At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, residence life is more than just a place to sleep—it’s where you’ll find community, connection, and comfort. Ranked #1 for best college dorms in Minnesota by Niche.com (2025), our housing options offer a welcoming, supportive environment where lifelong friendships are made, and campus life thrives.
Residence Halls
First-year students
Brother William Hall
Brother William Hall is open to first-year men and women and accommodates 112 students in double rooms, with floors designated by gender. Named in honor of Brother William Mann, the 13th president of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, the hall was designed specifically for first-year students. It is a substance-free residence, and for the safety of its residents, the building remains locked 24 hours a day.
Common Areas
Gathering space
Main lounge
Vending area
Study areas
Coinless laundry facilities (included in room and board)
Community kitchen equipped with a stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator
Chapel
Cardio room
Layout and Amenities
Rooms are approximately 16×23 and have laundry facilities on every floor.
Air conditioning
Two beds with extra-long mattresses
Two wardrobes / dressers
In-unit bathroom
Two desks and desk chairs
Cable and internet hookups including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Floor Plans
Bishops Hall
Open to first-year students, Bishops Hall offers an intimate, close-knit community with the smallest number of residents on campus. Located just a short walk from Saint Mary’s Hall, it houses 40 students in spacious double rooms, each with its own private bathroom. The lobby/lounge provides a welcoming space to relax, socialize, or study, featuring comfortable seating, a cozy fireplace, and a TV.
Common Areas
Two lounges
A computer room
Laundry facilities included in room and board
Two kitchens, each with a stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator
Layout and Amenities
Rooms are approximately 15.5’ x 20’ and are carpeted.
Two moveable beds with extra-long mattresses
Two built-in wardrobes with adjacent clothing rod
Private in-room bathroom with sink
Two built-in desks and chairs
Air conditioning
Phone
Cable and internet hookup (including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network)
Floor Plans
Saint Joseph's Hall
Open to first-year students, Saint Joseph’s Hall, affectionately known as Saint Joe’s, was purchased by the Christian Brothers in 1950 and remodeled in 1998. This hall accommodates approximately 60 first-year students and offers a unique variety in the size and shape of individual rooms, featuring both double and single configurations. Currently, portions of the hall are utilized by the Art Department for classroom space, making Saint Joe’s an ideal environment for artistically inclined residents.
Common Areas
Spacious lounge
Coinless laundry facilities included in room and board
Community kitchen equipped with a stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator
Traditional community bathrooms and shower facilities available on each floor
Layout and Amenities
Saint Joe’s features rooms of various sizes, all carpeted.
Moveable bed(s) with extra-long mattress(es)
Built-in wardrobes with dressers
Built-in desks with desk chairs.
Internet hookup including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Floor Plans
Skemp Hall
Skemp Hall was originally constructed as a two-level gymnasium annex to Heffron Hall. In 1965, it was renovated into a three-story residence hall and named in honor of Thomas Skemp, a cherished teacher and coach at Saint Mary’s during the 1920s. Skemp accommodates approximately 105 female residents in double rooms, featuring multiple private showers and restrooms on each floor. As a substance-free environment, the hall is secured 24 hours a day for the safety of its residents. Additionally, Skemp Hall is conveniently connected to Saint Mary’s Hall, the main academic building.
Common Areas
Three television/study lounges
Computer pod with two computers and a printer
Coinless laundry facilities included in room and board
Community kitchen, with a stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator
Layout and Amenities
Rooms are approximately 15’ x 17’.
Skemp’s rooms are not carpeted.
Two beds with extra-long mattresses
Dressers
Walk-in closet with clothing bar and shelving
Sink
Built-in desks with desk chairs
Cable and internet hookup including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Skemp 131 and 331 are triples with the following changes to their layouts and amenities:
Bedroom—12′ x 15′
Second room—12 ‘ x 17’
Private bathroom equipped with a toilet and sink (no shower)
Floor Plans
Residence Halls
Sophomore, Junior, and Senior students
Brother Leopold Hall
Brother Leopold Hall honors Brother Leopold Julian Dodd, the first Christian Brother president of Saint Mary’s. Overlooking Gilmore Creek and the surrounding bluffs, this four-story building houses 139 sophomore through senior students, in apartment-style and suite-style housing. Rooms are designed in a corridor style, with spacious single, double, triple, and quad rooms, each of which has a private bathroom and shower.
