Fort Hays State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

Should I go to Fort Hays State University or Southwest Minnesota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fort Hays State University or Southwest Minnesota State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Fort Hays State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University comparison
Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University College 3 College 4
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Overview

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
Location Hays, KS Marshall, MN
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 12,949 6,930
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #862 #948
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fhsu.edu smsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuition (In State) $4,140 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $14,580 $8,840
Room & Board $8,481 $9,258
Avg Net Price $13,322 $15,004
Avg Grant Aid $5,387 $7,389
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 94%

Admission

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,828 1,558
Admitted 1,609 1,427
Acceptance Rate 88% 91.6%
Enrolled % 51.3% 22.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 17/23
SAT Range 940/1190 935/1102
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2024

Academics

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
Graduation Rate 40% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,400 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,718 $21,678
Median Loan Payment $214 $224

Diversity

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
% Men 38% 38%
% Women 62% 62%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 80%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 29% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
% In-State 80% 74%
% Out-of-State 17% 20%

Campus

Fort Hays State University Southwest Minnesota State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fort Hays State University is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 6,930 students)

Fort Hays State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fort Hays State University or Southwest Minnesota State University?

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 113.5% more expensive to attend than Fort Hays State University for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $4,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.9% higher at Fort Hays State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,580.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fort Hays State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($13,322 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fort Hays State University are 9.2% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,481 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than Fort Hays State University (94% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 37.2% larger than aid received Fort Hays State University ($7,389 vs. $5,387)

Fort Hays State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fort Hays State University or Southwest Minnesota State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southwest Minnesota State University or Fort Hays State University .

  • Accepted freshman Fort Hays State University students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than Fort Hays State University (88%)

Fort Hays State University vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fort Hays State University or Southwest Minnesota State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Southwest Minnesota State University and Fort Hays State University.

  • The graduation rate at Fort Hays State University is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (40% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Fort Hays State University earn on average $200 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($41,400 vs. $41,200)
  • Fort Hays State University students graduate with a $960 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($20,718 vs. $21,678)
  • Fort Hays State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($214 vs. $224)
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fort Hays State University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/