Southwest Minnesota State University vs. DSU

Should I go to Southwest Minnesota State University or Dickinson State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southwest Minnesota State University or DSU 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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Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Dickinson State University comparison
Southwest Minnesota State University Dickinson State University College 3 College 4
Dickinson State University
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Overview

Southwest Minnesota State University DSU
Location Marshall, MN Dickinson, ND
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 6,930 1,473
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948 #736
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu dickinsonstate.com
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southwest Minnesota State University DSU
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $7,470
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $9,570
Room & Board $9,258 $7,740
Avg Net Price $15,004 $14,971
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $5,391
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 92%

Admission

Southwest Minnesota State University DSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 729
Admitted 1,427 525
Acceptance Rate 91.6% 72%
Enrolled % 22.8% 46.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.11
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 16/21
SAT Range 935/1102 875/1130
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

Southwest Minnesota State University DSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (42%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Southwest Minnesota State University DSU
Graduation Rate 39% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $46,800
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $18,781
Median Loan Payment $224 $194

Diversity

Southwest Minnesota State University DSU
% Men 38% 45%
% Women 62% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 76%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Southwest Minnesota State University DSU
% In-State 74% 51%
% Out-of-State 20% 46%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than DSU based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 1,473 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. DSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 18.3% more expensive to attend than DSU for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $7,470.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.3% higher at DSU than Southwest Minnesota State University ($9,570.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dickinson State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,971 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dickinson State University are 19.6% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,740 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than Dickinson State University (94% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 37.1% larger than aid received Dickinson State University ($7,389 vs. $5,391)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. DSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 57 points higher than at DSU (951)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at DSU (20)
  • Accepted freshman Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at DSU (3.11)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than DSU (72%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. DSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or DSU? 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 DSU and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The graduation rate at Southwest Minnesota State University is higher than Dickinson State University (39% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Dickinson State University earn on average $5,600 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($46,800 vs. $41,200)
  • Dickinson State University students graduate with a $2,897 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($18,781 vs. $21,678)
  • DSU graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($194 vs. $224)
  • More DSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 66%)

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