Admission

Saint Mary’s University adheres to the principle that all persons have equal opportunity and access to admission, employment, facilities, and all programs and activities of the university regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or status with regard to public assistance.

Prospective applicants should direct requests for information to:
Office of Admission
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #2
Winona, MN 55987-1399
admissions@smumn.edu
800-635-5987, Ext. 1700

Admission of First-Year Students

The College processes admission applications throughout the year for fall semester or spring semester entrance. When all required materials for admission have been received, they are reviewed by the Admission Committee. The applicant is then notified of the decision. Students who have been admitted are asked to confirm their attendance by sending a non-refundable $300 deposit to the university. This deposit is credited to the student’s first semester account.

The Office of Admission conducts a holistic review of an applicant’s academic credentials.  While not the sole criterion for acceptance, the rigor of courses selected, with emphasis placed on a college prep curriculum, and grades received, is of primary importance.  Personal essay, test scores, activities and school recommendations all provide additional data useful in the evaluation of a student’s academic potential for university success. In particular cases, the applicant may be requested to complete an on-campus admission interview as part of the review process.

Generally, Saint Mary’s accepts students on the basis of six semesters of high school work, expecting that the quality of achievement will be consistent throughout the senior year. Some students, however, are asked to submit seventh- and/or eighth-semester transcripts before a final decision is rendered. All incoming first-year students must submit a final high school transcript certifying their graduation to the Office of Admission prior to the start of the students’ Saint Mary’s University career.

A student applying for first-year admission is expected to have completed a well-rounded high school college prep curriculum that includes the following:  (A unit represents a year’s study of a subject.)

• 4 units of English with an emphasis on composition and literature
• 3 units of mathematics through at least algebra II
• 2 units of social studies
• 3 units of science (including at least 2 lab courses)
• 4 units of academic electives (religion, philosophy, or additional units of mathematics, science, foreign language)

Application Procedure

Applicants must forward the following items to the Office of Admission:

1. Saint Mary’s University Application for Undergraduate Admission or Common Application (both with no application fee)
2. Official transcript of high school grades
3. Official scores from either the ACT or SAT
4. Personal essay
5. Letter of recommendation (optional)

Admission of Transfer Students

Candidates from other accredited colleges/universities may be admitted to Saint Mary’s if they present evidence of at least a 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all college-level coursework.  The transfer applicant must submit the Saint Mary’s University application or the Common Application for which there is no application fee. An official transcript from each college/university attended and an official high school transcript must be forwarded to the Office of Admission. The transcript from the college most recently attended should give evidence of honorable withdrawal. Students with 24 or more college level credits and at least C/2.0 or above grades are not required to submit official high school transcripts.

Upon notification of admission, the transfer student will receive an evaluation of his/her previous college work. This evaluation will include the number of credits accepted in transfer and the extent to which the student has satisfied Saint Mary’s general education program. Saint Mary’s has a residency requirement of 30 semester hours.  Transfer students must submit a $300 non-refundable deposit to confirm attendance at the university. This deposit will be credited to the student’s account.

Admission of Veterans

Veterans of United States military services who are not high school graduates may be considered for admission on the basis of results obtained on the General Educational Development (GED) test, high school level.

Admission of International Students

International undergraduate degree-seeking candidates for admission must forward the following documents to the Office of Admission:

1. Application Form
   Please complete one of the application forms below (there are no application fees):
   • The online Common Application, 
   • The online Saint Mary’s application,
2. Official Transcripts
   Transcripts from countries other than the United States must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by SpanTran, World Education Services, One Earth, Educational Perspectives, Education Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards. Students are responsible for having their transcripts evaluated, as well as for the associated costs.  Complete academic transcripts uploaded by the student’s high school via the Common Application will be considered as certified true copies.  If those transcripts are not issued in English, transcripts in the original language and English translations by an official, certified translator must both be sent.
3.  Test Score Report
   Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0 the Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 74%, the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51. We also accept the SAT with a minimum composite score of 1000 (minimum 480 in English) and Duolingo with a minimum score of 100.
4. Essay 
   Submit a 650-word essay on a topic of your choice.
5. Letter of recommendation (optional)
   Letters may be from school guidance counselors, teachers, or administrators who know you and are able to speak about your qualifications and readiness for study at Saint Mary’s.

Admission of Special Students

Students who do not intend to proceed toward a degree at the university may be admitted as special students.

Candidates for admission as special students must submit the Saint Mary’s University application or the Common Application. Academic coursework taken as a special student may, at a later date, be counted toward a degree only if the student makes proper application for degree candidacy and is admitted as a regular full-time student. Special students are subject to the same tuition and fees as regular degree-seeking students.

Readmission of Former Students

Students who have been withdrawn and wish to resume their studies must request readmission by submitting the request for readmission form. The student will be reinstated if the Academic Readmission Committee, in collaboration with the office of the Registrar, determine that the student left Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in good academic and judicial standing. Students seeking readmission who left Saint Mary’s not in good academic standing will be reviewed, and if approved, will be placed on academic probation and be subject to Academic Probation policy. 

If the student has been enrolled at another college or university since their last term of enrollment at Saint Mary’s, an official transcript must be submitted by the student. If the student was a residential student at another college or university and is seeking to return to Saint Mary’s residential housing in Winona, a completed readmission / transfer form must also be submitted. The student’s application will then be reviewed by the Academic Readmission Committee. Additional transcripts with credits earned since last attendance at Saint Mary’s will be evaluated for transfer based on the Transfer of Credit policy.  

Students readmitted within two academic years of their last enrollment can meet degree requirements of the catalog in effect when they were last enrolled OR the catalog in effect at the time of readmission. Students readmitted more than two academic years after their last enrollment must meet degree requirements effective at the time of readmission. 

Minimum Technical Hardware Requirements

Saint Mary’s students are required to have a computer and to have consistent and reliable access to the internet for use in their studies. Computers allow students to connect with the online learning environment, enhance the interaction with instructors and classmates, and gain access to educational resources, such as library databases and other resources. Select academic programs may have additional hardware or software requirements. Students should check with the appropriate chair or program director to ensure that they have the required hardware and software to be able to participate successfully in their respective programs.

Important note: Smartphones and tablets do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at Saint Mary’s. Coursework requires a full keyboard and a minimum screen size of 13 inches. Smartphones and tablets can aid and support coursework, but alone they are not sufficient.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

The university expects all students and employees to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination.  Individuals may file medical or non-medical exemptions to that expectation.  Students and employees must utilize the Health Services portal to upload proof of vaccination or access and upload forms certifying an exemption.