About

See what students say:

Academics

Winona State University is a public university located in Winona, Minnesota that offers a "quality education that is affordable." Students praise WSU for "preparing students for the workplace" by helping them to develop career relevant skills "while still encouraging them to be innovative." "Winona State University is a community of learners working together to improve our world." Prominent "nursing and education" programs underscore what some students describe as WSU's educational prerogative: "to help students gain the necessary skills to help us go out and make an impact upon the world." WSU faculty can really shine in the classroom because small class sizes "allow professors to get to know their students on a more personal level." Students value this kind of attention because, as one student puts it, "the more my professors interact and connect with me, the better my academic experience and success." Most "professors work hard to be available" outside of class time. "They honestly do care about their students," one student explains, "and they are always there to connect [students] with what they need" from class material to "finding jobs and internships." "We may be a small school, but we do great things."

Student Body

Winona State's predominantly white, Midwestern student body "is mixed with many Middle Eastern and Asian international students," and many students say they prize and seek out diverse perspectives and experiences. Students are "very friendly and passionate about their education and ambitions," and "most students are willing to help each other." While cliques may emerge, "students are truly involved in a wide variety of areas of study. Computer science students are involved in creative writing clubs, English students run the video game club, and more than half of the students in the symphonic wind ensemble are not music majors." While some students admit that there is a gap between "the studiers and partiers," students agree that "everybody is pretty friendly and nice." Despite what some see as a tendency among students to silo themselves "by departments around campus," "all seem to be like a family here at Winona and can come together as our own little community."

Campus Life

Winona is small and embraces the outdoors, and students can conveniently find "three disc golf courses in the city, two golf courses," as well as fishing on the Mississippi river, hiking through the local bluffs, and "two lakes with paved paths" where people run and bike. In the winter the bluffs make great "cross country ski trails" and "the lake is cleared off to ice skate." The small town of Winona "allows for bicycle as a great means of transportation," and most WSU students enjoy the outdoors. Students enjoy "WSU's very nice/fairly new wellness center," the Integrated Wellness Complex, "which features an indoor running track, weight lifting equipment, and other exercise equipment." Many students also say that volunteering through clubs or weekly volunteer opportunities on campus is popular among some students. "For such a small student body compared to many other universities," one student explains, "Winona State has a large social impact on the surrounding area and many of the clubs and organizations are extremely good at what they do." Because the town is small, "the bar scene is not huge but is popular when there isn't much else to do."

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Robert Caldwell
Visit Coordinator

Address
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 5838
Winona, MN 55987

Phone
507-457-5100

Email
admissions@winona.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
The Library
Lourdes Hall - Residential College
Central Courtyard/Clock Tower/Gazebo
The Smaug - Kryzsko Commons
Integrated Wellness Complex

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Garvin Heights Look Out
Lake Winona Bike/Running Trail
Holzinger Lodge Hiking Area
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
Sugar Loaf Hiking Trail/Overlook

Campus Tours

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Monday through Friday at 9am and 1pm; selected Saturdays at 10am
Average Length: 2 hours

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
No

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Following or preceding the tour Mon-Fri

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly

Advance Notice
1 week

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Varies

Arrangements
Integrated into PALS weekend

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Available

Arrangements
Other

Limitations
PALS weekend for admitted high school seniors only

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota, approximately 120 miles from St. Paul/Minneapolis, and accessible by drive (Winona exit on I-90, or through Hwy 14 and Hwy 61), by Amtrak train (from Chicago or St. Paul; station 4 blocks from campus), or by Greyhounds or Jefferson bus (from nearby cities, station 5 blocks from campus).

Driving Instructions to Campus
From the Twin Cities: Take Hwy 61 S. to Huff street turn right , turn left on Sarnia, turn right on Main street, park in the reserved guest lot. From the East: Take I-90E, merge into Hwy 61 North, turn left onto Huff street, turn left on Sarnia, turn right on Main, park in the reserved guest lot. From the West: Take Hwy 14, turn right onto 14/61, turn right on Huff street, turn left on Sarnia street, turn right on Main street, park in the reserved guest lot.

Local Accommodations
Winona offers overnight accommodations ranging from quaint bed and breakfast accommodations to name-brand hotels. If you'd like to stay even closer to WSU, you may opt for our Alumni House located just one block from campus.

Admissions

Applicants: 7,468
Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average HS GPA: 3.35






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