Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Fayetteville State University

Deciding between Southwest Minnesota State University and Fayetteville State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Fayetteville State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC
  • Setting
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • Fayetteville State University Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • Fayetteville State University 7,107
  • Type
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • Fayetteville State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • Fayetteville State University #995
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • Fayetteville State University -
  • Status
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • Fayetteville State University Non-profit
  • Website
  • Southwest Minnesota State University smsu.edu
  • Fayetteville State University uncfsu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • Fayetteville State University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Fayetteville State University $4,353
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • Fayetteville State University $8,353
  • Room & Board
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • Fayetteville State University $11,449
  • Average Net Price
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • Fayetteville State University $7,811
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • Fayetteville State University $8,777
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%
  • Fayetteville State University 90%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Calculate
  • Fayetteville State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • Fayetteville State University 6,515
  • Admitted
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • Fayetteville State University 5,352
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • Fayetteville State University 82.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • Fayetteville State University 14.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • Fayetteville State University 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • Fayetteville State University 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • Fayetteville State University 3.11
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • Fayetteville State University B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • Fayetteville State University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • Fayetteville State University
  • ACT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • Fayetteville State University 15/19
  • SAT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • Fayetteville State University 890/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • Fayetteville State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027
  • Fayetteville State University Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • Fayetteville State University 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Fayetteville State University
    • Business (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (18%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • Education (11%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • Fayetteville State University 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • Fayetteville State University $32,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • Fayetteville State University 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • Fayetteville State University $22,161
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224
  • Fayetteville State University $229
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • Fayetteville State University 32%
  • % Women
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • Fayetteville State University 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • Fayetteville State University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • Fayetteville State University Yes
  • % White
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • Fayetteville State University 19%
  • % Asian
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • Fayetteville State University 1%
  • % Black
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • Fayetteville State University 64%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • Fayetteville State University 6%
  • % Native American
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • Fayetteville State University 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • Fayetteville State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • Fayetteville State University 0%
  • % International
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • Fayetteville State University 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • Fayetteville State University 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • Fayetteville State University 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%
  • Fayetteville State University 21%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN with Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than Fayetteville State University based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 7,107 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Fayetteville State University is in Fayetteville, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Fayetteville State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1; Fayetteville State University 20:1.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Fayetteville State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or Fayetteville State University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fayetteville State University than Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,811 vs. $15,547).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 3.7% lower than at Fayetteville State University ($11,028 vs. $11,449).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 138% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fayetteville State University (about $6,008 more per year; $10,361.00 vs. $4,353.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24% higher at Southwest Minnesota State University than at Fayetteville State University (about $2,008 more per year; $10,361.00 vs. $8,353.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than at Fayetteville State University (94% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fayetteville State University students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students ($8,777 vs. $8,674).

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Fayetteville State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or Fayetteville State University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fayetteville State University and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwest Minnesota State University (1020) is 30 points higher than at Fayetteville State University (990).
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 17 at Fayetteville State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102; Fayetteville State University 890/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23; Fayetteville State University 15/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional; Fayetteville State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027; Fayetteville State University Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at Fayetteville State University (3.11).
  • Fayetteville State University has a higher acceptance rate (82.1%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (62.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Southwest Minnesota State University vs. 14.8% at Fayetteville State University.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Fayetteville State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Minnesota State University and Fayetteville State University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Southwest Minnesota State University's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than Fayetteville State University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Fayetteville State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have a $483 lower median loan debt than Fayetteville State University graduates ($21,678 vs. $22,161).
  • Among borrowers, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fayetteville State University graduates ($224 vs. $229).
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fayetteville State University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.