Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NSU

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

 Southwest Minnesota State University NSU
Location Marshall, MN Aberdeen, SD
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 6,930 3,344
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948 #820
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu northern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Southwest Minnesota State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $10,718
Room & Board $9,258 $9,150
Avg Net Price $15,004 $17,264
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $5,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 91%

Admission

 Southwest Minnesota State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 1,322
Admitted 1,427 1,033
Acceptance Rate 91.6% 78.1%
Enrolled % 22.8% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.21 3.37
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 18/24
SAT Range 935/1102 800/1150
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 NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 Southwest Minnesota State University NSU
Graduation Rate 39% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $24,399
Median Loan Payment $224 $252

Diversity

 Southwest Minnesota State University NSU
% Men 38% 37%
% Women 62% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 83%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Southwest Minnesota State University NSU
% In-State 74% 69%
% Out-of-State 20% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 3,344 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 16.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.2% higher at NSU than Southwest Minnesota State University ($10,718.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than NSU ($15,004 vs. $17,264)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern State University are 1.2% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($9,150 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than Northern State University (94% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 29.3% larger than aid received Northern State University ($7,389 vs. $5,715)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northern State University (1024) is 16 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at NSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than NSU (78.1%)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at NSU is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn on average $3,800 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $37,400)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $2,721 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,678 vs. $24,399)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($224 vs. $252)
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 63%)

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