Southwest Minnesota State University
A good fit for students who prefer a mid-size campus and in-state Minnesota residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 2,315 students.
About This School
Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution located in Marshall, Minnesota with approximately 2,315 undergraduate students enrolled. Southwest Minnesota State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 62%. The average net price after financial aid is $15,291 per year. The graduation rate is 45%, and the typical graduate earns $41,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) is a public university in Marshall, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The university has an enrollment of approximately 8,700 students and employs 148 faculty members. It is divided into two major colleges, the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences and the College of Business, Education, and Professional Studies.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the net price is genuinely affordable at $14,760/year, and graduates leave with relatively low debt ($14,250), but the 44% graduation rate is a real concern — fewer than half of students who start here finish, which is worth asking hard questions about. Median earnings of $41,400 a decade out are modest but reasonable for a regional school focused on practical programs in business and education. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious and have a clear academic plan, but make sure you understand what's driving that low completion rate before committing.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 16% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,315 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State St
Marshall, MN 56258-5468
Official Links
Other Schools in Minnesota
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Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · Public
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN · Private for-profit
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
St. Cloud, MN · Private for-profit
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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