St. Cloud State University Admissions

ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Financial Aid & More

Miller Learning Resource Center at St. Cloud State University
Miller Learning Resource Center at St. Cloud State University. Xylem22 / Wikimedia Commons
by Allen Grove
Updated November 07, 2017

St. Cloud State University Admissions Overview:

To apply to St. Cloud State, applicants will need to submit: an application (which can be completed online, or through the mail), high school transcripts, and scores from either the SAT or the ACT. In 2016, SCSU had an acceptance rate of 85%, which is encouraging for prospective students. If you have any questions about applying, be sure to contact the admissions office for assistance.

Admissions Data (2016):

St. Cloud State University Description:

Founded in 1869, St. Cloud State University is a four-year, public university located on a 100-acre campus in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, about an hour from Minneapolis. With nearly 17,000 students, St. Cloud State is the second largest public university in Minnesota (the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the largest, and Minnesota State University-Mankato is a close third). The university also does well in national rankings for both its quality and its value. St. Cloud State offer over 200 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs, as well as more than 60 graduate degrees.

The school is especially proud of its Honors Program which is geared toward students looking for an intellectual challenge. Academics at St. Cloud State are supported by a 23 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Students have an easy time staying engaged outside of the classroom -- the campus is home to around 250 student clubs and organizations including the Paranormal Society, Cool Cats Swing Dancing Club, and Skydiving Club.

The university also has four fraternities, three sororities, and a host of interesting intramurals such as Boot Hockey, Cricket, and Broomball. On the intercollegiate front, St. Cloud State competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and NCAA Division II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The university fields ten men's and eleven women's intercollegiate sports.

Enrollment (2016):

  • Total Enrollment: 15,744 (13,878 undergraduates)
  • Gender Breakdown: 46% Male / 54% Female
  • 64% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

  • Tuition and Fees: $7,910 (in-state); $15,828 (out-of-state)
  • Books: $1,200 (why so much?)
  • Room and Board: $8,230
  • Other Expenses: $2,700
  • Total Cost: $20,040 (in-state); $27,958 (out-of-state)

St. Cloud State University Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 88%
  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
    • Grants: 70%
    • Loans: 66%
  • Average Amount of Aid
    • Grants: $5,135
    • Loans: $7,809

Academic Programs:

  • Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Biomedical Sciences, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Community Psychology, Criminal Justice Studies, Elementary Education, Finance, Mass Communications, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work

Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates:

  • First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 69%
  • Transfer Out Rate: 25%
  • 4-Year Graduation Rate: 2%
  • 6-Year Graduation Rate: 44%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

  • Men's Sports: Football, Baseball, Hockey, Swimming, Wrestling, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer
  • Women's Sports: Hockey, Skiing, Softball, Tennis, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Track and Field, Cross Country

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

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