Head-to-head comparison
Winona State University vs Concordia University-Saint Paul: which has better ROI?
Option A Winona, MN
Winona State University
- Net price / year
- $17,503
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,532
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Concordia University-Saint Paul
- Net price / year
- $18,462
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,871
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Concordia University-Saint Paul has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $73,848 in 6.4 years versus 6.9 years at Winona State University, on median earnings of $59,871 vs $58,532 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Winona State University | Concordia University-Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,503 | $18,462 |
| Total net cost | $70,012 | $73,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,532 | $59,871 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $17,832 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $133,428 | $156,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Winona State University or Concordia University-Saint Paul?
Winona State University, at $17,503 a year after aid versus $18,462 — a gap of $959 a year, or $3,836 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Winona State University or Concordia University-Saint Paul graduates earn more?
Concordia University-Saint Paul graduates report a median $59,871 ten years after entry, $1,339 more than the $58,532 at Winona State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Winona State University or Concordia University-Saint Paul?
Concordia University-Saint Paul: its completers carry a median $17,832 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Winona State University, a difference of $3,668. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Winona State University, against 46% at Concordia University-Saint Paul. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.