24 |
| Bachelor's | 1,513 |
| Master's | 135 |
| Doctoral | 1 |
| Total | 1,673 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 13% |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 11% |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 9% |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies | 5% |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at Winona State University |
|---|
Associate'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 87% four-year success and progress rate means that 87% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,718 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 417 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 78%
Student Learning at Winona State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Each academic program at Winona State has created a set of specific learning outcomes for students majoring in their program. These outcomes are assessed both directly and indirectly through capstone experiences, exams, internships, performances, assignments, and surveys. Data from the assessments are used to improve the learning experience for students.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
WSU is in the process of revising its General Education program, including revising the method of assessment for Critical Thinking and Writing Skills. As such, we have received an exception to the mandatory update for Student Experiences data so that we can be responsible stewards of the public funds with which we are entrusted. We anticipate that we will launch a new General Education assessment program in the 2012-13 academic year, with results available the following year.