Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Marshall, Minnesota. It enrolls 2,315 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes28
Value71
Affordability38
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 62.2%, Southwest Minnesota State University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
62.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southwest Minnesota State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southwest Minnesota State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,291 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,291
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
15%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$10,361
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,028
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,028
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,652
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,652
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,757
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,559
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,175
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,153
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,283
Over $110,000
$20,701
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,00010%percentile
$5,52025%percentile
$20,500Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$31,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,750
↓ $4,750
No Pell $12,500
↓ $8,000
Dependent students $14,250
↓ $6,250
Independent students $14,700
↓ $5,800
Female students $15,000
↓ $5,500
Male students $12,500
↓ $8,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($20,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
46% of full-time students who enrolled at Southwest Minnesota State University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
46%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of $51,342 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,342
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,100, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southwest Minnesota State University is home to 2,315 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,315
Part-Time
29%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.4%1,607
Black 8.6%200
Hispanic 8.6%199
International 4.6%106
Other 4.5%105
Asian 2.7%62
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southwest Minnesota State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteMarshall, Minnesota
Housing
Mostly residential1,049 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Southwest Minnesota State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
44 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southwest Minnesota State University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,447
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$18M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$94,144
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
104 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
48
46%
$109,254
Associate Professors
28
27%
$86,957
Assistant Professors
26
25%
$76,918
Instructors
2
2%
$56,065
Pros & Cons of Southwest Minnesota State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southwest Minnesota State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Minnesota State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southwest Minnesota State University.
Is Southwest Minnesota State University hard to get into?
Admissions at Southwest Minnesota State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 62.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southwest Minnesota State University?
Southwest Minnesota State University has an acceptance rate of 62.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Southwest Minnesota State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southwest Minnesota State University scored between 16 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southwest Minnesota State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southwest Minnesota State University is $15,291 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southwest Minnesota State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,342 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,291 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southwest Minnesota State University known for?
Southwest Minnesota State University is best known for its programs in Education, General, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southwest Minnesota State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southwest Minnesota State University are $51,342, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southwest Minnesota State University accredited?
Yes. Southwest Minnesota State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southwest Minnesota State University?
Southwest Minnesota State University enrolls 2,315 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University?
Southwest Minnesota State University graduates 46% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southwest Minnesota State University a public or private college?
Southwest Minnesota State University is a Public institution.
Where is Southwest Minnesota State University located?
Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota.
What programs does Southwest Minnesota State University offer?
Southwest Minnesota State University offers 44 distinct programs. The most popular include Education, General, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southwest Minnesota State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southwest Minnesota State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Minnesota
Other colleges in Minnesota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Teacher Education (K-12)
Business Administration
Social Work
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