Common Areas
Three large lounges with computers and a printer
Laundry facilities included in room and board
Room Types and Availability
Apartment Types
Each apartment includes a kitchen, bathroom, and shower, with varying bedroom configurations.
Some apartments feature individual bedrooms.
Others have two double bedrooms accommodating four residents.
Additionally, there are combinations of one double bedroom for two people and two individual bedrooms.
Suite Types
Double-occupancy Suite: Four students in two double bedrooms with a private bathroom and shower.
Single-occupancy Suite: Two students in two individual bedrooms with a private bathroom and shower.
Availability
Apartments with single bedrooms:
seven available for juniors and seniors.
Single-occupancy apartments: 16 available for juniors and seniors.
Apartments with double bedrooms: 7 available for sophomore through seniors.
Double-occupancy singles: 13 available for sophomores.
Amenities
Moveable beds with extra-long mattresses, wardrobes, dressers, desks, and chairs
Private bathroom with shower
Cable and internet hookup including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Floor Plans
Gilmore Creek Hall
Gilmore Creek Hall accommodates students of sophomore status and above. As one of Saint Mary’s suite-style co-ed residences, it is situated near the picturesque Gilmore Creek. The hall features a popular “lodge-style” lounge with large windows, high ceilings, and a stone fireplace, making it a favored gathering spot for the approximately 60 residents. The double rooms are designed in a suite style, with a shared bathroom and shower accessible to four same-sex students. Residents can choose their roommates and select who they share a bathroom with for added convenience.
Common Areas
Two large lounges
Computer room with two computers and a printer
Coinless laundry facilities included in room and board
Community kitchen with a stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator
Layout and Amenities
Rooms are approximately 11’ x 14’ and fully carpeted.
Amenities:
Two moveable beds with extra-long mattresses
Two built-in wardrobes and dressers
Two closets with adjacent clothing rod
Two built-in desks and desk chairs
Shared bathroom with double sink, private toilet, and shower
Air conditioning
Cable and internet hookup including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Floor Plans
Heffron Hall
Heffron Hall, the second major building in the early history of Saint Mary’s, honors the founder, Bishop Patrick R. Heffron. This residence hall accommodates 93 co-ed students—sophomores through seniors—in single rooms arranged by gender on each floor. The rooms feature hardwood floors, exquisite woodwork, and wide hallways, offering great views of the campus and surrounding bluffs. Recently renovated, Heffron Hall’s floors include semi-private bathroom and shower rooms, a conversion completed in 2007. Additionally, Heffron Hall is conveniently connected to Saint Mary’s Hall, the main academic building.
Common Areas
Three TV lounges
Coinless laundry facilities included in room and board
Community kitchen with a stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator
Layout and Amenities
Rooms are approximately 8’ x 13.5’.
Approximately half of the rooms are carpeted (207, 209, 236, 237, 312, 324, 326, 328, 407, 412, 413, 419, 423, and 428); others have hardwood flooring.
Amenities include:
Loft bed with extra-long mattress
Wardrobe
Dresser
Sink
Desk and desk chair
Cable and internet hookup including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Floor Plans
Hillside Hall
Hillside Hall is open to sophomore through senior men and women. Overlooking Gilmore Creek and the surrounding bluffs, this four-story building accommodates 100 students. Designed in a corridor style, Hillside Hall features spacious double rooms, each equipped with a private bathroom and shower. Additionally, the hall includes four classrooms with updated technical equipment.
Common Areas
Two spacious lounges
A computer room with two computers and a printer
Four classrooms
Laundry facilities included in room and board
Three small kitchens with stoves, ovens, microwaves, and refrigerators
Layout and Amenities
Rooms are approximately 15.5’ x 20’ and are carpeted.
Air conditioning
Two moveable beds with extra-long mattresses
Built-in wardrobes and dressers
Built-in desk and desk chairs
Private bathroom with shower
Phone
Cable and internet hookup including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Floor Plans
La Salle Hall
La Salle Hall welcomes all upperclassmen and was originally constructed as the main residence for the Christian Brothers. Named after Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers, this hall accommodates 49 students and includes office space for the Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics Departments. Most rooms are singles, with a few doubles and private baths available (see floor plans for details). The hall is co-ed by floor and is designated for seniors or students aged 21 and older.
