Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at Saint Cloud State

-2.19%

Applicants - since 2015

8.59%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at Saint Cloud State over the past 10 years is 88.56%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 94.80%. The acceptance rate at Saint Cloud State is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 24.72%, and the 2025 yield is 16.56%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 53.19% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of Saint Cloud State applicants increased by 18.90% (950 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 2.19% overall.

Key Takeaways: Saint Cloud State Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 94.80%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that Saint Cloud State is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 16.56%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Saint Cloud State. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, Saint Cloud State received approximately 5,976 applications, admitted 5,665 students, and enrolled 938 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing Saint Cloud State's position in the competitive admissions landscape.

Acceptance Rate Changes

Saint Cloud State 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Saint Cloud State over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 88.56%, while the most recent rate stands at 94.80%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 94.80%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 87.12% and for women is 89.80%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Saint Cloud State have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 86.20% 82.57% 89.07%
2016-17 85.09%
-1.11%
82.93%
0.36%
86.80%
-2.27%
2017-18 85.78%
0.69%
84.09%
1.16%
87.14%
0.34%
2018-19 86.21%
0.42%
84.06%
-0.03%
87.93%
0.79%
2019-20 90.04%
3.84%
88.58%
4.51%
91.19%
3.26%
2020-21 73.22%
-16.82%
70.62%
-17.96%
75.17%
-16.03%
2021-22 93.99%
20.77%
93.03%
22.41%
95.99%
20.83%
2022-23 95.28%
1.29%
95.23%
2.20%
95.33%
-0.67%
2023-24 94.95%
-0.33%
94.40%
-0.83%
95.36%
0.04%
2024-25 94.80%
-0.15%
95.66%
1.26%
94.00%
-1.36%
Average 88.56% 87.12% 89.80%
Saint Cloud State University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

Saint Cloud State has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 35.37% in 2015 to 16.56% in 2025, representing a 53.19% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 24.72%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Saint Cloud State from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 53.19% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 35.37% 39.04% 32.69%
2016-17 30.24%
-5.13%
31.85%
-7.19%
29.02%
-3.67%
2017-18 27.54%
-2.70%
29.02%
-2.83%
26.39%
-2.62%
2018-19 27.70%
0.16%
28.26%
-0.76%
27.27%
0.87%
2019-20 26.57%
-1.13%
28.97%
0.71%
24.73%
-2.53%
2020-21 26.58%
0.01%
29.80%
0.83%
24.33%
-0.41%
2021-22 21.01%
-5.57%
24.01%
-5.78%
18.00%
-6.33%
2022-23 16.82%
-4.19%
16.01%
-8.00%
17.53%
-0.47%
2023-24 18.80%
1.97%
18.42%
2.40%
19.09%
1.55%
2024-25 16.56%
-2.24%
15.97%
-2.44%
17.10%
-1.98%
Average 24.72% 26.14% 23.61%
Saint Cloud State University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 5,536, the average number of admitted is 4,886, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,216.

The number of Saint Cloud State applicants increased by 18.90% (950 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 2.19% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Saint Cloud State University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 6,110 5,267 1,863
2016-17 6,988
14.37%
5,946
12.89%
1,798
-3.49%
2017-18 6,387
-8.60%
5,479
-7.85%
1,509
-16.07%
2018-19 5,415
-15.22%
4,668
-14.80%
1,293
-14.31%
2019-20 5,171
-4.51%
4,656
-0.26%
1,237
-4.33%
2020-21 5,251
1.55%
3,845
-17.42%
1,022
-17.38%
2021-22 4,228
-19.48%
3,974
3.36%
835
-18.30%
2022-23 4,810
13.77%
4,583
15.32%
771
-7.66%
2023-24 5,026
4.49%
4,772
4.12%
897
16.34%
2024-25 5,976
18.90%
5,665
18.71%
938
4.57%
Average 5,536 4,886 1,216
Saint Cloud State University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Saint Cloud State University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Saint Cloud State University94.95%94.80%-0.16%
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities79.75%77.03%3.53%
Minnesota State University-Mankato88.44%91.33%-3.16%
University of Minnesota-Duluth88.75%81.75%8.56%
Southwest Minnesota State University62.18%68.94%-9.81%
Metropolitan State University98.71%96.49%2.30%

Ratings & Review

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