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St. Cloud , MN
St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and is the largest public university in the region. Established in 1869, SCSU has a rich history and a strong reputation for providing quality education to its diverse student population. The university offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, ensuring that students have a wide range of options to choose from.
At SCSU, students benefit from a comprehensive education that emphasizes both academic excellence and practical experience. The university is known for its strong programs in business, education, engineering, health sciences, and the arts. SCSU prides itself on its commitment to experiential learning, providing students with ample opportunities for internships, research projects, and community engagement.
Beyond academics, St. Cloud State University also offers a vibrant campus life. With over 200 student organizations and clubs, students can choose to engage in political, cultural, academic, or recreational activities according to their interests. The campus also hosts numerous events and activities throughout the year, creating a dynamic and lively environment for students to connect and grow.
Overall, St. Cloud State University is a reputable institution that provides a well-rounded education and fosters a sense of community among its students. With its diverse range of programs, emphasis on experiential learning, and vibrant campus life, SCSU offers students an enriching and fulfilling college experience.
Located in St. Cloud, MN and set in a suburban environment, St. Cloud State University is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 94%. The freshman retention rate at St. Cloud State University is 70% and the six-year graduation rate is 39%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 15. Here are some fresh information on important things to consider about St. Cloud State University.
Quick Facts
8,209
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
39%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Here are the most important data you need to know about admission at St. Cloud State University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 5,665 in 2025. St. Cloud State University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them.
Test Scores
1% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 22% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 5% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 39% between 1,200 and 1,399, 61% between 1,000 and 1,199, 16% between 800 and 999, and 5% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 6, 25 between 24-29, 43 in the range between 18-23, and 26 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.3. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into St. Cloud State University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 530 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 535.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to St. Cloud State University is August 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for St. Cloud State University was 70%.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 39%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at St. Cloud State University in 2025 was 10,164.
That year, the school had 10% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 8,209 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 709 international students. 626 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,151 male and 2,740 female full-time students in 2025. 257 full-time graduate men and 379 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at St. Cloud State University.
This school had 211 Asian students and 657 Afro-American students in 2025. 270 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 206 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 21 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 35 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $9,386, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $19,912 in 2025. For international students, tuition fees at this school were $19,912, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,472 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,912 | $1,472 | $21,384 |
| In-State | $9,386 | $1,472 | $10,858 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,400.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At St. Cloud State University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $11,130. If you only needed a room on the campus, you had to pay $6,720 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 9,386 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,130 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,400 |
| Total Expense | $ 21,916 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for most students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at St. Cloud State University.
The most recent records show that 484 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $16,572.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 2,019 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at St. Cloud State University isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 2,040. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $13,174,627, and state $12,086,959. The students of St. Cloud State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $137,885, and external in the amount of $6,113.
$2,407
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,257 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 403 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $13,174,627 while the state aid is $836,708. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $7,172,118. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,011,442 USD.
Majors
Faculty
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at St. Cloud State University was 20:1. That means that there were 20 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 458 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 226 men and 232 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at St. Cloud State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about social life at St. Cloud State University.
Its campus spans 100 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 202 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization that is most favored by students is KVSC - Campus Radio Station, followed by College Panhellenic Council and International Student Association. Other popular student organizations at this school are Residence Hall Association and Nepalese Student Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the St. Cloud State University band or chorus. In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. Interested in media and communication? St. Cloud State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At St. Cloud State University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of St. Cloud State University.
All in all, campus life at St. Cloud State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at St. Cloud State University.
Career Counselling
At St. Cloud State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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St. Cloud State University is located in St. Cloud, MN.
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St. Cloud State University doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for St. Cloud State University is 94%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for St. Cloud State University is 70%.
Contact Information
St. Cloud State University
720 4th Avenue South
St. Cloud , MN
56301-4498
302 308-0121
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.