Common Areas
Laundry facilities
Two lounges
Two kitchens
Cardio room
Computer lab with printer
Amenities
Rooms measure approximately 8.5’ x 13.5’ and feature renovated semi-private restrooms and showers.
Floor Plans
Residencia Santiago Miller
Open to upperclassmen, Residencia Santiago Miller is situated next to a wooded area at the edge of campus, near the track and soccer complex. This residence features a series of two-story, two-bedroom apartments, accommodating four same-sex students in each unit, for a total of 105 residents. Residencia Santiago Miller allows students to enjoy apartment living while still benefiting from the amenities of on-campus life.
Common Areas
Laundry facilities
Each apartment features a shared private bathroom
Layout and Amenities
Upper-level units are carpeted, while basement units feature tile flooring.
Moveable beds with extra-long mattresses
Moveable dressers
Desks and desk chairs
Living room furnished with couch and arm chair
Coffee table, end table, table lamp, and floor lamp (in most apartments)
Air conditioning
Cable and internet hookups including access to the Saint Mary’s wireless network
Kitchen appliances including full size refrigerator and stove
Floor Plans
Saint Yon's Hall
Saint Yon’s Hall offers apartment-style living for all upperclassmen, including sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Renovated in 2016, the hall features a variety of apartment configurations, from three-person units to a spacious nine-person apartment, fostering a strong sense of community among residents. Amenities include a cardio room and a chapel on the west side of the building, and all apartments are equipped with air conditioning for added comfort during the warmer months of early fall, late spring, and summer.
Common Areas
Cardio room
Chapel
Laundry facilities
Layout
Apartment 001: 4 students; 1 double room, 2 single rooms, full kitchen, living room, bathroom, and washer and dryer
Apartment 108: 6 students; 6 single rooms, full kitchen, living room, 2 bathrooms, and washer and dryer
Apartment 121: 3 students; 1 double room, 1 single room, full kitchen, living room, and bathroom
Apartment 122: 4 students; 2 double rooms, full kitchen, living room, and bathroom
Apartment 124: 4 students; 1 double room, 2 single rooms, full kitchen, living room, and bathroom
Apartment 208: 6 students; 6 single rooms, full kitchen, living room, 2 bathrooms, and washer and dryer
Apartment 159: 9 students; 1 double room, 7 single rooms, full kitchen, living room, semi-private shared bathrooms, and washer and dryer
Wing 101: 1 double room with a private bath, 1 single room with a private bath, 2 single rooms with a shared bathroom, living room, and full kitchen
Wing 205: 2 double rooms with private bath, 1 single room with private bath, 2 single rooms with shared bath, living room, and full kitchen
Floor Plans
Basement
First Floor
Second Floor
Nine Person Apartment
Welcome home, Cardinals!
Move-In Day is a popular day on the Winona Campus, where students, parents, faculty, and staff come together to help Cardinals settle into their new “home away from home.” Watch the video to see what this special day is all about!
What to Bring to Campus
What should you bring to campus? What should you leave at home? First, connect with your future roommate to coordinate who brings what. Use our guidelines to bring only what you need.
Things to Bring
Personal computer or laptop
Pillows, sheets, bedding (TWIN, XL)
Bath towels, hand towels, washcloths
Toiletries, shower caddy, shower and personal items
Grab a latte for a late-night study session or enjoy healthy meal choices (or maybe indulge with something sweet!) without leaving campus. All dining options are located in the student center so whatever you’re in the mood for is never far.
If you’d like to send mail to a student who lives on campus, you do not need to include his or her residence hall in the address. His or her campus mailbox number will suffice. Please follow this template:
[Student First Name] [Student Last Name]
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights [#Campus Mailbox]
Winona, MN 55987-1399 USA
If you do not know the student’s campus mailbox number, please contact the mailroom at 800-635-5987, Ext. 1571.
Residence Life Office
The primary focus of the Residence Life Office in Winona is to create an environment that supports the educational mission of the university by providing students with out-of-class opportunities to participate in social, cultural, recreational, academic, and community service programs.
The staff at the Residence Life Office can provide you with more information on residence halls.